See a different side of the Sunshine State
What’s not to love about Florida’s Withlacoochee State Trail? It’s long, flat and perfectly located for family fun before and after your epic Trikke ride. If you start in Citrus Springs and carve all the way to Trilby, you’ll have covered over 45, flat-as-a-pancake miles of smoothly paved trail. If my math is correct, that means an out-and-back ride would be about, oh say, 90 miles. A hardcore carver could probably do it all in one shot. As for me, it sounds like an excuse for a Florida overnighter.
I highly recommend this trail if you’re visiting Disney World, or any of the other tourist attractions around Orlando. It’s a great family trail with lots to see on and around it. In addition to the fun of riding a Trikke on the Withlacoochee, you’ll enjoy stopping in quaint little Florida towns, eating at local restaurants, observing the turtles along the trail, shopping in little general stores, and visiting a u-pick citrus grove on your way back to Orlando and Disney World. We visited during spring break (late March) and the weather was perfect for a ride.
More than anything, Florida was a nice change of scenery after a cool winter in Colorado, and the Withlacoochee State Trail was a relaxing change of pace from the fun but fast pace of the Disney Resorts. Our vacation was as perfect as they come. We love visiting the Disney Complex, Universal Studios, and other tourist attractions in Florida, but we also enjoy leaving the crowds behind and spending time on a peaceful trail. And we really saw a different side of Florida. We didn’t have to drive too far out of Orlando to start fully appreciating the wild side of the state and the southern U.S.
If you’re interested in riding wonderful Trikke trails while on vacation in Florida, I highly recommend the Withlacoochee State Trail. If you want a trail that’s a little closer to Orlando and Winter Garden, you may also want to check out the West Orange Trail. It’s another one of the fun Florida trails located on the outskirts of Orlando.
A version of this story originally appeared on Trailsnet.
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Great article Kevin! It sounds like you had an amazing trip. A great alternative to spending a day at the theme parks. Sometimes tourists and even locals take for granted the beauty of the natural and less hectic side of Florida.
Thanks Wild Florida. You guys have some fantastic trails for Trikking & biking. As much as I enjoy the theme parks, I love the Florida trails even more. (a lot cheaper, too) (-: