Page 18 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

ECOTOURISM
Tortugas Biosphere Reserve. This 100- square-mile reserve encompasses seven islands and the tail end of a reef that stretches from Miami to this national park, 70 miles from Key West. The remote location has minimized human impact on the reef, making it one of the best underwater snorke- ling and diving locations in America. The Dry Tortugas can be reached via daily ferry from Key West. The Yankee Freedom III is the official national park ferry and departs from 100 Grinnell Street, Key West, Florida 33040. 1-800-634-0939. drytortugas.com
3 EXPERIENCE BIOLUMINESCENCE IN A
KAYAK, INDIAN RIVER LAGOON
In the darkness of the night, kayaks glide across the Indian River Lagoon and
Mosquito Lagoon in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Every swish of the paddle and movement in the water spawns swirls of glowing electric green color through the water. This glow-in-the-dark phenomenon, caused by a combination of single-celled microorganisms called dinoflagellates, warm temperatures and water salinity levels, occurs June through early October. Come November through May, bioluminescent jelly combs, a creature similar to a jelly fish but without the sting, congregate in the waters of the Indian River Lagoon to illuminate the cooler nights. A Day Away Kayak Tours offers guided tours year-round. The tour launch point is at Haulover Canal, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida. 1-321-268-2655. adayawaykayaktours.com
4WALK THROUGH A WILDLIFE HAVEN AT CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY & BLAIR AUDUBON CENTER, NAPLES
A pristine wilderness, dating back more than 500 years, greets visitors at this 13,450 acres swamp. It is home to the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in the world, as well as the largest nesting colony of endangered wood storks in the U.S. It also provides an important habitat for numerous other endangered species including the Florida panther and rare plants such as the ghost orchid. A 2.25-mile boardwalk meanders through wet prairie, marshlands and pine flatwoods where around 200 species of birds reside, such as the swallow-tailed kite, hooded merganser, roseate spoonbill and sandhill crane. 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples, Florida. 1-239-348-9151. corkscrew.audubon.org
5SOAR ACROSS LIMESTONE CANYONS WITH CANYONS ZIP LINE & CANOPY TOURS, OCALA The whirr of metal on metal takes guests flying through the air across the open landscape of natural Central Florida. The ground drops away to reveal the steep cliff walls and gaping limestone pits of a bygone era. Located on 100 acres of private property with expansive canyons, lakes and islands, Canyons Zip Line & Adventure Park offers visitors a unique look at Florida’s geology. The University of Florida discovered evidence of a prehistoric manatee and crustacean fossils in the limestone caves and walls and now visitors can explore this preserved environment from above, with nine zip lines, two rope bridges and a rappel across this area of wild Central Florida. 8045 NW Gainesville Rd, Ocala, Florida. 1-352-351-9477. zipthecanyons.com
6CYCLE THROUGH TIMUCUAN HISTORY AND MARITIME FORESTS WITH KAYAK AMELIA TOURS, JACKSONVILLE
Bike past sand dunes, through tree hammocks and pine flats. A Florida naturalist leads this guided tour through Big Talbot Island State Park on gently rolling nature trails teeming with Florida’s diverse wildlife. Paddlers unable to resist the call of
KAYAKING THROUGH THE MARSHES AND WATERWAYS NEAR JACKSONVILLE • RYAN KETTERMAN/VISIT JACKSONVILLE