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All Articles for : wildlife
Summer Fun at Jungle Island Miami
The Big Kahuna is a whole lot of fun-a! It lets kids climb up 17 feet, have a seat and then slide down the “‘waves” into a refreshing pool of water.
Tags: Miami, theme_parks, wildlife, parks, beaches, family,
Help Preserve Florida's Beaches
Beach cleanups keep trash off our beaches – trash that is not only unsightly, but poses a danger to animal life. Beach cleanup days happen regularly all over Florida, and anyone can participate.
Tags: beaches, wildlife, sealife, Clearwater, Ponce_Inlet, Marathon, birding, Tampa, Green_Travel,
Kissimmee for Kids (and their families, too)
Pack suits and a towel because the fountain in Celebration (and Downtown Disney) is famous for being irresistible! Best of all, it’s free entertainment.
Tags: Kissimmee, dining, parks, fishing, downtowns_and_small_towns, theater, wildlife, theme_parks, outdoors_and_nature,
On the Trail of Florida's Birds
As the terrain under the boardwalk becomes swamp, we spot white ibis, anhingas, herons, egrets, a black-crowned night heron and several alligators.
Tags: birding, parks, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature, Naples, Estero, Boca_Grande, Fort_Myers_Beach, Punta_Gorda, Clewiston,
Kayaking in Southwest Florida
The Calusa Blueway has dozens of great day trips for paddlers with all levels of experience.
Tags: kayaking, birding, dolphins, Estero, fishing, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks, Fort_Myers,
Dive Into Deals and Diversions
Life along the Emerald Coast revolves around the water. I opt for a lazy day under a big beach umbrella with a good book and daydreaming. Dad digs sand fleas for bait and reels in dinner. The kids build the Starship Enterprise – no simple sandcastles for us.
Tags: Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach, beaches, dining, fishing, shelling, snorkeling, wildlife, resorts, hotels,
Make a Splash in Miami
As a participant in the Dolphin Odyssey program, you’ll be able to touch, hug, kiss and even dance with these friendly mammals.
Tags: Miami, aquariums, zoos, wildlife, Coral_Gables,
The Everglades Trail
You could start with a walking trail and look for panther tracks at Number 20 (the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Naples), or head straight for some snorkeling at Number 12 (Biscayne National Park in Homestead).
Tags: trails, Everglades_National_Park, parks, tours, Naples, Homestead, Orlando, Lake_Wales, Boynton_Beach, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature,
Tropical Island Getaway
Pristine and remote, the islands inspire romance, naturally sparked by the setting sun.
Tags: beaches, Sanibel_Island, shelling, Fort_Myers_Beach, Captiva_Island, wildlife, fishing, shopping, festival, history, museums,
Ten-Mile Marathon
Marathon is the "Family Fun and Boating Destination" of the Florida Keys. And it certainly lives up to this title, with outstanding boating, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, shopping, dining and unique sites you won’t find anywhere else.
Tags: Florida_Keys, Marathon, dining, beaches, museums, wildlife, resorts, festival,
Take the Overseas Highway to Adventure
With inexpensive entrance fees and lengthy activity rosters at state parks along the Overseas Highway, it's possible to plan an action-packed itinerary of snorkeling, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, camping and fishing and still have cash left over for key lime pie!
Tags: Florida_Keys, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marathon, Big_Pine_Key, parks, snorkeling, birding, hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing, wildlife, Islamorada, historical_sites,
Wildlife Adventures
Wildlife adventures in the Tampa Bay Area.
Tags: wildlife, Tampa, St_Petersburg, zoos,
Playing Dr. Dolittle
Since most of the animals are injured because of an encounter with man – a tangle in a fishing line, clip by a boat propeller or mistreatment by an owner – the animal hospitals give us a sense of how important it is to respect nature.
Tags: wildlife, dolphins, Clearwater, Tampa, Indian_Shores,
Florida's Less-Traveled Bike Paths
Make sure to bring along your camera – deer, turkeys and many other species of birds are frequently spotted along the path, and there’s a great scenic vista from the historic trestle bridge over the Suwannee River.
Tags: biking, Gainesville, trails, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks, hiking, Ocala, Orlando, camping,
Big Cypress Adventure
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, which in the language of the Seminoles means "a place to learn," shows through exciting exhibits, rare artifacts and cultural displays how these early Floridians once live and flourished in the Everglades.
