Discovering Florida 2 - Jefferson Aleman

Discover Florida from a new perspective - 25 scenic cycling routes through history, nature, and hidden corners.

Explore Florida's landscapes and lesser-known places on two wheels with this guide to 25 memorable cycling routes. From the sunlit shores of Sarasota to the immense waters of Lake Okeechobee and the remote wilderness of the Everglades, each journey reveals a different side of the state's history, culture, and natural environment. The routes pass through small towns, rural farmland, ghost towns, and wildlife preserves while uncovering stories of early settlers, indigenous communities, and events that helped shape Florida.

Pedal through the quiet roads of Sarasota County, where historic downtown streets lead toward the Amish and Mennonite community of Pinecraft and the ranchlands and citrus groves around Myakka City and Arcadia. Along the way, discover local history tied to Spanish exploration, Seminole traditions, influential settlers such as Bertha Palmer, and the enduring landmarks of small-town Florida.

Another route circles the vast Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the second largest in the continental United States. This ride crosses five counties and passes through communities including Belle Glade, Clewiston, Moore Haven, and the Seminole Reservation in Brighton. The journey reveals Florida's agricultural heartland, with fields of sugarcane, citrus, and corn, along with historic sites, ghost towns, and locations of natural and archaeological importance.

For riders drawn to wilder landscapes, the Everglades route travels seventy-seven miles through remote terrain in Miami-Dade County. The road passes through Chekika, Taylor Slough, the historic Aerojet test site, and Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, where wetlands, sawgrass prairies, mangroves, and rare wildlife-including panthers, alligators, and American crocodiles-shape the landscape. Along the way, the route touches on the history of Seminole leaders, Cold War-era NASA propulsion testing, and the ongoing efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems.

Part travel narrative, part historical exploration, and part cycling guide, this book combines clear route descriptions with historical context and observations of Florida's diverse landscapes. It invites cyclists, history enthusiasts, and curious travelers alike to experience the state slowly and closely-from the seat of a bicycle.