"Paynes Prairie- where the buffalo.... roam?" Florida Off The Beaten Path Tip by goingsolo

You may not have known that there are bison in Florida. You may not care either, and, if that is the case, then feel free to stop reading this tip.

I'd highly recommend this one if you're in the area. Its hard to believe that, 20 minutes or so from the fast food and motel sprawl of Gainesville lies a flat prairie land, which is sometimes dry and sometimes flooded. Where American Bison roam free and white tail deer prance around in the forest. All of this in Florida!

Paynes Prairie, one of the most unusual landscapes in Florida, contains a small population of bison who freely roam the prairie land just outside of Gainesville. Paynes is a spectacular state park filled with white tail deer, hiking and horse trails, and, if you're lucky, a glimpse at an American Bison. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see one, but did come across several deer. I also hiked through the forested and marshy areas also found in the park.