Beautiful Day for a Nature Hike
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118511)
Gainesville, Florida
December 13, 2015 1:36pm CST
My son and I like to visit all the local nature parks, state parks and conservation lands around my community. We usually try to go to a different location each time, and we usually get out about once or twice a month. Fortunately, there are so many parks in and around our community that it is going to take us a couple of years to get to them all!
Anyway, we woke up this morning and realized it was going to be a gorgeous Florida day, a perfect day to go for a hike. Clear blue skies, and temperatures hovering right around the 80 degree mark.
We chose an urban nature park called Loblolly Woods, full of boardwalks that meander through a floodplain of our city's main creek, Hogtown Creek. We really enjoyed exploring all that nature has to offer, and we were rewarded by having the opportunity to see deer, several snakes, a large osprey, and lots of smaller birds!
As we were walking along, my 12-year old son turned and said to me, "Dad, we are so lucky to live in Florida, where it is so nice in December. I bet everyone else up north is freezing right now!"
He sure made me smile, and yes, I am very thankful to be living in Florida and enjoying its mild winter!
How's the weather in your area? Is it too cold to get outside? Has it started snowing yet? Did any of you enjoy the great outdoors today?
10 people like this
13 responses
@VivaLaDani13 (60429)
• Perth, Australia
21 Mar 17
@moffittjc You really did make it sound so inviting! I love going for walks but unfortunately there is nothing as beautiful around where I live like you just described. More into the outback is better. Getting further away from the city has more to offer when it comes to nice scenery.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Mar 17
I'm very lucky that I live in a city where there is an abundance of nature parks and forests within the city limits. I never have to go very far to find a good place to hike!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Dec 15
I forgot that you are on opposite seasons from the United States! I hope you are enjoying your summer so far! Where I live in the US (Florida), it still feels like summer, as we are going through quite a warm spell right now. I don't mind too much, because I like to spend time outdoors as much as I can!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326065)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 15
@moffittjc I have to confess to feeling a bit smug when people complain of the cold and I'm sitting here in a T-shirt.
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
14 Dec 15
I wanted to go for a hike today also as it hit 65 degrees out but i did not make it. Hopefully i will get to hike before the season is over and we start getting snow.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Dec 15
Speaking of creatures that don't like the cold, there are two invasive species in south Florida that are thriving in its warm, tropical environment: the iguana and the python. You could have a field day photographing those creatures. They are everywhere in south Florida, and quickly taking over the native ecosystems. And since south Florida hardly ever gets a hard winter freeze, the iguana and python are thriving there!
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Dec 15
I had pretty much responded that way on the other replies to this post! What I consider cold is probably a whole lot different than what someone who is used to snow considers cold! In Florida, if it gets below 80 degrees (26.7 C), we are complaining that it's cold! hahaha
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Dec 15
What does a Canadian consider mild? I'm sure your definition of mild is a lot different than a Floridian's definition of mild! haha
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
13 Dec 15
we have been hiking,not a hike mostly walking trails and loved it.We take the dog with us.
I can climb but not as high any more.Medical issues has slow me down.Glad that you are still going at it.
We are still mild here.I am waiting for the first snow.Need to do some winter sport.
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Dec 15
Although you are experiencing mild weather currently, is it still warm enough to get outside and enjoy nature, or is it still a little too cold? Just wondering, because mild for someone in New Hampshire could me freezing cold to someone in Florida! lol
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
14 Dec 15
We had an early snow but none or a few weeks and it has remained quite mild
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
14 Dec 15
We had an early snow but none or a few weeks and it has remained quite mild
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Dec 15
It seems like everyone is enjoying mild weather right now! I find it strange that El Nino is supposed to give Florida a colder winter than normal, but so far that hasn't been the case. I know El Nino means a warmer winter for most of the North American continent, but for some strange reason Florida is the exception. We're supposed to be wet and cold, neither of which has happened yet.
@hiru84 (942)
• Malaysia
14 Dec 15
You have a clever son.We haven't snow and I like them so much.temperature is around 80 degree mark in winter?Is this low than other season?
@JESSY3236 (18930)
• United States
14 Dec 15
It wasn't cold yesterday. It was in the 70's. One of my friends on facebook said we have a nice spring this December here in NC. lol
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
14 Dec 15
We are not freezing yet, but in the next few days the temperature will drop. Glad you are enjoying the weather.
@moffittjc (118511)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Dec 15
I don't mind this weather too much, as it has been beautiful outside, but I am hoping that it cools down for Christmas. It's hard to get into the spirit of Christmas when it still feels like summer outside!
