12 Most Scenic Small Towns In Florida For Nature Lovers
Florida is known for having some of the most phenomenal natural locations in the United States, even though some might be close to the bigger cities, like McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary in West Palm Beach and Vizcaya Gardens in Miami. Yet, this sunny southern state is home to several stunning spots that are further away from the big cities and the hectic crowds associated with them. From Falling Waters State Park in Chipley to the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary in Punta Gorda, here are some awesome natural attractions in a dozen scenic small towns within the Sunshine State that are ideal for any and every type of nature lover.
Chipley
The town of Chipley, situated in the Florida panhandle about a hundred miles east of Pensacola, is home to Falling Waters State Park. This stunning state park has a plethora of natural attractions, including a majestic waterfall over seventy feet high. There are also two scenic hiking trails to be explored in Falling Waters State Park: the Wiregrass Trail and the Wiregrass to Terrace Trail.
The Seacrest Wolf Preserve and the Orange Hill Gator Farm are other great natural attractions in Chipley. While the gator farm, situated a few miles south of Chipley, features private alligator tours, the wolf preserve, which is only a few miles from the gator farm, allows for the ability to interact personally with some of the wolves.
Port St. Joe
Located on St. Joseph Bay, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the town of Port St. Joe has several awesome attractions that are perfect for nature lovers. From T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, which has ten miles of sandy beaches and camping opportunities to Cape San Blas, with phenomenal views of St. Joseph Bay, this is the place for outdoor enthusiasts.
Port St. Joe is also home to the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center, which offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about local sea turtles and the habitats that sustain them. The Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival, which occurs toward the end of May, is also worth checking out.
Vero Beach
One of the more popular small towns of the Sunshine State, situated 25 miles north of Port St. Lucie, the town of Vero Beach is home to McKee Botanical Garden. McKee Botanical Garden, located in downtown Vero Beach, has a bit of something for everyone, including 18 acres of beautiful landscape featuring thousands of tropical plants, art exhibitions, and several awesome annual events.
Also nicknamed the “Hibiscus City”, Vero Beach is home to many other attractions that welcome nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, including Round Island Beach Park and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. Pelican Island offers guests and residents of Vero Beach alike the opportunity to go fishing, bird-watching, boating, kayaking, and hiking along the gorgeous Centennial Trail.
Cocoa Beach
Just south of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach is home to a plethora of awesome natural attractions, including Cocoa Beach Pier and Cocoa Beach itself. While the pier, which spans eight hundred feet, offers everything from restaurants, like the Boardwalk Bar, to gift shops, Cocoa Beach offers all the amenities of a great Florida beach, including swimming, bathing, and surfing the waves.
The town of Cocoa Beach, which is only a minute or so away from the town of Cocoa (sometimes called West Cocoa), is also home to the Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park and the Alan Shepard Beachfront Park. The memorial park was named after the mayor of Cocoa Beach from ‘62 to ‘73, while the beachfront park was named after the first American astronaut to travel into space.
Okeechobee
Situated on the northern end of Lake Okeechobee, the small town of Okeechobee is a perfect vacation spot for nature lovers. The number one reason for this is that many awesome water-related activities are available due to its proximity to Lake Okeechobee, one of Florida’s most popular lakes. These include fishing, boating, kayaking, and hiking, among others.
The town of Okeechobee is home to several other outdoor activities, including the Wagon Wheel Horse Farm and Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Wagon Wheel offers horseback riding for all ages through the wilderness of central Florida. The state park, situated north of town, offers opportunities for stargazing and wildlife viewing. You can even camp overnight or for the entire weekend if that is your wish.
High Springs
The picturesque town of High Springs, situated just over twenty miles northwest of Gainesville, is home to O’Leno State Park and Blue Springs State Park. Both of these state parks offer hiking, paddling, swimming, bird-watching, camping, and picnicking. Blue Springs, also called Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs, should not be confused with the Orange City Blue Springs State Park, approximately 120 miles to the southeast.
Poe Springs Park and River Rise Preserve State Park are some other natural attractions around the town of High Springs. Poe Springs Park, located next to Blue Springs Park, offers loop trails, a spring, a boat ramp, picnicking opportunities, and even volleyball courts. River Rise Preserve, situated south of O’Leno State Park, has an equestrian campground with a 20-stall horse barn and is primarily primitive camping without electricity or water.
