Rugged Ravine Gardens

Most folks consider Ravine Gardens a place for watching the azaleas bloom (which they did much earlier than expected this year), driving the scenic drive, and sitting along the serene edge of the ponds at the bottom of the ravine. If you have children, I hope you've taken them there to bounce across the circa-1930s swinging bridges. My first visit here was as a child, so I can thank my parents for turning me on to the beauty of the gardens, formerly a Palatka city park and WPA project. But if you do a little exploration, you'll find one heck of a rugged 2-mile hike clinging to the steep sides of the ravine. Details...