Bee Island doesn’t look like an island. There’s no water in sight. But back when Myakka River State Park was just one massive grassy cattle pasture, this stretch of elevated ground was home to the ...

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 ...

Bruce and Cindy Krueger told me they had a tough week at Myakka River State Park. Cold weather kept the Indiana retirees cooped up in their RV. Then they felt like they got the cold shoulder from ...

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 ...

Visiting a Florida state park is the perfect 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 dense ...

Florida's incredible state parks system is one of the best in the United States, boasting a total of 175 designated state parks — the fifth-most of any state. And one of its oldest state parks is also ...

Considered one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks, Myakka River State Park stretches across 58 square miles of wetlands, hammocks, pinelands and prairies. The area also features a river and ...