Tags: wildlife, Everglades_National_Park, museums, Native_American,
Easy Being Green
TradeWinds Island Grand and its sister property, the Sandpiper Suites, hold the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Two Palm designation.
Tags: St_Petersburg, beaches, aquariums, resorts, sunsets, wildlife, sailing, Green_Travel,
An Eventful New Year
The surfing contest will feature a crowd favorite called the Red Bull Tow-At. Surfers will compete to see who can catch the biggest air as they are towed into waves by a Sea-Doo Personal Watercraft at speeds of up to 20 mph.
Tags: museums, surfing, parks, art, Melbourne, festival, wildlife, Titusville,
Zookeeper for a Day
Home to 75 different species of rare and exotic animals including the Matschie's tree kangaroo of New Guinea, the small-clawed otter of Asia and the South American ocelot, the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo has a little something for everyone.
Tags: zoos, Gainesville, wildlife, museums, parks,
Jungle Island: A Miami Must-See
One of the biggest thrills for me was the show "Winged Wonders." It began with Pinky the cockatoo riding a bike across the stage. Déjà vu! This was the same bird I saw as a kid!
Tags: Miami, family, outdoors_and_nature, sightseeing, wildlife,
Space Coast
With its nature preserves, prairies and wetlands, the Space Coast is a haven for wildlife.
Tags: Orlando, surfing, Sebastian, Melbourne, Kennedy_Space_Center, Merritt_Island, Titusville, wildlife, sightseeing, sports, outdoors_and_nature, beaches,
Wild About Marathon
At the Grassy Key Dolphin Research Center, kids have a lot to get excited about, because who can resist a dolphin's smile, let alone a kiss from one of the lovable mammals? Or a chance to play – even paint – with one?
Tags: Key_West, Marathon, dolphins, family, museums, historical_sites, snorkeling, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature,
The Western Southwest
Largemouth bass is celebrated at Lake Okeechobee, which at 730 square miles is the nation’s second-largest freshwater lake.
Tags: Clewiston, Arcadia, wildlife,
Zookeeper for a Day at Miami MetroZoo
Our experiences included checking the eye of a red river hog, hand-feeding sweet potatoes to a rhino, warding off the advances of an amorous parrot and accepting kisses from New Guinea Singing Dog puppies.
Tags: Miami, zoos, wildlife, family,
Nature Rules on St. George Island
St. George Island has been a favorite rest and recreation spot for humans for more than 5,000 years. Archaeologists estimate that pre-Columbian natives regularly visited to feast on the oysters that are so plentiful in Apalachicola Bay.
Tags: St_George_Island, camping, hiking, parks, outdoors_and_nature, canoeing, kayaking, birding, wildlife, Apalachicola,
Torreya: Florida's Garden of Eden
All night long, we could hear deer as they rustled along the ridge. In the morning, we heard the cries of a bobcat, and later caught a rare glimpse of the nocturnal predator as the sun struggled to rise above the horizon.
Tags: parks, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, hiking, trails,
There's No Place Like Home
It has always been a dream of mine to swim with dolphins, so we packed up and headed south to the Miami Seaquarium, which offers dolphin swim programs at its newly renovated, $5-million Dolphin Harbor.
Tags: family, aquariums, St_Petersburg, wildlife, sealife, outdoors_and_nature, Tampa, Clearwater, Miami,
Lions and Lessons: Teaching Kids About Wildlife Conservation
All in one place, we saw tigers, snow leopards, ocelots, Geoffrey cats, jungle cats, bobcats, cougars, lynx, servals, carcals and lions. Each cat has his or her own story.
Tags: wildlife, family, Tampa, outdoors_and_nature, zoos, tours,
Little Deer, Big Gators
Enjoying the delicate beauty of Key Deer on the one hand and then witnessing the menacing countenance of alligators really heightened our sense of nature’s variety.
Tags: Everglades_National_Park, Florida_Keys, Big_Pine_Key, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks,
Wild Wanderings in Sarasota
You'll spot plenty of other wildlife here, too, from bobcats to deer to wild turkeys. Birders can check more than 100 species off their life lists, especially along the birding trail boardwalk – known as the Birdwalk – that runs along Upper Myakka Lake.
Tags: Sarasota, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature, camping, aquariums, birding,
Adventures in the Swamp
Billie Swamp Safari offers daily tours through 2,200 acres of the reservation's wildest land, home to a variety of native species, including the reclusive Florida panther, as well as an assortment of animals most folks consider exotic, including the legendary American bison.
