DISQUS

My Itchy Travel Feet: Walk on the wild side at Florida's Paynes Prairie State Preserve

  • Sheila Scarborough · 1 year ago
    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!
  • Vera Marie Badertscher · 1 year ago
    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!
  • Jenny · 1 year ago
    The alligators just makes me wanna go there and not avoid them at all. Soon!
  • Beth Blair · 1 year ago
    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.
  • Donna Hull · 1 year ago
    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.