January 1, 2025
Style Writer Gina Horan Hits the Trail with Walk in the Woods Community Hike
By Gina Horan
Style Writer Gina Horan Hits the Trail with Walk in the Woods Community Hike
Happy Trails
As a life-long hiker, I’m always delighted to discover local trails in Central Florida. Sure, I know nature is out there, but with all the construction, sprawling communities, and endless highways, it’s easy to forget to stop and appreciate the green spaces around us.
Recently, I stumbled upon two gems practically in my backyard: the wonderful folks at Walk in the Woods premier outdoor outfitter in Mount Dora and Flat Island Preserve in Leesburg, north of Lake Denham. A mere five minutes from downtown, the preserve’s short trail is perfect for a quick 30-minute hike during lunch or a full loop after work or on a weekend. Over the holiday week, I joined the final “Let’s Explore” hike of 2024, sponsored by Walk in the Woods, and covered the 3.91-mile trail—clocking in about 9,900 steps. Beats the treadmill any day.
During the hike, I had the pleasure of walking with Dana Rocca, owner of Walk in the Woods who hosts these community hikes throughout the year. For Dana, having local folks join the walks is the best part.
“It’s really all about our wonderful community,” says Dana. “We love the bond and fellowship we’ve built with everyone who comes into the store and the friendships we’ve made over the years.”
Dana and her husband, Steve, took over Walk in the Woods a few years ago and since then, they’ve been organizing the hikes to share the beauty of the outdoors while showcasing the gear and apparel their shop provides.
Dana also says that they have built on a foundation of passion for nature, adventure, and sustainability inspiring others to explore the world around them. A native of Central Florida, she gushes about all of the trails and parks while educating the public on ways to see them.
For this hike, guide Amparo led us through the four-mile Daubenmire Trail. While Hurricane Milton left a bit of debris that prevented us from getting to the marsh, the sunny Saturday morning gave us plenty of soft light filtering through the ferns, moss, trees and spider webs to create a truly magical scene.
The trail is constructed and maintained to standards set by the Florida Trail Association and was made possible by the concerted effort of many dedicated volunteers.
Plan Your Visit
Flat Island Preserve: A botanical treasure with 2,300 acres of protected land, Flat Island Preserve is preserved by the Lake County Water Authority and features three trails spanning over five miles. Open daily from sunrise to sunset and camping/canoeing available by permit only. 2388 Owens Rd., Leesburg/352.343.3777/lcwa.org
Walk in the Woods Community Hikes: For details on the 2025 hiking schedule, gear up at Walk in the Woods in Mount Dora or visit their website to connect with this vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts. 523 Donnelly St., Ste. #112, Mount Dora/352.735.3788
Gina moved to central Florida in August of 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and spent 10 years as a fashion editor, columnist and food writer for The Knight Ridder Newspaper group. She was also a photo stylist and covered concerts, fashion shows and festivals all over Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for 4 years. She also covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. She is a veteran bartender and has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. Her passions include travel, road trips, history books, baseball, tasting menus and most of all, landing in a new city with no map or guidebook. Gina lives in Oxford with her mom, cats and baby hamster.
