Page 25 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

and coral. Other prime snorkeling havens around the state include Red Reef Park in Boca Raton, Phil Foster Snorkel Trail in Riviera Beach and Blowing Rocks Preserve in Jupiter.
For those who scuba and want to dive deeper, Florida’s thousands of miles of coastline and numerous lakes offer a lot of opportunities. Many divers flock to the natural reefs near Fort Lauderdale and Miami. There are also several artificial reefs in different parts of the state created by sunken steel ships and structures. Freshwater divers can explore caves and caverns in various springs and lakes.
CYCLING TRAILS
Florida has some exceptional paved bike trails. Recreational riders absolutely revel in the temperate year-round biking weather and the flat terrain that makes cycling easier.
Some of the more popular trails include the West Orange Trail in Orlando, which stretches 22 miles and passes through quaint towns like Winter Garden and Oakland; Amelia Island Trail, a 6.2-mile trail in the picturesque coastal village of Fernandina Beach; and the 25-mile Sanibel Island Bike Trail, a stunning ride that takes cyclists through the pristine J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and past a lighthouse, beaches and Periwinkle Way, where restaurants and shops are easily accessible.
WORKOUT WONDERLAND
Keeping in shape is easy in Florida. The Sunshine State has an excellent menu of
nature, hiking and running trails in both urban and wilderness settings.
Runners have a lengthy lineup of top-notch races, marathons and triathlons scheduled throughout the year. Some of the biggest are the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January; Life Time Miami Marathon and Half Marathon in February; AdventHealth Florida Challenge Triathlon in Clermont in March; and runDisney's Springtime Surprise Weekend in mid April—which includes the Disney Pixar Cars 5K, Disney Pixar Monsters 10K, and Disney Pixar Toy Story 10 Miler.
A popular spot for serious fitness training is the National Training Center in Clermont, 20 miles west of Orlando, which has a 400-meter outdoor track, cross- country course, sports fields and 70-meter- long swimming pool.
Swimming enthusiasts can enjoy ocean swimming and just about every hotel and resort has a swimming pool. To learn about the history of swimming, visit the Interna- tional Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum in Fort Lauderdale.
For those who prefer canoeing and kayaking, Florida is a paddling paradise with more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams and creeks formed by 700 freshwater springs. The area around Naples and Marco Island is an increasingly popular spot for paddlers. The Everglades Wilder- ness Waterway is a 99-mile water trail from Everglades City to Flamingo, with no development along the course, and the Paradise Coast Blueway is a system of paddling trails with GPS-marked routes from Everglades City to Marco Island.
Amway Center, Orlando
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Boca Raton Football Club
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Daytona International Speedway
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Disney Marathons and Running Events
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Florida Panthers
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Florida State Seminoles
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Homestead-Miami Speedway
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Inter Miami CF
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Jacksonville Armada Football Club
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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Miami Dolphins
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Miami Heat
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Miami Marathon
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Miami Marlins
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Miami Open
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Miami University Hurricanes
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Orlando Magic
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Orlando Pride
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Paradise Coast Blueway
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THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra
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Sebring International Raceway
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Tampa Bay Lightning
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Tampa Bay Rays
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Tampa Bay Rowdies
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University of Florida Gators
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Wellington Insider Tours
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2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA 23