St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2009 - (Page 50) : nature 1. Ride the Pinellas Trail Stretching from St. Petersburg in the south to Tarpon Springs in the north, the 40-mile Pinellas Trail offers walkers, runners, bicyclists and in-line skaters a safe place to exercise. Built atop an old railroad line, this unique greenway carries travelers along the oak-lined hammocks of several city and county parks, across rivers and creeks where wading birds feed, and through quaint, picturesque small towns where the weary can stop for a bite to eat. A non-profit citizens group, Pinellas Trails, Inc., publishes a free, pocket-sized, flip-up map detailing rest stops, bike racks and all the other amenities that make the Pinellas Trail one of the most user-friendly greenways in the United States. (See trail map on p. 52.) 2. Hike Brooker Creek Located just 45 minutes from bustling St. Petersburg, Brooker Creek Preserve is a wilderness oasis. With 8,500 acres of swamps, pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks to explore, spend a few hours there, and you’re sure to see an array of native flora and fauna. The preserve’s firstrate education center offers four miles of hiking trails open from 7 a.m. to one half-hour before sunset. To see the most wildlife – and Brooker Creek is home to everything from deer to bobcat – come early. A self-guided, 1.5-mile loop trail, complete with a bridge and boardwalk, is available for those who want to go it alone. Admission is free. 3. Skate the Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail When completed, this 13-mile paved trail will link Safety Harbor to Clearwater Beach, giving in-line skaters the opportunity to skate from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. This seldom-used trail is a secret spot for in-line skaters who want to open up and unwind. At the time of publication, only 4.4 miles of trail is open, connecting Safety Harbor’s Bayshore Drive westward to the City of Clearwater’s Long Center. The trail has all the standard amenities such as restrooms, water fountains and benches, but skaters can also stop to picnic, fish or even play a little disc golf. Officially, this greenway is called the Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail, even though most users simply call it the East West Trail to differentiate it from the nearby Pinellas Trail, which runs north to south. 50 : Eig h t w a y s t o g et o u tsid e
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