Tag: Hiking

World Equestrian Center, Ocala: Where Hoofbeats and Luxury Meet

On By jeanieelizabethIn Lessons from the HerdLeave a comment

Horses don’t overthink the open gate—they simply move through it.

What began as a day trip turned into an overnight stay at the Riding Academy Hotel. Traveling solo offers the freedom to change plans and lean into the unexpected.

That confidence wasn’t built overnight.

It was earned one ride at a time.

For years, horses quietly taught me to trust my instincts, stay steady when things veered off course, and keep moving forward.

Those may be the greatest gifts we give children in riding lessons—not ribbons or trophies, but the quiet confidence to handle unexpected obstacles.

The best lessons from the herd are subtle. We rarely recognize their relevance until we find ourselves at a crossroads.

World Equestrian Center

I had seen photos of Ocala’s World Equestrian Center, and heard the rave reviews, but nothing prepared me for seeing it in person.

The first surprise wasn’t the horses.

It was the scale.

For a property this expansive, it feels welcoming rather than overwhelming. Perfect landscaping, elegant architecture, beautiful courtyards, and world-class competition create an atmosphere that feels more luxury resort than horse show grounds.

The Equestrian Hotel has crystal chandeliers, polished marble, and beautiful horse and dog artwork that makes you want to sink into a leather chair and enjoy the ambiance.

Despite the opulence, horses remain the heart of the facility. Whether you’re an equestrian or simply appreciate watching incredible athletes—both horse and rider—the competitions are mesmerizing.

I took a seat in the Grand Arena at sunset. Under the glow of arena lights, horse and rider flowed across the course with a rhythm that made every jump appear effortless. Everyone in the stands knew those few flawless minutes represented years of training, trust, and unwavering commitment.

By day, the facility is luxurious; at night, it transforms into something magical. On the walk back to the hotel, the illuminated horse logo glowed brilliantly against the arena wall, a striking reminder that even the smallest details had been thoughtfully designed.

A Room with Equestrian Charm

I stayed at the Riding Academy Hotel, which offers the same elegant feel as the Equestrian Hotel but on a smaller scale.

My room was spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully decorated. My favorite detail was the whimsical artwork of a dog riding horseback hanging on the wall.

The entire property is dog-friendly, and well-behaved four-legged guests seemed almost as common as horses.

Parking is free, including a covered garage across from the hotel.

A new section of shops and restaurants is currently under construction as WEC continues to expand and elevate the guest experience.

A Detour to Silver Springs

Before driving home, I stopped at Silver Springs State Park to hike the River Trail to see if I could spot the famous wild monkeys.

The shaded boardwalk trail winds through towering trees and across the crystal-clear river where kayakers quietly drift beneath the bridge.

At first, nothing.

Then, on the paved trail along the river, the monkey’s appeared.

The signs make one thing perfectly clear: Do not feed the wildlife.

A couple beside me were watching two monkeys perched just above the trail. When the gentleman stepped a little too close for a better photograph, one monkey abruptly stood, shook the branches, and loudly informed him that his photo session was over.

Message received.   

Most of the monkeys seemed perfectly content to pose from the trees like tiny furry Buddhas, calmly munching leaves while people snapped pictures below.

My favorite was the monkey who deliberately turned around and presented its adorable little monkey backside directly toward my camera.

Apparently, not all monkeys want to be famous.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes the herd’s greatest gift isn’t teaching us how to ride.

It’s teaching us how to live.

Long after the saddles are put away, those lessons continue to appear in last-minute detours, unfamiliar trails, and quiet moments when we realize we’re capable of more than we once believed.

Courage is usually quiet — the kind you build one step at a time.

Freedom often waits just beyond the places we’re hesitant to explore.

And sometimes an open gate isn’t something to question.

It’s simply an invitation.

Part of the Lessons from the Herd Series

Coastal Cowgirl: Naples, Florida

On By jeanieelizabethIn Coastal CowgirlLeave a comment

When I first moved to Florida in May, 2022, I lived in an apartment while I searched for my new home. I explored the state like a woman who had been handed a map, a full tank of gas, and absolutely no reason to stay home.

