florida wildlife

Little Manatee River State Park

Little Manatee River State Park is a hidden gem featuring paddling, wildlife viewing, hiking and camping. The beautiful Little Manatee River is the star of this state park. The primitive North Entrance will give you a great “Real Florida” adventure. Little Manatee River State Park is located in Hillsborough County south of Tampa and east

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Terra Ceia Preserve State Park

Experience a Real Florida day hike through a variety of undeveloped ecosystems, with plenty of wildlife viewing and solitude at Terra Ceia. Less than an hour from Tampa, the surprisingly wild Terra Ceia Preserve State Park features 9 miles of trails through mangrove swamps, creeks, estuaries, wetlands, uplands and more. This 2,000 acre park is

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Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is a 68-acre botanical garden in Gainesville, FL that is home to Florida’s largest public display of bamboo and the largest herb garden in the Southeast. Wind your way along the 1 1/2 miles of accessible paved pathway and explore the 24 unique plant collections found throughout the gardens. Some of these

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Must Visit Tampa Bay Parks

Typically state parks get all the love, but there are a bunch of other parks around the Tampa Bay area that are just as fun. From boardwalks and observation towers to mangrove coastlines and even a birds of prey sanctuary — these lesser known Tampa Bay parks are worth a visit! Lettuce Lake Conservation Park

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Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Sweetwater Wetlands Park offers a unique way to experience nature in Gainesville, FL, but is also important to the health of Florida’s water and other ecosystems. The park was created in 2015 to improve the water quality of wetlands in Paynes Prairie and the Floridan Aquifer. It consists of more than 125 acres of wetlands

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How to See Manatees in Florida

Manatees are one of Florida’s most beloved animals, and many people visit Florida hoping to see manatees during their trip. These gentle giants spend most of their lives grazing and floating around Florida’s springs and rivers. If you’re looking to catch a glimpse of our State Marine Mammal, we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to

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Alafia River State Park

Alafia River State Park has some of the most radical elevation changes in the state of Florida. Phosphate mining in the area formed steep ridges and pits. Over time the reclaimed land became forested and the pits filled with water, forming dozens of small lakes around the park. Because of the terrain, this park is

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