Tags: outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, tours, Clewiston, camping, family, Fort_Lauderdale, destination,
Real Florida Natives
Sailing along in the Gulf, you’re apt to spot the gray Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Flipper was a bottlenose) as they frolic alongside. You can frolic with them yourself at numerous spots around the state, both in the wild and at aquariums and research centers.
Tags: snorkeling, wildlife, sealife, manatees, dolphins, birding, shelling, outdoors_and_nature,
A Zoo Without Bars
Quickly, I grabbed Mo by the arm and spun him around. His face immediately lit up. “I don’t believe it – it’s a panther,” he whispered.
Tags: outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks, Egmont_Key, St_Petersburg, Everglades_National_Park, Tampa, Ocala, Okeechobee,
Delve Into the Underground at the Caverns
Stalactites reached down from above, often bleeding into the stalagmites poking from the floor, forming pillars and columns painted in vivid hues.
Tags: Marianna, parks, outdoors_and_nature, tours, camping, fishing, wildlife, hiking, trails, been_there_havent_done_that,
Island Intrigue
I love to walk the quiet streets lined with taverns, clapboard cottages and tin-roofed huts, all reminders that – despite a bustling tourism crowd – this was, and still is, a commercial fishing village with a frontier persona.
Tags: parks, beaches, boating, Cedar_Key, wildlife,
Tracing the Calusa
Every so often Connie would break the quiet of our paddles dipping into the water to pull out shells and explain how they fit into the ecosystem.
Tags: canoeing, outdoors_and_nature, kayaking, history, tours, wildlife, manatees,
Rails to Trails
The most rural of Florida's paved trails offers superb opportunities for bird watching and wildlife viewing, and covered benches or viewing stations occur every mile.
Tags: Apalachicola, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Tarpon_Springs, Wakulla_Springs, biking, outdoors_and_nature, trails, birding, St_Petersburg, equestrian, wildlife, parks,
Birds of a Feather
The unique refuge was established in 1931 to provide a wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl and is one of the oldest in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Tags: Fernandina_Beach, Key_West, Merritt_Island, Micanopy, Orlando, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Titusville, wildlife, trails, birding, St_Petersburg, parks, outdoors_and_nature, Homosassa,
Insider Tips to Florida's Beaches
And lest we forget, it's beautiful! It continually makes several of America's Top 10 lists of best beaches based on sand, water quality and facilities.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Naples, Palm_Beach, Sarasota, Sebastian, South_Beach, Venice, Vero_Beach, beaches, shelling, water_sports, snorkeling, romance, historical_sites, family, wildlife, surfing, sunsets, New_Smyrna_Beach, Daytona_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, birding, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, equestrian, Sanibel_Island, Hollywood,
Natural Beaches
If you count all bays and inlets - where you'll find the "secret" sandy getaways usually known only to locals - Florida has nearly 8,500 miles of shoreline.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Apalachicola, Cape_San_Blas, Fernandina_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, beaches, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, sealife, birding, camping, St_Augustine, parks, Florida_Keys, Tampa, New_Smyrna_Beach, Caladesi_Island_State_Park,
Paddling Pursuits
Most folks who paddle the trail will make this a nine-to-10-day journey that tests self-reliance as much as it rewards the love for adventure.
Tags: Cedar_Key, Estero, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Kissimmee, Suwannee, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature, parks,
Florida's Fantastic Forests
With more than one million acres of undeveloped wilderness, Florida's 31 state forests are a veritable playground for backpackers, birders, paddlers and off-road cyclists.
Tags: Brooksville, Dade_City, Inverness, Jacksonville, Lake_Wales, Naples, Tallahassee, parks, outdoors_and_nature, fishing, hiking, biking, motorcycling, wildlife, canoeing, kayaking, water_sports, camping,
Walk on the Wild Side
The grand sight of a whale splashing in the water is not usually associated with Florida. But northern right whales choose our northeastern coastal waters, almost exclusively, to give birth in winter months. They are among the most endangered species of large mammals in the world.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Crystal_River, Marco_Island, Naples, Orlando, Oviedo, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, Tallahassee, Titusville, Vero_Beach, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, manatees, dolphins, Everglades_National_Park, Florida_Keys,
Paddling Through Paradise
The 927-acre park also features an undeveloped beach on the Atlantic Ocean. We tied the kayaks to the park dock and strolled along a 3,300-foot boardwalk, past cabbage palms and paradise trees.
