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Central Florida
   Favorite Places | Wildlife | Activities and Interests

Central Florida, the region that divides temperate and subtropical Florida, extends from coast to coast, and south from Ocala to Lake Okeechobee. The citrus belt begins here, and freezes in this area and southwards are rare occurrences.

The subtropical influence is also evident in the increased presence of cabbage palms in wet areas. As well as being home to Orlando and its gigantic complex of theme parks, the central portion of the state is Florida’s retirement Mecca. Traveling from north to south the population density increases dramatically and hundreds of golf courses, mobile home communities, retirement communities, shopping malls, churches and funeral homes dot the landscape.

Somewhat surprisingly, if you know where to look, there are still many wild places left. An hour’s drive from Orlando, one can be bird watching on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge or canoeing to the gulf on the Chassahowitzka River. Along the Lake Wales Ridge you can see some of the last remnants of Florida’s unique scrub ecosystem.

 

 

 Favorite Places
  • Blue Spring State Park
    On cold winter days it is not uncommon to see 50 or more manatees floating in the clear waters near the observation platform at Blue Springs State Park.
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  • Caladesi Island State Park
    Accessible only by public ferry, Caladesi Island State Park consists of six undeveloped Gulf Coast Barrier Islands with beautiful beaches and great swimming and shelling. In 2006 this beach was ranked second best beach in the United States by ‘Dr Beach.’
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  • Canaveral National Seashore
    Canaveral is one of ten National Seashores in the country. Managed by the National Park service, this site protects the longest stretch of undeveloped beach on Florida’s congested Atlantic Coast.
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  • Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
    Take lunch and spend the day canoeing the river and some of the side streams. Otters, Alligators, turtles and wading birds are commonly seen. Manatees regularly use the river in winter and often hang out by the canoe launch point.
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Wildlife of Florida 2011
Wildlife of Florida 2011
Fiona Sunquist
Download $19.99
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Lizards book cover
Wildlife of Florida: Lizards
Fiona Sunquist
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Support independent publishing: Buy this e-book on Lulu.

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