Lake Griffin State Park

Disney World may only be an hour away, but the natural beauty and recreational bounty of Lake Griffin State Park is a mighty contender to the charms of Mickey and crew. The park’s 620 acres of tranquil waterways and leafy lakeside shores include the sprawling Mammoth Oak, the second largest live oak tree in all of Florida and the crown jewel of an easily accessible half-mile nature walk. To access the lake, visitors can kayak or canoe through the Dead River, a meandering canal rife with wildlife including cormorants, anhingas, herons, soft-shelled turtles, ospreys, and friendly Florida alligators (well, maybe not too friendly--there’s no swimming allowed). Ample fishing opportunities drew Native Americans to the lake thousands of years (yes, thousands!) before it was opened as a state park in the early ‘60s to accommodate recreational fishermen; bluegill, speckled perch, catfish, crappie, and bass are among the renowned aquatic offerings. Between the boating, picnicking, camping, canoeing, hiking, and fresh catch off the lines of lucky anglers, there’s plenty of outdoors to explore at the lovely Lake Griffin State Park.