Drifting slowly down South Creek, the small stream that bisects 1,384-acre Oscar Scherer State Park, it is hard to imagine that busy Tamiami Trail lies just a few miles away.

The creek, a mixture of freshwater runoff and tidal flow from the Gulf of Mexico, gently winds beneath the oak canopy, providing a leisurely one-mile paddle to anybody looking to escape for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of nearby Sarasota.

An oasis surrounded by development, the land at Oscar Scherer State Park has remained virtually unchanged since the 1870s, when its namesake made a name for himself by developing a process to dye leather shoes.

There are more challenging waterways to paddle, but little South Creek is perfect for my toddler's first wilderness adventure. As we make our way deeper into the woods to "where the wild things roam," we watch the wading birds patiently fishing along the shoreline.

The ranger has told us that alligators can sometimes be found sunning themselves on the banks, and when we round a blind corner and see movement up ahead we think for sure that we have found one of the reptiles.

Oscar Scherer State Park Donna McLaughlin

But as we get closer, we realize that little swimmer is a river otter, not an alligator, which makes us feel even luckier.

After about an hour's paddle at a leisurely pace, we turn the canoe around at the dam and head back to the launch area where we grab hiking shoes and a picnic lunch. On the west side of the parking lot, we pick up the Lester Finley Nature Trail and set off in search of the elusive Florida scrub jay, one of the park's many threatened species.

The little birds, which are remarkably sociable and smaller than their blue jay cousins, will sometimes come down from the treetops to pay hikers a visit. I tell my son about the other animals that make their home here in the scrubby flatwoods - bald eagles, bobcat, white-tailed deer, raccoons and cottontail rabbits. Hearing that the Easter Bunny may be in the vicinity, my son insists that we leave some carrots along the trail in case he, or old Peter Cottontail, gets hungry. I tell him that feeding wild animals is against the law. He expresses his disappointment, but quickly forgets when Lake Osprey comes into view.

"Dad, can we go fishing?" he asks. I tell him we don't have time. There will be other days. Since we had seen just a small portion of the 16-miles of hiking trails, I promise him that we will return another day for more adventure - perhaps even bring our tent and spend the night.

"With the wild things?" he asks.

"With the wild things," I respond.

Back in the car, he quickly falls asleep, which I consider a blessing, because I know he will need all the energy he has when we get to the Crowley Museum and Nature Center.

Afternoon Delights
This 190-acre wildlife sanctuary has numerous nature trails, a boardwalk that cuts through the heart of a swamp and an observation tower that offers a bird's eye view of the nearby Myakka River.

I had told my son stories about Indians and the first settlers who tamed this wild land. But the old "Cracker" house and working blacksmith shop let him experience the past first hand.

Still a little sad that he didn't see an alligator at Oscar Scherer, my son wants to explore the boardwalk that traverses Maple Branch Swamp. The boardwalk is only 2,000-feet long, but it feels like two miles, as we stop every 20 feet to listen for birds, reptiles and whatever else is moving through the vegetation beneath us.

We decide to turn back before we make it to the Observation Tower, which is just as well, because that will give us something else to do on our next foray into the wilds of Sarasota County. So we head back to the blacksmith shop and pioneer cabin.

Resting at a picnic table, we pull out our map and make a list of what we will do on our next field trip.

If you go:
Another trip to Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 South Tamiami Trl., Osprey, is a must. Call 941-483-5956 for more information.

The Crowley Museum & Nature Center, 16405 Myakka Rd., Sarasota, is also at the top of our list. Call 941-322-1000 because the hours vary according to season.

Please visit the Legacy Trail Friends Website or the official Sarasota Government Site

Originally posted 5/24/04