Getaways to the authentic Florida
Orlando Wetlands Park is a must-stop for birders and wildlife fans. It’s home to over 100 roseate spoonbills, 1,700 alligators and 200 species of bird. A 5,000 square foot visitor just opened with exhibits and live animals on display. The park is only 20 minutes off I-95.
Flamingos in Florida may be making a comeback. A 2023 hurricane brought many here and some remain. Here’s where to see them.
One of the best ways to see Florida’s Everglades is via the Tamiami Trail to the Shark Valley entrance, home to a terrific bike trail and abundant wildlife. Visitors have been reporting outstanding wildlife viewing during holiday visits.
Flamingo is 38 miles from the entrance to Everglades National Park, but we love it for the wildlife — manatees, crocodiles and an osprey nest right in the marina.
A Fernandina Beach family festival Nov. 7-8 raises awareness of right whales and how to help them. Endangered right whales are viewed close to shore in North Florida every winter.
Everglades City is at the end of the road in a remote wild, spot. Here you can explore the Everglades, learn fascinating history and feast on stone crabs during the season from Oct. 15 to May 1.
No matter how many times I see them, the sight of a white pelican, bald eagle or an otter will make my day. These spots are favorites for providing reliable views of animals in beautiful settings.
This guide will help you see wildlife and experience the essence of Everglades National Park. We offer tips, too, for more in-depth Everglades experiences too.
Many of these free things to do in Florida are off-the-beaten path spots to enjoy nature, wildlife and history — from 300-year-old forts to superb boardwalks.
I’ve driven the Tamiami Trail, linking Miami and Naples through the Everglades, dozens of times. Here are the best stops to get close to alligators and Everglades scenery. The Tamiami Trail links Miami and Florida’s and offers outstanding stops along the way.
On their 2,000-mile fall migration, thousands of monarchs stop in Florida’s Big Bend and Panhandle in October and November. A top viewing site is St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, a half hour south of Tallahassee. There is a monarch festival at the refuge Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
This off-the-beaten-track region offers springs, history and Florida scenic drives along the St. Johns, the ‘river of lakes.’ It’s centered around the Old Florida city of DeLand, an hour north of Orlando.