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Our Favorite Springtime Outdoor Things to Do Near Leesburg, FL

A senior woman and a senior man in a canoe in the Florida wetlands

With an average of 239 sunny days a year in Leesburg, outdoor activities are a big part of life here at Lake Port Square. So, it’s no wonder our area, and The Sunshine State in general is such a huge retirement destination for active older adults. Not that it ever gets truly cold here, but as the temperatures start to warm up, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite things to do around Leesburg, FL.

Take a Hike!

There’s a lot of natural beauty to explore around Leesburg, FL, and we’ve listed a few of our favorite spots below. If kayaking is more your thing, there’s a great blog about it on our site that you can find here.

Venetian Gardens: This 0.8-mile out-and-back trail in a beautiful city park on the water offers lots of opportunities for bird watching. This trail features walking paths and bridges over small inlets. There’s also a covered pavilion on the north side that’s perfect for picnics and a boat launch at the south end of the park. You’re unlikely to encounter many other people on your walk.

Emeralda Island and Marsh Conservation Area: This 8.1-mile out-and-back trail is great for birding, mountain biking and walking. A large number of the eastern greater sandhill crane population winter in the area. Thousands of ring-necked ducks and lesser numbers of wood ducks, Florida ducks, hooded mergansers, and large flocks of white pelicans and other waterfowl species can be seen here too. The wetlands and adjacent water bodies support one of the highest concentrations of alligators in central Florida. So, while dogs are welcome, they must be on a leash.

Flat Island Preserve: This preserve features 5 miles of trails in a network of loops and spurs combined. Established as a botanical preserve for native plants and protected islands in the Okahumpa Marsh, Flat Island offers lush wilderness for hikers and paddlers.

  • Daubenmire Trail — This is the oldest and the most popular trail and has a 3.7-mile network of loops.
  • Corley Island Trail — This 1.1 mile hike (2.2 mile round-trip) stays in an upland habitat under a canopy of oak and hickory trees.
  • Magnolia Island Trail — A trail for paddlers, this 2.3-mile trip along the canal through Okahumpa Marsh from the canoe landing on Flat Island to the landing on Magnolia Island.

Haynes Creek Preserve: This island oasis helps protect the home of dragonflies, woodpeckers, barred owls, warblers, alligators and river otters. It also boasts hiking trails on its over 36 acres.

The Great Outdoors Are Even Better with Friends

Of course, at Lake Port Square, if you want to enjoy time outside you just have to go out the community’s front door. We feature 78 acres of landscaped grounds and gardens within a certified nature preserve. You’ll also find shaded walking and biking paths and a lakefront gazebo, dock and pontoon boat.

We also have lots of active clubs and social opportunities, so you’re sure to find someone to pal around with. If you have a furry friend, they’re sure to enjoy our pet-friendly community almost as much as you. To learn more about our active senior living community, contact us here or use our Community Assistant chat feature.