I love Florida, yet I’ve only seen a small part of it. My first trip there was in the 1980s. I’d just started my first job and a few of us decided to book a long weekend in Miami. Truth to tell, I didn’t do much sightseeing then; it was enough for me to be in a different place and soak up the sun. But I made up for it on subsequent trips. The one thing I haven’t done yet is take an eco-tour of Florida, but I’ve been doing a lot of research and I’ve come up with a list of places I’d like to visit. Here are a few of them:
The Everglades
This massive area in southern Florida measures 1.5 million acres, but was once twice the size. Although it suffered because of water channeling and resource use, it’s been a protected area for decades and includes the Everglades National Park as well as other parks which are part of the geological/geographical region. As well as cypress, mangroves and sawgrass, there are lots of endangered and threatened plant and animal species to see, including the Florida panther, the American crocodile and the leatherback turtle. And depending on where you go, you can walk or hike through the Everglades or take a boat, canoe or kayak. I haven’t been kayaking and it’s on my list of things to do.
Safari Time
There are lots of opportunities for safaris in Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo says it’s got the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. The African Loop is 1,400 feet of boardwalk where you can see Nile crocodiles, cheetahs, antelope, warthogs, elephants and more. The zoo is interactive, educational and has more than 1,500 animal - some of them rare - and 1,000 plant species. Another great place for animal attractions is Busch Gardens Africa, featured in our recent Tampa layover post.
Sea Creatures
Because of its location, Florida has no shortage of marine life, and many of the creatures need care and protection. Places to visit include the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, which researches and rehabilitates injured sea turtles, and the Theater of the Sea, a park which combines entertainment and conservation. Dolphins, sharks and more can be seen here. If you want to see tiny marine creatures - you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to spot them - then the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea has starfish, sea horses and around 200 other species.
Bird Watching
If you enjoy bird watching, then Florida’s a great place to visit. Tavernier is home to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, started by a vet back in 1984. There are birds everywhere, and you can feed them too. The Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, located between Marco Island and Everglades City, has 189 species of birds to spot, as well as 200 species of fish.
These are just a few of the places I’d like to see on my next trip. What eco-friendly Florida destinations can you recommend?
(Photo: Matthew Hull)