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| e of the trails at U.N.F. |
One of the keys to success in any business endeavor is making good decisions. Making good decisions requires clear thinking. One of the things that helps me to keep my thinking clear is taking long walks in the woods. Long walks are one of the best things I do for myself. I believe that long peaceful walks are good for anyone who is able to take them.
When people visit Jacksonville for the 2020 Republican
National Convention or other events, some may want to stray off the paved and beaten paths. There are several
excellent places for a nice hike that are just a short ride from downtown Jacksonville.
Note: If you go out walking in Jacksonville in August, it
will probably be hot, even in the morning and early evening. The heat can cause
people to sweat profusely, and it doesn’t take long at all to become dehydrated.
Believe me, you don’t want to be a mile from your parking spot when you start
to feel overheated. Bring a bottle of water.
Also, there are lots of insects in Florida and many of them
bite. That’s especially true at the Timucuan Preserve. For that reason, it’s a
good idea to either apply some insect repellant before starting a walk.
Jacksonville Arboretum
The Arboretum is operated by a non-profit 501c3 charitable
organization. It’s a nice example of what a group can do when they pool their
efforts. It’s only a ten-minute drive from downtown. There’s a paved walkway
around a lake and several miles of unpaved trails through the woods. There’s
also an award-winning Loblolly Bay Tree.
Nature Trails at University of North Florida.
The trails go around a lake, through
woods, and through a swamp. There’s a lot to see, including gopher tortoises
grazing on the vegetation at times. There are also exercise stations for sit-ups,
pullups, and walking on a balance beam a few feet off the ground.
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.
The Timucuan Preserve is part of the National Park
Service. There are two entrances to miles of excellent hiking trails.
Theodore Roosevelt Area, 13165 Mt. Pleasant Road.
The Theodore Roosevelt Area is one
part of the preserve that has several miles of unpaved trails through the
woods. One trail leads to an observation tower looking out over a salt marsh.
And unlike most other parks in Jacksonville, the Timucuan preserve has one
trail that’s a bit steep and moderately challenging. There’s not a lot of parking
space, but there is a bathroom near the parking lot.
Fort Caroline Visitor Center, 12713 Fort Caroline Road.
Another entrance to the
same trails is across the street from the Fort Caroline National Memorial. There
are more parking spaces than there are at the Theodore Roosevelt Area, but
there’s no bathroom. There are facilities at the Fort Caroline National
Memorial, but you may need to plan ahead if that isn’t going to be open when
you visit.
