Fort George Island Cultural State Park
| May 11, 2012 | Posted by Katy under Travels |
Today called for a rest day on my training plan but it was a beautiful day outside and I wanted to be outdoors. I did not want to do anything too active, so a hike sounded just about right.
I did a quick Google search of areas to hike in Jacksonville and a huge list of parks came up, many of which were within a descent driving distance of my apartment. I selected one at random, grabbed a water bottle, and headed out to the Fort George Island Cultural State Park.
During the drive to the park, I was in awe of how beautiful it was. Even though I have been living in Jacksonville for close to three years, there are so many areas I have not explored. I honestly felt like I was in a different city. It was so peaceful and laid back.
When I got to the park, I headed out for the 3.2 mile hiking trail. I was the only one on the trail which was nice, but at the same time a little eery. I think the next time I come I will either bring a friend or come at a time when more people would be around.
Unfortunately I only had time to explore for about 40 minutes because it was starting to get late, but I saw many different types of wildlife, including two tortoises. The trail was well marked and had various routes you could go if you wanted to add on more distance to the loop. If I ever were to get into trail running, this path would be a good place to train. For the most part, the dirt was packed and was free of a lot of roots and road hazards.
Overall, it was a short, but nice way to escape the “real world” for a little bit. Next time I will make sure that I go a little earlier in the day to have more time to explore. I am also excited to go to the other nearby trails and parks. I even found one that has a beach!
There are times when I complain about living in Florida, but it is places like this that make me appreciative of the beautiful state where I live. I know that I won’t be living here forever, so I suppose I should explore as much of the state as I can!
Do you like to hike? How do you escape the world for a little?
My name is Katy and I am a 23-year-old living, running, and cycling in and around the Washington, DC metro area. This blog chronicles my life, inner musings, and fitness adventures as I try to navigate this crazy thing called life!
Looks like a great park and a great afternoon! The parks in Florida are wonderful, everyone can be different. It’s fun to check out new ones, for a change of scenery.
What a beautiful trails. I live in Dallas Texas, so true tails are pretty scarce. I absolutely love hiking though, and we often try to go to places with great trails for vacation!