A Florida State Park that encompasses over 22,000 acres of savannah in Micanopy, Florida (10 miles south of Gainesvillle), Payne's Prairie is home to an incredible range of wildlife from alligators and wild horses to snakes, tropical birds, and even buffalo. Home to the Alachua band of the Seminole tribe under chief Ahaya the Cowkeeper in the 18th century, the prairie is named for the Cowkeeper's eldest surviving son, Payne.
Officially classified as a Florida Highlands Freshwater Marsh, which makes it ideal for a broad range of inhabitants. The park is now a popular tourist attraction for people in Gainesville as well as visitors from around the world and features a 50-foot high observation tower with incredible views as well as several different walking and biking trails through the marsh. Whether you're a gator lover or a bird watcher, if you ever get a chance to visit this beautiful place, we highly recommend it. For those of you who won't be visiting Mycanopy anytime soon, don't worry! We took a lot of pictures. Here are a few.
