Fifteen minutes from downtown, the city disappears into a cypress swamp. Lettuce Lake Park, a 240-acre Hillsborough County treasure on the Hillsborough River, wraps visitors in old-Florida wild — a 3,500-foot boardwalk through floodplain forest where herons stalk, turtles sun and alligators occasionally hold court.
The park’s observation tower overlooks the river bend that gives the park its name (early settlers mistook the water lettuce for the salad kind), while picnic shelters, a playground, kayak launches and paved trails make it Tampa’s favorite easy nature day. The Audubon Society’s resource center adds birding wisdom and programs.
Admission is a couple of dollars per car — the best bargain in Tampa nature.
Wild Florida didn’t leave. It lives at Lettuce Lake, boardwalk and all.