Tags: kayaking, parks, canoeing, wildlife, boating, outdoors_and_nature, Jupiter,
Florida's Retro Theme Parks
Many of the rides are highly embellished versions of rides you might see at the state fair - scrambler, Ferris wheel, Tilt-O-Whirl, bumper cars.
Tags: Homestead, Islamorada, Key_West, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa, St_Augustine, museums, outdoors_and_nature, theme_parks, water_parks, gardens, St_Petersburg, wildlife, zoos, aquariums, sealife,
Florida Zoofari
Because of this exhibit, Lowry Park Zoo was named the number one zoo in the United States for young children by Child Magazine.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Jacksonville, Merritt_Island, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Sarasota, Tampa, zoos, wildlife, family,
Family Must-Sees
Your kids will be kissed and hugged by dolphins and sea lions respectively at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada.
Tags: Clearwater, Crystal_River, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Marianna, New_Smyrna_Beach, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Tampa, Venice, West_Palm_Beach, Winter_Haven, Kennedy_Space_Center, museums, wildlife, sealife, family, Siesta_Key, Fort_Walton_Beach, theme_parks, zoos, water_parks, aquariums, Everglades_National_Park, Daytona_Beach,
Everglades Airboat Adventures
The very first airboaters, the Miccosukee and Seminole Indians, lived off the land in these wilds.
Tags: Everglades_National_Park, wildlife, history, culture, boating, outdoors_and_nature,
Island Hopping in the Charlotte Harbor Area
Accessible only by boat, this seemingly untouched island has more than a mile-long stretch of white-sand beach perfect for collecting seashells, fishing or soaking up the sun.
Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Englewood, Punta_Gorda, kayaking, beaches, fishing, parks, birding, shelling, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, geocaching,
Cold Light, Black Night
An iridescent stingray swam right by my kayak just under the surface of the water.
Tags: Merritt_Island, Titusville, wildlife, sealife, outdoors_and_nature, dolphins, parks, kayaking,
Martin County Beaches: A to Z
Also, Stuart Beach offers everything Jensen Beach Park does, plus basketball, a playground and the Elliott Museum, which teaches area history and contains life-size historical replicas, including a general store and ice cream parlor.
Tags: Jensen_Beach, Jupiter, Palm_Beach, Stuart, wildlife, beaches, museums, Hobe_Sound,
Sandy Feet Welcome
The air was crisp, the sky cloudless and it was time to put the luckiest fishing village in the world to the test.
Tags: beaches, Destin, vacation_rentals, shopping, family, fishing, boating, wildlife, sports,
Dry Feet, Warm Memories
Plan an early morning or late afternoon visit to National Key Deer Refuge if you want to spy the endearingly tiny white-tailed deer that seek shelter there.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Islamorada, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marathon, parks, museums, resorts, wildlife,
Cruising Around Charlotte Harbor
Using live bait, we released one snook after the other for a solid hour before the fish wised up. What an awesome time we had.
Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Port_Charlotte, Punta_Gorda, kayaking, wildlife, tours, cruises, parks, outdoors_and_nature,
Park It!
Heading back, we were not alone. To our right, two gray snouts emerged from the water, so close we could see black nostrils and pink tongues. These manatees were actually smiling at us, alternately revealing heads and huge, fan-shaped tails.
Tags: Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks, sealife,
Gator Tales
Captain Martin maneuvered us into swampy areas where unsuspecting 'gators splashed into the water to the left and right of us. We were lucky: We saw at least a dozen 'gators during the half-hour trip.
Tags: Orlando, Oviedo, Sarasota, wildlife,
Exploring Estuaries: Indian River Lagoon and Charlotte Harbor
I'm startled from my historical reverie by some movement in the grass. Could I be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the threatened Atlantic salt marsh snake?
Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Merritt_Island, New_Smyrna_Beach, Tampa, kayaking, wildlife, parks, outdoors_and_nature,
Estuary Adventures in Tampa Bay
The island, a major seabird nesting area with plenty of human history as well, can be reached with an hour of hard paddling.
Tags: Egmont_Key, Tampa, wildlife, fishing, canoeing, historical_sites, parks, kayaking, hiking, St_Petersburg, outdoors_and_nature,
A Walk on the Wild Side
Later, I spot what I can only assume is a family of sandhill cranes, two gray-and-red adults, and juveniles whose feathers have not yet turned - they're still a downy yellowish brown.
