When I spotted an alligator guarding a gate on the La Chua Trail (3-mile round trip) in Paynes Prairie State Preserve, Florida showed this baby boomer her wild side. As the gator basked in the sun with his eyes closed, I gave him plenty of room before tip-toeing through the gate towards the viewing platform and my goal of seeing a bison.
If you think Florida is all beaches and palm trees, well, think again. A 22,000-acre prairie wilderness stretches from Gainesville to Micanopy in the northeastern portion of the state. Wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hiking, biking and kayaking are just a few of the baby boomer adventures available in the preserve.
The La Chua Trail is accessed from the prairie’s North Rim on the outskirts of Gainesville. In the winter thousands of sandhill cranes call the area home. Paynes Prairie State Preserve’s main entrance is located ten miles south at Micanopy where a visitor’s center introduces visitors to the history, geology and biology of the preserve. From the 50-foot-high observation tower, lucky viewers catch glimpses of wild horses.
On this visit, a bison herd gathered under low scrub trees looking like brown blobs under a green canopy from my vantage point on the La Chua Trail. Crickets chirped and the air buzzed with the sound of insects. A mother alligator rested in shallow water near blue water hyacinths as a baby slept on her back.
The alligator had not left his post beside the gate on my return down the trail. Awake now, he warily viewed a photographer who was getting too close for my comfort. Joining a group of visitors making their way through the gate, I walked at a quick, quiet pace to safety avoiding the gator’s stare. That was wild enough for this baby boomer.
Sweetwater Branch Inn, 15 minutes away in Gainesville, makes a convenient baby boomer headquarters for visiting Paynes Prairie State Preserve. While you’re in the area, save time for visiting butterflies, kayaking the Ichetucknee or walking the garden paths at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.
Have you visited Paynes Prairie State Preserve? Post a comment to tell me about your adventure.
This travel experience was provided by the Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I used to live in Gainesville FL, and my first big travel writing break was an article about this part of North Central Florida. Paynes Prairie and Micanopy are wonderful; thanks for highlighting them!
I used to live in Gainesville FL, and my first big travel writing break was an article about this part of North Central Florida. Paynes Prairie and Micanopy are wonderful; thanks for highlighting them!
Donna: Good story! I should be packing for my own trip to Florida, but had to tell you about my encounter with an alligator a few years ago. My attention was focused on a flock of birds I was photographing, and I cautiously stepped backwards to get a good angle. When I looked down, I had stepped to within 3 feet of a big alligator. Fortunately, he was dozing, or just not hungry!
Donna: Good story! I should be packing for my own trip to Florida, but had to tell you about my encounter with an alligator a few years ago. My attention was focused on a flock of birds I was photographing, and I cautiously stepped backwards to get a good angle. When I looked down, I had stepped to within 3 feet of a big alligator. Fortunately, he was dozing, or just not hungry!
The alligators just makes me wanna go there and not avoid them at all. Soon!
The alligators just makes me wanna go there and not avoid them at all. Soon!
Eeek! I lived in Louisiana and remember the roaming gators but never got too close to one, they mostly were in the water. Great photo.
Eeek! I lived in Louisiana and remember the roaming gators but never got too close to one, they mostly were in the water. Great photo.
Twitter: DonnaLHull
October 31, 2008 at 2:38 am
Thanks for the comments.
Beth, Jenny and Vera Marie, that alligator was scary. We had been told to walk behind any alligators that blocked the trail. And especially not to get between the alligator and his access to water. Well, his location made that impossible. On the way down the path, we were the only ones walking by and he was definitely asleep. So we made a wide semi-circle around him. The way out was a different story. Lots of people were passing, his eyes were open and he appeared to be ready to move. I opted for strength in numbers! You can imagine my sigh of relief once I had walked out of harms way.
Twitter: DonnaLHull
October 31, 2008 at 2:38 am
Thanks for the comments.
Beth, Jenny and Vera Marie, that alligator was scary. We had been told to walk behind any alligators that blocked the trail. And especially not to get between the alligator and his access to water. Well, his location made that impossible. On the way down the path, we were the only ones walking by and he was definitely asleep. So we made a wide semi-circle around him. The way out was a different story. Lots of people were passing, his eyes were open and he appeared to be ready to move. I opted for strength in numbers! You can imagine my sigh of relief once I had walked out of harms way.
The La Chua trail is accessed from the prairie’s North Rim on the outskirts of Gainesville which is best of U.S. i love it.
Hey Florida is my favorite travel destination…..I like its heritage and travel areas!!!…Cheers!!!
Riviera Maya
Mine was with a gator too. My ex (and this story may give you some idea of why is my ex – loathe stupidity!), two boys and I were walking not too far from the road though, in the Everglades, when we came across a nest of alligator babies. The ex actually picked one up!! The boys and I just turned around and walked away very quickly (explaining quickly why he should not do that!………sadly the momma gator didn’t come back whilst the ex was actually holding her baby!
Twitter: DonnaLHull
June 4, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Linda, I can’t imagine picking up a baby alligator. There has to be a mama somewhere!
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