Some days, the best thing you can do with a Florida vacation is get away from the parks entirely, and Lake Louisa State Park is exactly the place for it. This is real, untouched Central Florida — rolling pine hills, eleven distinct natural plant communities, and wildlife that includes deer, bobcats, gopher tortoises and even bald eagles if you’re patient and lucky. Three major lakes (Louisa, Hammond and Dixie) give you plenty of room to canoe, kayak or paddleboard across still, quiet water that feels a world away from the crowds at the parks. On land, there are seven miles of paved road perfect for a family bike ride and twenty miles of unpaved trail for anyone wanting a longer hike or a mountain bike loop. It’s an easy, refreshing counterbalance to a week of theme parks and long lines — no tickets, no queues, just Florida the way it looked before the parks arrived. Go in the morning for the coolest temperatures and the best wildlife sightings, and bring your own gear or rent kayaks on-site. It’s the kind of quiet day that ends up being everyone’s favorite by the time you’re back at the villa.
