A reclaimed phosphate mine has been restored to a beautiful park in Hardee County, offering exceptional camping, boating and a dozen trails perfect for hiking, off-road bicycles and e-bikes.
Author: Bob Rountree
2026 Florida Spring Training Guide
Baseball spring training tickets are a great idea for a last minute gift! Our Spring Training Guide points you to tickets and team schedules, as well as things to do and see nearby so you can build an itinerary.
Colt Creek State Park: Haven for trail walkers, off-road cyclists and wildlife. Great camping, too!
Colt Creek State Park is a former cattle ranch tucked into a corner of the massive Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve near Lakeland with camping, hiking, fishing, bicycle trails and an equestrian campground.
Pirate Stories, Fairs & Festivals
The state’s coastal waters, natural harbors and islands have a colorful history of pirates, smugglers and other miscreants.
Top 6 family-friendly campgrounds in South Florida
The best campgrounds in South Florida for family adventures can be found in these six public parks.
Spring Break 2027
This week and next week will see the biggest crowds at Florida’s major Spring Break destinations.
Florida Boat Shows Calendar
With more than a million registered vessels, Florida is the Boating Capital of the Nation, so it should come as no surprise there are more than two dozen major boat shows across the state each year, including some of the largest boat shows in the world.
Florida Strawberry Festival, March 4-14, 2027
The big draw to the state’s most popular festival is a stellar entertainment lineup on the Wish Farms Stage.
Florida State Fair: Feb. 5-16, 2026
Who doesn’t love the Florida State Fair, its magical midway, and food that is not very good for you — which, of course, is the appeal of a state fair!
2025’s most popular stories in Florida Rambler
More than a million visitors read more than 600 stories on Florida Rambler over the past year. Here are the 10 most-read articles duriing 2025.