Getaways to the authentic Florida
Casey Key, a skinny 8-mile-long barrier island south of Sarasota, is a great destination for someone who wants to pedal a great bike trail in the morning, beachcomb amid natural beauty in the afternoon and then enjoy an authentic waterfront fish house for dinner.
The Nature Coast Trail is a high-quality rail-trail with a picturesque train trestle over the Suwannee River and some good scenery. Two great state parks are nearby: Manatee Springs for camping and Fanning Springs for cabins. It makes a great weekend for cyclists.
Dunnellon is known for its spectacular Rainbow Springs and River, especially during tubing season. But there are more reasons to visit in cool weather, including another exquisite river– the Withlacoochee — several good restaurants, and trails for both hiking and biking.
One of the best Florida bike trails – the Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail – is a well-shaded rural trail that makes a stop at a rare-for-Florida Civil War site.
The Seminole Wekiva Trail is a 14-mile paved “rail trail” that is part of a network of existing and planned trails across Central Florida in the Orlando metro area.