Category: Florida State

Florida Tech Botanical Garden – accessible, easy
The over twenty acre botanical garden at Florida Tech in Melbourne is free and open to the public.  There are more than 200 palms, bamboos and many other plants amidst winding streams in this lush setting.   Michelle Mulak in Florida Today writes that, “The trail has both paved and unpaved sections, with some small bridges and uneven terrain. When dry, this would be suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. When wet, wooden surfaces become slippery, and low-lying sections will flood. Most of the trail is shaded.”  Thank you to Bill Blevins for letting us know about the garden.   Phone 321-674-803  Virtual Tour   Map
Their website    Description and Self Guided Tour at plantsmap.com.
1.25 mile  Dent Smith Trail.  See comment above about the trail when it is wet.

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve empties into Perdido Bay.  It is “home to four species of endangered pitcher plants, as well as other rare and endangered plant species and.  Almost 100 rare plants and animals depend on the wet prairie habitat, including the alligator snapping turtle, sweet pitcher plant, and Chapman’s butterwort.”  Phone 850-492-1595  Here is their website.
Tarkiln Bayou Trail  0.5mile ADA accessible trail.  “The sidewalk and elevated boardwalk of this trail meanders through prairie, cypress and titi forests.  Benches along the trail provide areas for reflection.  When the trail ends, the observation area provides a scenic view of the bayou.”

Florida State Parks Accessible facilities.  A number of state parks are listed as having accessible trails.  However, most of the links do not work and even when they do, there are few description of the trails.