If you live in north Florida, you may want to take your workout outdoors. This region of the state is well-known for having both nice weather and lovely scenery. Add to that the fact that the weather here tends to be sunny and warm most days of the year, and you have a built-in health club–outside. Humidity can heat things up, so it is helpful to look for trails that are at least partially shaded. Walking early in the morning is another good idea, since the sun hasn’t yet had the chance to heat things up. No matter what–be sure to bring plenty of water with for the excursion and a bandana or small hand towel to wipe the sweat off of your brow.

Princess Place Preserve in Cherokee Grove: If you want to start out with something easy, this is an excellent place to begin. There are four hiking loops here, and they are not rated high on the difficulty scale. Try the “green trail,” which is a .8 mile loop around a spring.

Robert W. Loftin Nature Trails. Cared for by the University of North Florida, this place is rich with opportunity if you would like to try walking in natural surroundings. There are some well-marked trails here, as well as a lake and bridge where you can take a time-out to just relax and view the wildlife. This is a nice place to go, and it is even more fun if you take a friend along.

The scenery here is beautiful, which makes time on the trails much more enjoyable. If you want to just wander around the pavilion and check out the main area, it can also be a good way to get a little exercise in. If you feel like trying a trail, you can opt for one of three–the Goldenrod, Blueberry and Red Maple Boardwalk. Each offers its own sights and sounds and they are all maintained quite well. You don’t have to push very hard, just walk a bit down one trail to start and head back before you are tired. Keep yourself looking forward to the next visit!

The Florida Trail: This well-known spot provides ample hiking opportunities, and the scenery along the way is always interesting. The trail itself goes on for over 1,000 miles, so it is a good idea to plan out where you want to hike and do a small section of the trail at a time.

Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park: This is another good place to walk. It is situated near the Nassau River and there are multi-use trails there to enjoy.