Tags: Kissimmee, Lake_Wales, Winter_Haven, hiking, outdoors_and_nature, parks, wildlife,
Sensible Sanibel
That's the great thing about Sanibel Island; nobody seems in a hurry. Slow pace and ample space are just two reasons why more than a million visitors from all over the world flock to this tiny beach community every year.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Sanibel_Island, outdoors_and_nature, beaches, wildlife,
Treasure Hunt
The islands above Sanibel also hold treasure troves but are less accessible due to a lack of bridges. Good news: that makes their shell hoards less plundered.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Fort_Myers, Sanibel_Island, outdoors_and_nature, beaches, shelling, tours, birding, wildlife, family, lehigh_acres,
Secrets of the Shoreline
The scenery offers jungle-like surrounding where you and your family can swim with manatees, soak up the sunshine, hunt for fossils, or picnic on white-sand beaches.
Tags: Bradenton, Longboat_Key, Sarasota, Tampa, outdoors_and_nature, tours, canoeing, wildlife,
Meet the Natives
An anhinga calls, his voice a rusty, rhythmic quack. When he stops, the sound of absolute quiet penetrates the mangroves
Tags: Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, sealife,
Southern Comfort
Like doting Old South aunties, massive live oaks hunch over the town's canopy roads waving delicate, intricate Spanish moss like lace hankies. The winding roads lead straight to the past, to natural and historic places steeped in adventure.
Tags: Apalachicola, Suwannee, Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks,
Kayak Adventures
We bank on a sandy beach and take photos of an eagle flying overhead. There are no other humans in sight. It is as if we are discovering the new world.
Tags: Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, New_Smyrna_Beach, Sebastian, Titusville, kayaking, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife,
Castaway for a Day
It's a perfect place to spread your towel for a romantic picnic. Professor and Mary Ann never had it so good.
Tags: Clearwater, Egmont_Key, parks, beaches, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature,
Toho Sunrise
If you are lucky enough to be in town on Friday night, drop by the Kissimmee Sports Arena for a taste of one of Florida's favorite native sports: the rodeo. Long before The Mouse came to the Sunshine State, cowboys ruled the scrubland.
Tags: Kissimmee, tours, fishing, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature,
Let Them Run Wild
We take in the beauty of the fertile marshes and prairie grasses that fill the wetlands, and marvel over the stunning birds passing overhead.
Tags: Sarasota, parks, outdoors_and_nature, canoeing, biking, wildlife, camping,
Hushed Sweet Charlotte
Here along Charlotte Harbor, backroads take you behind the hypertensive scenes to a place where the slap of oars replaces the race of engines and eyes are focused on bird wings, not car bumpers.
Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Punta_Gorda, beaches, outdoors_and_nature, birding, wildlife,
City Profile: Wellborn
Wellborn itself lays claim to Florida's largest blueberry festival, hosting the annual event each June.
Tags: outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, fishing, White_Springs, Live_Oak,
Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach
Highway 98 east from West Palm Beach takes you to Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, where you drive past lions, giraffes, zebras, elephants and more in your own vehicle.
Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Palm_Beach, West_Palm_Beach, driving_tours, history, historical_sites, wildlife, museums, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
Cocoa and Kissimmee
Back on terra firma, go on a turtle trek. The Canaveral National Seashore, on A1A near Titusville, is a virtual turtle incubator, with hundreds of sea turtles making the journey to lay their eggs in the warm sands beside the Atlantic.
Tags: Cape_Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Kissimmee, Okeechobee, Orlando, Titusville, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, Kennedy_Space_Center, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
North Florida Outdoor Adventure Trail
Wakulla, meaning "mysteries of strange water," is one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, with points at 185 feet.
Tags: Apalachicola, Cape_San_Blas, Grayton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Live_Oak, Milton, Pensacola, Steinhatchee, Suwannee, Wakulla_Springs, parks, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, driving_tours, music, canoeing, kayaking, camping,
Birding in Northeast Florida
Belted kingfishers, brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants and a variety of herons and egrets live in nearby marshes and are regularly spotted.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Fernandina_Beach, Melbourne, Merritt_Island, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, Sebastian, Tallahassee, Titusville, Vero_Beach, birding, wildlife, parks, driving_tours,
Arcadia, Sebring, Okeechobee and Lake Placid
The Castle, built by Renaissance man Howard Solomon (equal parts artisan and comedian), contains galleries of his art and more than 80 interpretive stained glass windows.
Tags: Arcadia, Lake_Placid, Okeechobee, Palm_Beach, Sebring, trails, wildlife, museums, canoeing, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
B&B and Bicycle
We even ventured off the river, past oyster beds, into narrow waterways surrounded by mangroves.
