Hankering to visit a Florida state park? Give in to the urge. Our state parks promise to show the real Florida, and generally deliver on that promise. I’ve found the real magic often kicks in when I’m ...

SARASOTA — On a muggy Sunday, visitors to Myakka River State Park wiped away sweat from their face and made their way through the remote interior of Florida's oldest and largest state park despite ...

Step aboard either the Gator Gal or the Myakka Maiden, the world’s two largest passenger airboats, for a one-hour cruise round the Upper Myakka Lake. You’ll spot plenty of gators and wading birds, and ...

When most people think of the Sarasota, Florida area, beaches usually come to mind—the beautiful white-sand variety, lined with warm, clear water. Most visitors don’t explore beyond the shore—or their ...

MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK, Fla. — Old Florida still exists for travelers who are willing to veer a bit off the interstate and away from the beach resorts, marina restaurants and city lights. One of ...

Visiting a Florida state park is the perfect relaxing getaway. For this nature-loving, day trip I chose Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County on the west side of Florida. As you enter the park’s ...

“Myakka River State Park, 17 miles east of Sarasota, Florida, is as popular during the winter months as during the summer. The park's scenic river, rendezvous of myriads of exotic birds, is a favorite ...

The new manager of Myakka River State Park learned to love nature as a youth exploring the wilds of Connecticut. Yes, Connecticut. “I was outdoors all the time, hiking, fishing, swimming,” says ...

Changes to the Myakka River State Park management plan could mean palm trees there could be harvested for timber; but environmentalists are urging people who oppose the changes to turn out to a ...