Central – Section 3.2: Lake Country & Scenic Trail
Stretching across 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee—meaning “big water” in Seminole—earns its title as Florida’s largest inland lake and a must-see natural wonder. Photo courtesy of CycleHere Media.
In fact, there are lakes saturating all of Central Florida—there are more than a thousand in Lake County alone—but when it comes to inland lakes in the Sunshine State, Florida’s Lake Okeechobee tops them all. “Okeechobee” is a Seminole word meaning “big water,” and when travelers see its vast expanse of 730 sq. miles, they’ll understand why.
Expansive skies and untouched beauty await at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, a haven for wildlife watchers and stargazers alike in the heart of Okeechobee County. Photo courtesy of CycleHere Media.
With its location bordering and encompassing the northern end of Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee County is the ideal place to experience this southern part of Central Florida. If the water beckons, visitors can enjoy fishing and air boating, or jump on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, which encircles the lake for 110 miles and provides hikers, bikers and wildlife watchers with scenic vistas.
The tranquil waters of Port Richey reflect a way of life shaped by the Gulf of America, the Pithlachascotee River, and Miller’s Bayou—setting the stage for unforgettable adventures along Florida’s Sports Coast. Photo courtesy of VISIT FLORIDA.
Florida’s Sports Coast (Pasco County) offers a huge array of outdoor and nature-themed recreation, starting with an expanded Bay Scallops season beginning in July. Adventure-seekers can grab mesh bags and snorkeling gear and head under the waves of Pasco Bay to retrieve the ever-elusive Bay Scallops, which are usually found hiding among blades of seagrass just under the surface. These tasty rewards are just the beginning of what can be found in the waters along Florida’s Sports Coast, and local marinas are ready to get you going.
Colorful hot air balloons rise over Wesley Chapel, offering a serene, sky-high perspective of Florida’s Sports Coast before the adrenaline rush kicks in. Photo courtesy of Roundhouse.
Florida’s Sports Coast is also made for the adrenaline-junkies, where visitors find the Skydive City in Zephyrhills, TreeHoppers Aerial Park in Dade City and on hot-air ballon rides in Wesley Chapel. Encounters with nature are waiting here as well—check out Giraffe Ranch, where safari jeep rides, Segways or expeditions via camel include animal interactions.
