2 CALL OF THE WILD

Take a break from the civilized world and reconnect to nature with a visit to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach. At the western edge of town, where most of the farmlands have been replaced by upscale neighborhoods, the 145,000-acre refuge area serves as a protective buffer zone between a world of McMansions and the cherished wetlands of the Everglades.

“A great place to launch any visit to the refuge is at the Visitor’s Center, where we have park rangers on duty and volunteers who can answer any questions,” recommends the refuge’s deputy project leader, Steve Henry.“Immediately behind the visitor center is a fourtenths-of-a-mile boardwalk trail through the cypress swamp. That’s a really beautiful trail, especially in the warmer months, because it’s under the trees and it’s in the shade.”

Henry also recommends the 2.9-mile Marsh Trail, which offers viewing of one of our area’s best birding sites. The Trail offers marsh habitat, cypress domes, an observation deck and acres and acres of Florida scrub and saw grass you can stroll to your heart’s content, with nothing but the sound of wind in the grasses and trees. Depending on the time of year, you can spot owls, sandhill cranes, alligators, hawks, moorhens, great snowy egrets, and all kind of herons, bobcats and more.

“It is a really nice trail, because you’re hiking or biking on the surface of the levee system—wide, flat, hard-packed trails with gravel and grass, which makes it easy to get around by foot or by bicycle.”

FAMILY FARM FUN: Afterward, visit Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market at the refuge’s Lee Road entrance to buy locally grown produce from the six-generation, 80-acre farm and market—one of the few remaining family-owned farms in South Florida.

Ideal for families and children, Bedner’s offers fun and educational guided field trips on its property and seasonal opportunities to hand-pick flowers and produce.

“It’s a good place for kids to come out and learn where their food comes from and how farms work,” says General Manager Lane Brooker.“Kids can pick their own strawberries, sunflowers, green peppers, red peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers when in season. They can even take a tractor ride that tours the entire farm.”

The store is open from November through late April growing season, in addition to a pumpkin patch in October. Bedner’s also features homemade ice cream on site as well as roasted fresh sweet corn and apple cider doughnuts on the weekends.“We also have a mini petting zoo that’s open on the weekends: goats, sheep, donkeys and some exotics like sloth, lemur, otters—even camels.”

ARTHUR R. MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach 561/734-8303 fws.gov/refuge/arthur-r-marshall-loxahatchee floridahikes.com/loxahatchee-nwr-marsh-trail

BEDNER’S FARM FRESH MARKET

10066 Lee Road, Boynton Beach 561/733-5490 bedners.com