Tags: DeLand, Gainesville, High_Springs, New_Smyrna_Beach, Ponce_Inlet, Seaside, biking, parks, bed_and_breakfasts, lighthouses, wildlife, kayaking, canoeing,
Meteors and Monarchs
Sitting in a camp chair watching the sunset behind the dunes, I caught a brief flash of orange out of the corner of my eye. The monarch butterfly provided a splash of color against the dull green of the scrub.
Tags: parks, camping, kayaking, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife,
The Great Florida Birding Trail
From beautiful beaches to lost-in-time wetlands, birders of all levels can experience Florida's diverse habitat, wildlife and local flavor while engaging in ornithological pursuits.
Tags: Apalachicola, Crystal_River, Fernandina_Beach, Lake_Wales, Merritt_Island, Seaside, Suwannee, Titusville, birding, parks, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, tours, hiking,
Florida's Major Trails
The trail passes through an old-growth oak hammock that contains some trees that are well over 200 years old.
Tags: Apalachicola, Brooksville, Clearwater, Dade_City, Inverness, Lake_City, Miami, Ocala, hiking, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks,
Florida Birder's List
The marsh wren inhabits salt marshes on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in the northern two-thirds of the state year 'round.
Tags: Cedar_Key, Fernandina_Beach, Fort_Myers, Merritt_Island, Ocala, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, birding, Okeechobee,
Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands
Go shelling along the stretch of beach that juts toward the Gulf. But remember this island belongs to the real natives - birds and, yes, even things that slither.
Tags: Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Dunedin, beaches, resorts, wildlife, parks, Caladesi_Island_State_Park, Honeymoon_Island,
Boating on the Loxahatchee River
Cypress knees rise like organ pipes and form an uneven low balustrade along the narrow banks. Above rise the trunks of young palms.
Tags: Palm_Beach, kayaking, wildlife, outdoors_and_nature, canoeing, tours, boating,
Crystal River Area
Historic attractions such as a sugar mill ruins and an unusual printing museum explore the past.
Tags: Brooksville, Crystal_River, Inverness, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, Homosassa, parks, manatees, downtowns_and_small_towns,
Cedar Key/Steinhatchee Area
Swim in the ever-cool waters where the springhead forms a natural pool and pumps out 116.9 million gallons of crystalline water every day.
Tags: Cedar_Key, Steinhatchee, Suwannee, parks, wildlife, fishing, outdoors_and_nature, canoeing, biking, equestrian, kayaking, downtowns_and_small_towns,
Little-Known Cycling Trails
Largely shaded by the mixed hardwood and pine forests, the trail is of particular interest to birding enthusiasts, who will enjoy spotting more than 40 species that call the forested hills home.
Tags: Beaches_of_South_Walton, Clewiston, Key_Largo, Key_West, Kissimmee, Okeechobee, Seaside, Tallahassee, biking, trails, Grayton_Beach, birding, wildlife, Boca_Grande, Florida_Keys,
Wildlife Calendar
Nowhere else can you see reclusive alligators, playful manatees and beautifully plumed water birds all in a single day.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Crystal_River, Gainesville, Key_Largo, Marco_Island, Melbourne, Merritt_Island, Navarre, Orlando, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, Titusville, outdoors_and_nature, kayaking, hiking, canoeing, wildlife, parks, Everglades_National_Park, dolphins, Florida_Keys, manatees,
Classic Florida Attractions
Amazonian monkeys have joined the jungle, along with others, including tamarins, for which Frank pioneered a breeding program.
Tags: Key_West, Marathon, Miami, Ocala, Orlando, Winter_Haven, theme_parks, zoos, wildlife, dolphins, St_Augustine, Weeki_Wachee,
Canaveral National Seashore's Pristine Beaches
The refuge is a more thickly wooded version of Canaveral National Seashore and home to more than 500 species of wildlife, including 10 active bald eagle nests and hundreds of manatees in the spring.
Tags: Merritt_Island, New_Smyrna_Beach, Titusville, beaches, parks, Kennedy_Space_Center, wildlife,
Florida's Seven Great Natural Wonders
Even without binoculars I sighted crested caracara, deer, gopher tortoises, ospreys, rabbits, red-shouldered hawks and wading birds. A great blue heron lazily lofted itself above spatterdock lilies.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Pensacola, Vero_Beach, Florida_Keys, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks, Everglades_National_Park, Okeechobee,
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