Every week brought another town, another “maybe I live here now” moment. In each place, I explored what life might look like there—but most importantly, I evaluated riding options, boarding stables for Rosie, and nearby hiking trails.

I began on the Gulf Coast in Naples—the polished, palm-lined, rosé-at-lunch version of Florida.

Naples offered everything I needed for a soft landing: beaches, shopping, and the kind of Gulf breezes that make you forget you once survived life in the Sonoran Desert.

When I relocated from Phoenix, I traded blazing, bone-dry heat for something softer—still hot but wrapped in humidity.

I grew up on the East Coast, so the air here felt more like home than anything the desert ever offered.

Life Beneath the Flight Path

I stayed at the Hyatt House on 5th Avenue, perfectly positioned along the Gordon River Marina and walking distance to Tin City. It was the ideal base.

Well… ideal except for one tiny detail.

The room I booked overlooked the river from the back of the hotel—which, as I soon learned, sits directly beneath the flight path for Naples Airport.

One afternoon, I was sitting on my balcony, relaxing like a woman who had finally found her Florida calm. The sky was blue, the air was warm, the river was quiet…

And then— a loud whoosh overhead.

A jet came over so low I felt like I could read the pilot’s name tag.

The first time it happened, I didn’t just flinch—I instinctively ducked.  That first one spooked me harder than a horse encountering a plastic grocery bag.

Still, Naples had me hooked.

A Coastal Cowgirl Needs a Horse

No Florida chapter of mine would be complete without a horseback ride, so I found a local stable and joined a group trail ride through the wooded, sandy paths of Golden Gate Estates.

The horses were steady, the guide was friendly, and the trails felt like stepping into a quieter, wilder version of Naples.

It was the perfect blend of coastal and cowgirl—palm trees, pine flatwoods, and the soft thud of hooves on sugar sand.

As I drove through Golden Gate Estates, I caught myself daydreaming—the kind of daydream where you buy a few acres, build a barndominium, and give your horse the kind of at-home life that makes both of you happy.

Then reality arrived in the form of a single word: Hurricanes.

At the time, I had absolutely no hurricane experience.

The last thing I wanted was to find myself trying to evacuate a horse while half of South Florida attempted to leave at the same time.

I had evacuated horses ahead of a wildfire in Arizona. But I knew those roads and it wasn’t a mass exodus.

Standing in Golden Gate Estates, I realized I wasn’t ready to repeat that experience with hurricanes.

That was the moment I knew Naples—and other beach communities—could be my escape, my coastal reset, but not my home base.

So I stayed in Central Florida, where hurricanes remain a possibility but the logistics are kinder, and I let the coasts become my playground instead of my responsibility.

Hiking the Wild Side of Naples

Every place I’ve lived, I’ve adjusted my riding and hiking to the local terrain.

Delaware and the Jersey Shore offered parks and long beach walks. Arizona traded shade for red rock, elevation gains, and desert washes. Florida introduced me to mangroves, pine flatwoods, and wetlands.

The terrain changed; the daily mileage simply found a new backdrop.

As an avid hiker, I normally cover six to eight miles a day, six days a week, so Naples’ trails and boardwalks were an easy invitation.

I relied heavily on the AllTrails app to help me find routes that wouldn’t leave me lost, isolated, or starring in a local news segment.

My first hike was the Gordon River Greenway, a peaceful 2.8-mile out-and-back trail combining paved pathways and elevated boardwalks through mangroves and shaded wetlands.

From there, I ventured into Florida’s largest state park: Fakahatchee Strand Preserve.

The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk stretches 2,500 feet through spectacular swamp scenery before ending at an observation deck overlooking an alligator pond.

It’s the kind of place where you half expect a nature documentary narrator to emerge from the trees.

I also hiked a section of the Florida Trail along East Main Tram, an easy four-mile out-and-back route following former logging roads.

Parts were muddy but manageable, and thanks to the wisdom of previous hikers posting on AllTrails, I wore waterproof boots instead of discovering the mud the hard way.

Tin City After Dark

No Naples visit would be complete without a stop at Tin City, conveniently located within walking distance of the Hyatt.

The shops were fun. The waterfront was beautiful.

But the real entertainment arrived after dark.

