[TarHeelTerritory]

As in parts away from the immediate coastline (aka the ocean doesn't count). I'm talking about trees, flora, natural springs, any elevation changes, etc. And where can one find scenery that is a mixture of "Deep South meets the Tropics," such as Spanish moss, live oaks, and palms all in one area? Thanks.

[beachmouse]

Tallahassee and nearby Wakulla Springs State Park fit those criteria

[RedneckRebel]

Lake county

[Huskies7]

Around Gainesville and surrounding cities. High Springs has lots of springs, greenery, and oaks with moss. Micanopy is interesting with all of the trees.

[Chrisgator]

Tallahassee

[jcp123]

Gonna monitor this one. Been slowly falling in love with Florida for a decade.

[Johnathon Hills]

Originally Posted by RedneckRebel

Lake county

This.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by TarHeelTerritory

As in parts away from the immediate coastline (aka the ocean doesn't count). I'm talking about trees, flora, natural springs, any elevation changes, etc. And where can one find scenery that is a mixture of "Deep South meets the Tropics," such as Spanish moss, live oaks, and palms all in one area? Thanks.

Check out Mount Dora and Tavares.

[theurbanfiles]

Tallahassee almost certainly.


Not saying that places like Lake Wales, Dade City, Clermont, even Lakeland aren't pretty (they are), but most of that land that is highlands is really only pretty in a drivable, rolling farmland (increasingly suburban Tampa/Orlando development) sense. Bok Tower Gardens is so unique because you can really walk up and feel the hills there, though I'm not sure I'd call that a natural area. I've been meaning to drive over to Archbold Biological Station as it's listed as the only part of the Lake Wales Ridge or inland hills of Florida kept in a more natural state.

In terms of hills being ubiquitous.. well geological features don't really start showing up until Dame's Cave in Hernando County.. but the furthest down true geological/terrain hike in Florida is probably the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail in Silver Springs:
https://www.google.com/search?q=lake...Md04NqizNOqUsM

Devil's Millhopper is more well known.. but it's not until you reach the I-10 corridor that you get to more notable movements of terrain.. as indicated here by the Physical map of Florida with how ubiquitous and rapid elevation changes, river valleys, etc. are there: https://www.mapsales.com/outlook-map...-wall-map.aspx

I went to Torreya State Park and by a firm margin that is the most un-Florida like/favorite hiking I've done in the state thus far.. the Garden of Eden Trail there, which I haven't done, looks prettier yet: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/...-of-eden-trail Truly a river canyon.. I think most spending significant time in Florida, even perhaps in the panhandle, wouldn't believe scenes like that existed here.

You also have natural features up there, like Florida Caverns https://www.google.com/search?q=flor...22&safe=strict

And these are all relatively close to Tallahassee, which has geology like that makes it relatively speaking, perhaps the winner https://www.google.com/search?q=tall...zXMJvX0zanLSjM as it's the closest decent sized city to all this stuff..

Of course, Pensacola though it's on the water, has some pretty cool stuff nearby too. https://www.google.com/search?q=blac..._aPZtr11YOv4iM Blackwater River State Forest, near the Alabama border, looks more like a small version of Georgia's Providence Canyon, with the geology evident underneath.

This shouldn't come as a huge surprise I guess.. Maybe just for me since it's a 9 hr or so drive up to our mountain retreat area in Highlands... but this northern part of Florida really isn't that far removed (as the bird travels, at least) from the mountains.. it's only 150 miles from the last image, within Florida, to the Talladega National Forest in Alabama which looks like this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=tall...UZFisF-zXkkz2M
So actually... ya know.. Appalachian/mountainous.

The Apalachicola River, highlighted in the photo of Garden of Eden/Torreya (and also signifying the start of Central Time Zone in FL and GA)-runs up and then connects with the Chattahoochee River at the FL, GA border, and then runs up along it, past Fort Benning and through Downtown Columbus a whitewater stretch, through ATL as a National Rec Area, becomes Lake Lanier, and then ultimately it's source is at 3,550' along the Appalachian Trail here
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ja...!4d-83.8102609

So yeah... tl;dr DEFINITELY Tallahassee.

[theurbanfiles]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Check out Mount Dora and Tavares.

Can't go wrong with these-but for deep south meets the tropics and springs.. I think this whole area of live oaks, rolling hills, etc, does pretty well.

I'm not an expert on this but I seem to remember someone who is a paddling/kayaking buff on here mentioning the fact that their favorite trail in the state would be Kings Landing in nearby Apopka and based on pictures I can see why.

https://www.google.com/search?q=king...3p3QgeTeR0ashM

Really, you can't go wrong with any FL Spring.. I frequented Wekiwa Springs when in college and always enjoyed that.. I'm not gonna lie-I didn't really care for the Ocala National Forest type scenery or didnt understand the hype... but I'm guessing the springs in, surrounding there are pretty cool (Alexander, Silver, etc.)

There's also Ravine Gardens up in Palatka which now that I remember it, is pretty cool.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ravi...PkzSfbrB4wS09M