Highlands Hammock

Most of us think of hammocks as some fabric slung between two trees that you while the day away dozing and relaxing. Florida hammocks can be a different thing. A somewhat local term, hammocks are hardwood, canopied, slightly elevated forests surrounded by swampy land.

We stayed at Highlands Hammock State Park for almost a week. While the campground itself was not a favorite, we did enjoy the park. We rode bikes and walked most of the short hikes through the hammocks. Lush, green foliage, ferns, wild orange trees, cypress and oak trees filled with Spanish moss, made for a quiet, restful place. Though there were signs everywhere warning of alligators, we only saw one. We saw more wild pigs than we did alligators!

The state park is home to a Florida culinary experience – the sour orange pie. Good luck finding it outside the park. It’s like a key lime pie, only made with oranges and orange zest and every bit as tart. We certainly liked the change up. Yum!

Up the road in Avon Park, you’ll find Maxwell’s Grove. There you can find sour orange ice cream, excuse me, sour orange non-dairy frozen dessert. No matter, it’s still a nice, tart flavor on a warm day. 

Wild Oranges

Biking down the trail

Swampy Reflection

Don't lose your balance

Geocache

Continued life

I spy...

Cypress Swamp Trail

Where Are We Going Next?