Winter, what winter?

This winter season has been so mild you could almost miss it passing by and spring is already bursting to life all around our county. This means new birds will soon be flying in. Plan to visit Highlands Hammock State Park to look for spring species like Northern parulas, Yellow-throated vireos, and Swallow-tailed kites. Sharp-eyed visitors may see Ruby-throated hummingbirds too. Be sure to ask for a bird list at the Ranger Station as you pay your park admission. Highlands Hammock is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to just before sundown.

The delightful weather may make you want to play outside too. Are you ready for some adventure? Grab your mountain bike or any fat-tire bike and head out to Highlands County’s off road bicycle trails hidden near the back of the Sun N Lakes community. (Turn west onto Sun N Lake Blvd from US Highway 27, follow until road ends, turning north (right) onto Balboa Blvd and look for the white shell parking area on the western side (left side) of the road). Grab a map of the single track bike trails from the kiosk box which lists them by level of difficulty. Trails are grass and dirt pathways through the woods, some offering bridges over dark water creeks or swales you can splash through or go around. It’s a blast! Pack a sandwich and some drinking water in a backpack so you can stop along the way and enjoy lunch in the silence. I suggest some Off bug spray on your shoes to keep the chiggers at bay in the grassy sections and be sure to pay attention to wherever you put your feet down. Fire ants are pretty prevalent on the raised roadbeds so don’t stop until you’ve checked the ground below!