Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park

Sometimes, it's easy to forget that America hasn't always been here, like America. There were people here long before the first Europeans ever set foot on the continent. From the Pacific to the Atlantic, there were groups and societies with different languages, cultures and religious practices. 

In part of the what is now eastern America, various tribes of indigenous people built large mounds of earth for various religious and ritual reasons, spanning a period from approximately 3500 BCE to 1700 CE. These mysterious mounds have been found from modern-day Illinois down to northern Mexico. 

In Central Florida, near Tallahassee, there are four such mounds and one burial mound built near each other. The area surrounding these mounds is now a state park, the Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park, a place you can visit with your whole family, including your dog. 

The Lake Jackson Mounds park is built on largely flat terrain with sandy soil. There's plenty of picnic tables and grilling stations, as well as a restroom facility. There is a large, open wall interpretive center with lots of information about the original inhabitants. There are over three miles of trails around the mounds. 

There is a largely flat nature trail, which has benches, poop bags, and water fountains. There is also a steeper, by Florida standards, interpretive trail. The interpretive trail features stairs and a wooden walkway to take you to the top of one of the mounds. Fido is allowed on the trail as well, but there aren't any fountains or poop bags on this trail. Beyond educational experiences, there's not a lot for kids at the Lake Jackson Mounds Park. 

There's no playground or basketball court. But your leashed dog is allowed throughout the park. It's a great way to experience nature, giving you a close examination of trees and plants from north central Florida. The park may not be the most fun your kids have ever had, but it will definitely be appreciated by your dog, who will enjoy the open air.