Jenna’s Journey: From Parks to Purpose
Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Jenna Workman has spent most of her life exploring the beauty and diversity of the Sunshine State. What began as a personal challenge in 2016 — to visit every Florida State Park in one year — soon became the adventure that changed her life.
Using her birthday money to purchase an annual park pass, Jenna set out on a mission to experience all the parks within 365 days. Along the way, she began documenting her travels through a blog, Jenna’s Journeys, capturing the stunning landscapes, wildlife, and hidden treasures of Florida’s natural spaces. What started as a simple goal turned into something much more meaningful — a journey of transformation, self-discovery, and a deep connection with nature.
Most of her explorations were solo or shared with her loyal travel companion, Casey. Weekends, vacations, and every bit of PTO were spent chasing trails, rivers, and coastlines across the state. In the process, Jenna not only accomplished her goal but also found a new calling — to inspire others to get outside, connect with nature, and experience the joy and peace it brings.
Her blog eventually inspired a book, Florida State Parking: A City Girl’s Exploration of the Great Outdoors, which chronicles her adventures and the lessons she learned along the way. The project, years in the making, celebrates how one woman’s quest to see it all became a story of courage, growth, and gratitude.
When she’s not exploring Florida’s great outdoors, Jenna pours her love of nature into her business, Fairy Tale Gardens, where she helps take the fear out of gardening. Through her popular Container Garden Classes, hosted at local businesses and community events, she shows others how rewarding it can be to grow their own little piece of paradise. She also designs and maintains gardens throughout DeLand and the surrounding Central Florida area.
Whether through her gardening workshops or her travel storytelling, Jenna’s mission remains the same — to help others reconnect with the natural world and discover just how life-changing that connection can be.
Follow her adventures at jennaworkman.com and learn more about her gardening journey at fairytalegardensbyjenna.com.
Florida State Parking
A City Girl’s Exploration of the Great Outdoors
Check out Jenna’s Latest Blog Posts
The Barnacle Historic State Park
The Barnacle Historic State Park was an oasis tucked away in a busy city. I would suggest you plan to spend the day in Coconut Grove and explore the shops and town because you will have to pay for public parking, you might as well plan to see all of the sights. Once I...
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
When I arrived at Tarkiln Bayou the rain had let up just long enough to enjoy a leisurely stroll down their great boardwalk. I was very excited about the boardwalk because the park was lovely but walking in the woods might have scared me. The walk leading to the bayou...
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
It was New Year's Day and I was driving around the Panhandle in search of wonderful parks to visit. This is the day I realized that some parks were actually closed because it was a holiday. I was feeling a bit bummed. While I was driving along. I got a glimpse of a...