Scott Fais, Florida On A Tankful
Get your gloves and shoes on, and don’t forget the helmet.
"It has a nice course. It's nice and flat," said cyclist Nathan Ward.
"The paved trail is in great condition," said cyclist Gary Hills.
Tucked away in Pasco County, well away from the responsibilities of daily life, awaits a place where life moves only as fast as you can peddle.
"We're only going about 12 miles per hour, which isn't very fast," said Robin Felix from the Southwest Florida Wildlife Management District.
It's B-Y-O-B (bring your own bike) outside of New Port Richey.
The J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park features 1,800 acres of natural Florida.
"This is a great time to get outside and enjoy the thousand of acres of the public lands that are available to people and most are free of charge," said Felix.
Felix joined us for a ride free from traffic.
J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park is renowned for its secluded bike paths that are gaining quite a reputation.
"I come down here every spring and every fall for some vitamin D," said Hills.
The park was a must-see for Hills, who was visiting from Minnesota.
"I just love the palm trees, the flowering plants. It's just vivacious and full of life," said Hills.
If you're lucky, you might spot deer, wild pigs and giant squirrels, according to Ward.
"They just kinda run across the trail once and awhile,” said Ward. “It's good to see."
"It has water stations every couple of miles, so if you have to re-hydrate, the water is right there for ya," said Ward.
Do you have to have a helmet?
"It is state law that you have a helmet is you’re under 16 years of age,” said Felix. “But, I think just having a helmet on makes good sense."
And it makes good sense not to over do it.
For more travel adventures with Scott Fais, go to Central Florida On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 300. Select Travel and then scroll over to Florida on a Tankful.
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Bike paths and hiking trails
Where:
New Port Richey
Pasco County
Hours:
8 a.m. to sunset
Daily Admission:
Free
Phone:
Info Line: (352) 796-7211
Toll Free: (800) 423-1476 (in Florida only)
Emergency After-Hours: (352) 796-1211
Address:
10500 Wilderness Park Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34655
Longitude & Latitude:
(28.2535862899784, -82.64149904251099)
Parking:
Free in several lots. Bikers should park towards the back.
Web site:
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/starkey-park.html
Central Florida Directions:
Expect about a 2 hour, 15 minute drive when using downtown Orlando as a reference point.
From your part of Central Florida, jump onto Interstate 4 headed southwest, towards Tampa. Travel for about 1 hour 13 minutes. Go 74.8 miles.
Take exit 9 to merge onto I-75 North. Follow the signs toward Ocala. Travel for about 13 minutes. Go for 14.3 miles.
Take exit 275. Follow signs toward "Land O Lakes" and "Tarpon Springs." Go 0.5 miles.
Turn left at S.R. 56/State Road 56. Travel for about 3 minutes. Go 0.6 miles.
Take a slight left to stay on S.R. 56/State Road 56. Go 0.3 miles.
Next, take a slight right at S.R. 54/State Road 54. Now sit back and drive for about 31 minutes. Go 16.2 miles.
Turn right at Starkey Blvd. Drive for about 11 minutes. Go 4.4 miles.
Turn right at Wilderness Road. Travel for about 1 minute. Go 0.4 miles.
The park is located on the right, just past the residential neighborhood.