Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Steve’s take

You're driving on I-75 south of Gainesville and suddenly there are wild horses and bison visible from the highway. You're not hallucinating — Paynes Prairie is a 21,000-acre savanna with free-ranging animals. The observation tower at the visitor center gives you a view of the prairie that looks more like Africa than Florida. It's a quick stop — fifteen minutes for the tower and viewing area — and it's the kind of 'did that just happen?' moment that road trips are made of.