South East USA trip -- part 3, North West Florida

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We last visited Okefenokee swamp in Georgia. We did trails from the eastern part, then we drove to the western part to do trails there. We then headed South to Florida using highway 75. On the way, we never saw so many jails in one place......

We arrived at Gainesville. This is a nice medium sized town. The area around the college is particularly beautiful. The city served as a base to explore parks in the surroundings.

We went to:

1- Devil's Millhopper: a collapsed big sinkhole, that you can go down to, using stairs. Although being close to town, it's a quiet place, surrounded by forest. There's a little museum to explain geology of the place and show fossils.

2-Payne's Prairie preserve: South of Gainesville. Preserve a distinct prairie ecosystem in the region. Saw many turkeys there. Also, around the ponds and small lakes, there were many snakes, (none venomous), so I enjoyed it.

3-Manatee spring state park: about 60km west of Gainesville. We did not see any manatee that day, (they migrate according to seasons). But the crystal clear river is full of fishes and turtles. Some people were doing snorkeling.

That was my second time in Florida. This state, really has it all: lots of beaches, many nature parks and reserves, (protecting forests, swamps, prairies, corals reefs,etc..), big cities, amusements parks, etc..

Next blog, we move East to St-Augustine

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