If you need some downtime when you’re here on vacation, there’s no place better than the 950-acre Lake Lizzie Nature Preserve. At a cost of zero dollars for entry, it won’t take up any of your vacation budget and unlike the theme parks, you won’t find any crowds here to fight with. This place is definitely a secret, not too many folks…even the locals…know it exists, so let’s keep this one between you and me…OK. Yesterday my daughter and I took a leisurely stroll down one of the trails and enjoyed the beautiful Florida Winter weather.
If you’re worried about getting lost, don’t. All of the trails are well marked. They are also fairly wide, to accommodate horseback riders, bikers and hikers.
The preserve is part of The Great Florida Birding Trail so keep your eyes peeled…
Birds aren’t the only thing you might encounter on these magnificent trailways. This is a deer track. Hmm…maybe Bambi does make it out of Walt Disney World every once in a while.
The rooted-up earth here suggests that wild boar hogs have been looking for something tasty to eat. You might even get lucky and spot a mother with babies…now that’s a treat!
The trails are flanked with native palmetto and pine trees…
as well as magnificent oaks…
In the shadier oak hammocks you can find wild mushrooms.
Photo ops abound in the preserve. Check out this pine archway we discovered…
This place is truly serene, located in the center of four lakes, you can’t hear anything except the birds chirping and the occasional cricket.
The Lake Lizzie Nature Preserve is a hop, skip, and a jump from Kissimmee in the neighboring town of St. Cloud. There are two entrances into the preserve. One entrance is on Old Melbourne Highway and the other is located just off Bass Highway. The park is open from dusk till dawn, 365 days a year so there’s no excuse not to come check it out on your next trip to Central Florida.
To see all 40 photos I took at the Lake Lizzie Nature Preserve, check out my flickr photo stream.
Until Tomorrow,
P.S. What is your favorite thing to do during your downtime here in Central Florida? Let me know in the comment section below.
Glad you wrote about this – I thought about going here for my week, but couldn’t figure out where it was! Its lovely – and I LOVE that you’re a nature tracker as well as Disney Pro-Expert!
I love Lake Lizzie. If you ever get a chance to go with the Eleanor with the University of Florida’s Extension Services, you’ll get to know every facet of the preserve and it’s inhabitants.
Rori…if you need directions hit me up on Twitter and I can guide ya.
Good Tip Chelsea! =)