Fernandina Beach
Located on Amelia Island and home to Fort Clinch State Park, the quaint town of Fernandina Beach is one of those fabulous hidden gems that are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Fort Clinch State Park, situated to the north of town and south of St. Marys River, offers guests the opportunity to merge the historic and the natural in a nice combination of fun and excitement. Perhaps you will even find a shark tooth while you are there.
A couple of other excellent attributes to Fernandina Beach that encourage nature lovers to return over and over, Main Beach Park and Peters Point Beachfront Park both call Amelia Island home. Along with offering amenities such as outdoor showers, restrooms, and picnic opportunities, these two parks are within easy walking distance of each other.
Apalachicola
The quaint, picturesque town of Apalachicola, situated 25 miles east of Port St. Joe on the Gulf of Mexico coast, is home to a plethora of awesome natural attractions. The Apalachicola River runs a hundred miles north of town, from the Apalachicola Bay to the north in the city to Lake Seminole, and has several amenities, including Scipio Creek Boardwalk, Owl Creek, and Ocheesee Pond.
Lafayette Park, located in downtown Apalachicola, along the banks of the Apalachicola Bay, is another of this small town’s natural amenities. This lovely park provides visitors and residents alike with ample opportunities to enjoy the beauty of nature. Plus, there are several campgrounds in the area for those wishing to stay for the night or even the weekend.
St. Augustine
Just south of Jacksonville, the small town of St. Augustine has numerous outdoor activities that will attract nature lovers to its environs. A couple of these natural attractions include the St. Augustine Wild Reserve and the St. Augustine Alligator Zoo. The wild reserve, situated north of town, has over eighty different species, including lions, bobcats, tigers, and leopards. In contrast, the alligator zoo has daily shows featuring alligators, snakes, and even parrots.
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is another awesome venue that calls St. Augustine home. Whether you visit some of the many exhibits, like the blacksmith exhibit, the Timucua Village exhibit, the Timucua Burial Exhibit, or the Chalupa Boathouse exhibit, there is something for everyone. They even have information of Ponce de Leon and his travels in the 1500s.
Crystal River
An hour and a half up the coast of the Gulf of Mexico from St. Petersburg, the town of Crystal River is home to several natural attributes that encourage visitors to return over and over. From Three Sisters Springs, which is a part of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, to the Crystal River itself, outdoor enthusiasts have a plethora of natural amenities to choose from.
Crystal River is also home to Fort Island Gulf Beach, which is situated along the western tip of Fort Island, just minutes away from downtown Crystal River. With amenities such as a fishing pier, a boardwalk, a boat ramp, covered pavilions, and ample scenic views of the Gulf, this is an ideal place to visit with friends and family.
Mount Dora
The picturesque town of Mount Dora, situated just to the east of Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, and Lake Dora, is home to numerous great activities relating to the water, including fishing, swimming, kayaking, and boating. Lake Eustis is the center of seven lakes within the Harris Chain of Lakes, while Lake Dora is considered by most to be the most distinguished and respected of these seven lakes.
Also home to a plethora of awesome parks, like Trimble Park, Lighthouse Park, and Palm Island Park, the town of Mount Dora offers nature lovers a choice of venues, depending on what interests them. Trimble Park offers camping options, while Palm Island Park, also considered a nature reserve, has a great scenic hiking trail, pavilions, and even a boardwalk.
Punta Gorda
Situated off Charlotte Harbor and 30 miles north of Cape Coral, the town of Punta Gorda is home to Peace River Wildlife Center and the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. Peace River, located on the edge of Charlotte Harbor State Park, offers a rescue - rehabilitation - release program for well over 2,500 different animals yearly. The Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary, situated south of town, is responsible for a plethora of exotic animals, including bears, tigers, and wolves.
The town of Punta Gorda is also home to the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens and Babcock Ranch Preserve. Babcock Ranch is a “working” cattle ranch and a nature preserve dedicated to strengthening Florida's landscape. The Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, nearly thirty acres of beautiful gardens and sculptures located along the banks of the Peace River, contain sculptures by a variety of artists.
Concluding Thoughts
From the panhandle of Florida to the Florida Keys, excitement and fun await any and all visitors of the Sunshine State. Whether it is in Chipley at the Seacrest Wolf Preserve or in the Kissimmee Preserve State Park in the picturesque town of Okeechobee, there are numerous outdoor activities available in Florida. And these are just the beginning. These are only a dozen of the most scenic small towns in Florida that are perfect for nature lovers.