One evening, as I dined on the open-air deck at Riverwalk, a party boat returned to the dock carrying passengers who were enthusiastically singing to the music.

They were blissfully happy, rum-punch powered, and ready to toast anything that wasn’t nailed down.

My favorite was the final passenger to leave the boat.

She was still dancing to music that no longer existed.

The crew attempted to guide her down the gangway.

One even tried dancing her toward the exit.

Eventually she was escorted safely onto the dock, where she continued performing for the benefit of waterfront diners.

Last I saw, she was twirling toward the nearest bar like an adorable dancing diva.

Not Every Place Is Meant to Be Home

The best part of Naples has always been its effortless elegance.

The soft Gulf light and the calm water. The breezes that feel like an exhale.

Naples never seems to demand attention. It simply exists, confident in what it is, and that quiet existence is part of its charm.

When I was searching for a place to call home, Naples taught me something important: not every place you love is meant to be where you live.

Some places become escapes, others become the places you return to when life feels too loud.

Every visit reminds me why it remains one of my favorite coastal escapes—a place where nature, adventure, and coastal elegance come together effortlessly.

Part of the Coastal Cowgirl Series

Devil’s Bridge — Sedona, Arizona

On By jeanieelizabethIn HikingLeave a comment

There are places in this world that feel borrowed from another planet, and Sedona is one of them.

The red rocks rise like ancient cathedrals — glowing at sunrise, burning at sunset, shifting from rust to fire to deep wine as the light moves across the canyon walls.

For years, I was lucky enough to live just forty minutes away — close enough to disappear into Sedona whenever life needed a reset.

Some days that meant coffee beneath the cottonwoods.

Other days, it meant wandering through galleries at Tlaquepaque Village or the downtown shops along 89A.

But sometimes, it meant hiking Devil’s Bridge.

Not because it was the hardest or the longest, but because it always felt a little sacred.

The Hike

The best time to go is during the cooler months. I went for my birthday in October — crisp mornings, golden afternoons, and fewer crowds (though there are always crowds).

Most hikers start from the Mescal Trailhead, but I preferred Dry Creek for the more direct route. The hike is 4.6 miles RT from the paved lot. If your vehicle can handle off-road driving, continue down the unpaved road until large rocks prevent further access. From there, it’s about 1 mile to the trailhead.

The first stretch is a wide, rocky path shared with mountain bikers — scenic hiking with occasional survival instincts. Keep your ears open. They come fast.

Once the route merges with the official Devil’s Bridge Trail, everything changes. The terrain steepens. The trail narrows.

Smooth dirt becomes uneven rock and natural stone steps.

The elevation gain is only around 400 feet, but Sedona’s dry desert air makes every incline feel a little steeper.

And then the landscape starts showing off — red cliffs, scattered pines, endless sky.

After the first major trail sign, the climb begins in earnest. A few sets of steep rock stairs lead you to the classic viewpoint you’ve seen in photos a hundred times.

And there it is: Devil’s Bridge stretching across open canyon, with hikers waiting patiently for their turn.

It’s wider than it looks in pictures, but it still commands your full attention. Risky photo ops are… unwise.

But honestly? The hike isn’t about the bridge. It’s about the feeling when you get there.

The Moment

That final stretch before the arch changes people.

The trail hugs the rock wall just enough to remind you there’s a drop beside you — not terrifying, just enough to make you aware of every step.

You turn the corner and there it is — the arch, suspended over open sky, with a line of dusty hikers waiting their turn. Phones out. Cameras ready. Strangers cheering for strangers.

Honestly, that might be my favorite part.

I finally stepped onto the arch with the wind brushing my face and the canyon opening beneath me. I lifted into my pose — one foot grounded, one leg raised — and for a moment everything went quiet.

Someone cheered. Someone snapped a photo. And I walked back feeling a little taller than when I started.

The Reward Afterward

The best hikes end with good food.

For me, that was always Indian Gardens Café & Market in Oak Creek Canyon — coffee, homemade soup, and a Mediterranean salad under the shade trees. Everything tastes better when you’ve earned it.

There’s something about Sedona that quiets the noise of the world.

Somewhere between the canyon silence and the endless sky, you remember what it feels like to simply exist inside a moment instead of rushing through it.

Part of the Hiking Series