We’re back in New York and it’s cold and cloudy, since its not quite spring yet. Blah! Kind of makes you want to head back South, but we’re eager to spend time with friends and family in our northern home.

But…. I’m already missing my “outside time” so I wanted to share about two of my favorite local nature preserves.

SPACE COAST, FLORIDA

Coconut Point Sanctuary, Melbourne Beach

In this 62-acre sanctuary, a well maintained path takes you through oak scrub that feels desert-like and into oak and mangrove forests that are lush with vegetation. There’s even a look out to the Indian River mid-way on the hiking path.

There are signs to watch for alligators and other wildlife, but I haven’t seen wildlife on any of my hikes. It’s best to visit in the Spring or Fall when its not too hot and in the Spring you may even get to see the cactus blooming.

The looping trail is slightly less than a mile, and takes about 15-20 minutes to walk the full length. (Plus a bit more to get back to the parking area.)

HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORK

RamsHorn-Livingston Audubon Sanctuary, Catskill

This 612 acre nature preserve features two creeks, plus a tree covered walking path that leads to a tower you can climb for a view of swamps with grasses and wild flowers. There’s also a woodsy area that leads to a deck overlooking a small pond. With this much diversity in landscape, you have a good chance of seeing birds of all types, from songbirds to Blue Herons to Bald Eagles.

There are two ways to explore this sanctuary. You can walk the looping trail that’s a little over two miles, taking about 45-60 minutes to walk the full length. Or you can kayak through the sanctuary from two different entrance points. There’s one from the Catskill Creek, and the other from the Hudson River.

I’ve seen a larger variety of birds from my kayak then walking, but both ways are worth exploring. If you plan to bird watch from the deck or platform don’t forget to bring your binoculars.

CREATOR SPOTLIGHT

Berlin Forever Berlin

I’ll be traveling to Berlin at the end of April, and its been over 20 years since I’ve been there. So…. I’ve started to follow Berlin Creators to get some ideas. This creator shares things to do and places to eat in Berlin. I’m excited to check out some of the places she’s shared about!

It’s always wonderful to get outside and enjoy nature, even if you have to don a coat to do so. I hope you enjoyed discovering these two sanctuaries! Send me an email or leave a comment if you have a favorite walking spot.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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