Maclay Gardens State Park - Florida

Address:3540 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, Florida

Named for a Quaker merchant who shipwrecked on Florida's coast in the late 1600s, this 11,500-acre State Park is rich in history as well as natural beauty. The park boasts a variety of natural communities, including sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, mangroves and river swamps. This rich diversity makes the Park a perfect home for the yellow-crowned night heron, the piletaed woodpecker and the Great Blue Heron, to name just a few. Visitors are sure to enjoy kayaking and canoeing on the beautiful Loxahatchee River, as well as river boat tours and biking on Florida's top paved and off-road trails. Luckily, camping and cabins are available here for those who can't get enough of Florida's fabulous Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

These beautiful ornamental gardens were first planted in 1923 by Alfred B. and Louise Maclay after they purchased the property for their winter home. A masterpiece of floral architecture, the gardens feature a picturesque brick walkway, a secret garden, a reflection pool, a walled garden, and hundreds of azaleas and camellias. Lake Hall provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Only boats without motors or with electric motors are allowed. Pavilions and grills along the lake shore provide the perfect setting for a picnic. For walking enthusiasts, two short nature trails meander through the woods overlooking the lake. Hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians can enjoy five miles of multi-use trails winding through the woods surrounding Lake Overstreet, located on park property adjoining the gardens. High blooming season is from January 1-April 30 with the floral peak in mid- to late March. During these months, the Maclay house is usually open daily, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. However, due to current renovations, the Maclay house will be temporarily closed. The park is Located one-half mile north of I-10 on U.S. Highway 319.