J.B. Starkey Wildneress Preserve (Port Richey, Florida)

On November 10, 2014, we left Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and drove to Savannah, Georgia where we stayed for a few days before finally arriving in Port Richey, Florida. (The trip to Savannah was a second visit for us, the first being in 2011, which I blogged about here.) In the past we've spent our on-the-road winters in different South Texas Towns, and various Arizona locations, but this year will be the first year we spend an entire winter season in Florida. Five other RV'ing couples we know who also like to come to warmer southern climes this time of year will comprise our small neighborhood of friends and golfers in the RV Resort we are staying in. In addition to golfing and reconnecting with old friends, Dan and I like to explore what the area has to offer for biking and hiking, and here we found the J.B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve. This gem of a park nestled in the middle of a very busy city is filled with miles of walking, hiking, equestrian, and biking trails that wind through forests of pine flatwoods, cypress domes, freshwater marshes, stream and lake swamps, and sandhill and scrub covering an 8500 wetland ecosystem. We've been to the park a couple of times to ride our bikes, and plan to make this a regular destination while in Port Richey. So far we've spotted deer, a red rat snake, an armadillo, lots and lots of lizards, and a variety of water birds. On our first visit we stumbled into a winter Christmas Wonderland as well, very fun and timely!