With summer vacation rapidly approaching, have you made plans for the family this summer?
Instead of the usual day trips to the beach or the expensive trips to MouseWorld, why not explore Okeechobee County and enjoy the rich heritage of old Florida in a casual and relaxing setting.
Situated on the north end of Lake Okeechobee, the city of Okeechobee is less than a 3-hour drive from most Florida metropolitan areas making it a perfect escape from the urban sprawl for a relaxing vacation or quick weekend getaway.
Okeechobee County provides convenient access to a host of Big ‘O’ related activities including; fishing, boating, air-boating, canoeing, kayaking, eco-tours, and hiking-biking the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail which transverses the entire outer perimeter of Lake Okeechobee. Having a surface area of 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee is our nation’s seventh largest lake and second largest lake contained entirely within the contiguous forty-eight states. Here’s a secret tip about the Big ‘O’, though the winter season is generally believed to be the best time to catch a trophy bass, don’t be fooled, during the summer with warm lake temperatures, the fishing is hot!
If camping and horseback riding is your fancy, there are many RV parks and campgrounds located around the lake or just a few miles away. For nature lovers, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park provides the opportunity to view natural Florida grasses, scrub land, oak hammocks and wildlife as they were hundreds of years ago. If you stay the night and the weather permits, you’ll see more stars in the sky then you thought possible.
For hunters and sporting clay enthusiasts, Okeechobee has a wide selection of private hunting preserves which offer year-round hunting for alligators, Osceola turkey, wild boar, white tail deer and other species. Okeechobee is also home to Quail Creek Plantation and OK Corral Gun Club which are two of the finest sporting clay venues in all of Florida. Both have on-site accommodations that will make your stay a truly memorable experience.
With Okeechobee being known as a cattle town and located in the middle of the Florida Cracker Trail, there are many shops that cater to all things cowboy and cowgirl. So if you’re looking for a new equestrian art piece, a rustic piece of furniture, an new saddle, or a unique piece of jewelry, chances are you’ll find it here.
So whether your family is the adventurous type or more laid-back, putting Okeechobee County into your summer plans will provide something for everyone to do and like. So make it a VISIT OKEECHOBEE summer.
