Hiking at Collier-Seminole State Park

In Florida, February does triple duty for celebrations of the heart.

February is American Heart Month. According to the Florida Department of Health, heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in Florida. Both diseases can be prevented if citizens are aware of heart disease, the symptoms and ways to prevent medical issues. And guess what – walking is one of the best exercises for keeping the heart healthy.

It’s only fitting that Governor Rick Scott has proclaimed February as Florida Hiking Trails Month. Florida State Parks and the Florida Trail Association, invite you to hike to your heart’s content. Whether you prefer a walk in the woods or a walk on the beach and no matter where you are in Florida, you’ll find the perfect scenic view on more than 600 miles of multi-use trails in a state park or along the 110-mile Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway or eight state trails.

VISIT FLORIDA offers a statewide trail guide with featured trails, photos and activities. To make the month even better, Valentine’s Day is Tuesday, Feb. 14. Couples can renew their vows at Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach. Ceremonies will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the gazebo on the beach. Friends of Lovers Key will provide each couple a photo taken at sunset. Champagne punch and treats will be served to music as everyone enjoys the sunset and a quiet walk on the beach. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 6. $45 donation per couple. Visit www.friendsofloverskey.org for more information.

Reenactment at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park

Florida State Parks didn’t win two National Gold Medal awards just because they house some of the most pristine, biologically rich natural areas that Florida has to offer; they won because running deep under those beautiful and often mysterious landscapes are the roots of this nation’s history and culture.

Black History Month in Florida’s state parks is always an exciting and educational time. From the Civil Wars Heritage Days event at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West on Feb. 10-12 to the Flight to Freedom event at Fort Mose Historic State Park in St. Augustine on Feb. 11 and the reenactment at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park Feb. 17-19, you can experience Florida’s role in black history first-hand.

Learn more about the Black Heritage Trail and the Civil War Heritage Trail from the Florida Department of State's guides to Florida’s heritage.

Map of Florida Wildlife Corridor

Many have explored Florida’s vast wilderness, sharing their experiences along the way. On Tuesday, Jan. 17, photographer Carlton Ward Jr., biologist Joe Guthrie, conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt and documentary filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus began their Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition in Everglades National Park and will continue for 100 days, arriving at their final destination – the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia.

All along the journey, the group will document the diverse habitats – watersheds, forests, farms and ranches – over which they will travel. The message they hope to get out is the need to preserve Florida’s forests, water bodies and wildlife habitats as a way of ensuring clean air and water and protecting Florida’s many wildlife species, including the threatened Florida black bear and endangered Florida panther.

Interested followers can tag along on the 1,000-mile trek at www.floridawildlifecorridor.org or on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.