|
Orlando Sport and Recreation
Orlando Offers Great Opportunities for Wildlife Viewing
We have two little words for you to consider when planning your Orlando
vacation – go wild! Our varied landscape includes Florida scrub forests,
wetlands, cattle pastures, swamps, rivers, lakes, saltwater marshes and
the ocean – all of which provide unique opportunities to watch native
Florida wildlife in their natural surroundings.
While you may be more familiar with our famous animals like Mickey (as
in Mouse), Shamu or Woody (did you guess Woodpecker?), the Orlando area
is also home to several interesting species. Here are some great places
to get up close and personal with our furry, feathered or scaly friends.
The undisputed poster child for Florida wildlife has got to be the
American alligator. With a population estimated to exceed 1 million in
Florida, these toothy reptiles can be found in lakes, rivers and ponds
throughout Central Florida. The best way to spot them is from the water
– so hop on one of our many airboats and glide over the waterways in
search of gators. When you spot one cruising through the water next to
your boat, you can guess its length by estimating the distance between
its eyes and the end of its snout in inches then add one foot for each
inch (i.e., 6 inches = 6 feet). Boggy Creek Airboat & Safari Rides,
Airboat Tours of Central Florida and Black Hammock Adventures are among
the many Orlando companies offering guided airboat tours. Or rent a
pontoon boat and explore on your own. Just remember – don’t feed the
alligators. It causes them to lose their natural fear of humans and they
begin to associate humans with food which can be dangerous.
The West Indian manatee, known as “the gentle giant” is a permanent
resident of Central Florida. In the winter months, the warm waters of
Blue Spring State Park in Orange City make it a prime manatee migration
spot. For a closer interaction, visit Fun 2 Dive Scuba and Manatee
Snorkeling Tours in nearby Sanford. They offer a full-day, intimate (no
more than six participants) manatee snorkeling experience on weekdays
only which includes a manatee awareness program and time in the water
with these gentle creatures.
The Orlando area is also home to land-based wildlife that will have you
reaching for your camera. From wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and wild
hogs to the more elusive Florida panther, black bears, coyotes and
bobcats, the wildlife is plentiful. A safari is the perfect way to go
off-the-beaten path. Boggy Creek Airboats and Wildlife Safari and
Forever Florida both offer open-air vehicle tours of cattle ranches that
are home to many species. Forever Florida also offers adventure safaris
on horseback and can accommodate riders of all skill levels.
The Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge is an undiscovered treasure
for nature-lovers and amateur wildlife photographers. Located just 30
minutes from Orlando in DeLeon Springs, this 22,000-acre (8,900-hectare)
refuge is home to white-tailed deer, gray fox, West Indian manatees,
American alligators, gopher tortoise and over 200 species of birds. In
fact, the refuge is home to the second-largest nesting colony of
Southern bald eagles and the second-largest remigration roosting
population of swallow-tailed kites. With bicycle and hiking trails and
an observation tower, you are sure to find the perfect vista for some
amazing photos to share back home.
Bird watchers will also want to check out the 19 Central Florida stops
on the Great Florida Birding Trail, a 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) trail
designed to conserve and enhance Florida bird habitat by promoting bird
watching and environmental education. The trail is a collection of 446
sites throughout Florida. Before you visit, download a complete trail
guide.
Located to the north of Orlando is the 389,000-acre (157,423-hectare)
Ocala National Forest - the oldest National Forest east of the
Mississippi River. Hiking and horseback riding trails wind through the
forest which is home to many indigenous species including black bears
and alligators. Primitive campgrounds and rental cabins are available if
you want to commune with nature overnight.
Head east to Orlando’s neighboring beaches and you will be transported
to another ecosystem. Florida’s Space Coast, less than an hour’s drive
from Orlando, offers 72 miles (116 kilometers) of Atlantic coastline and
more than 250 square miles (648 square kilometers) of protected wildlife
refuges. The Southern bald eagle, West Indian manatee, wood stork, white
pelican, Atlantic bottlenose dolphin and roseate spoonbill are just some
of the more than 200 rare and threatened species who call the area home.
Space Coast beaches are also home to some of the most abundant sea
turtle nesting areas in the world. More than 6,000 loggerhead, green
seas and leatherback turtles lay up to 600 eggs each from May to August.
Nighttime guided tours will get you a close-up look at these one-ton
giants. Look to the ocean in January and February – the ideal times to
spot the endangered right whale as it migrates along the coast.
So if you want to capture the true essence of natural Florida, plan to
explore Orlando’s wild side on your next vacation.
Surf’s Up on Orlando Area Beaches
When you plan a visit to Orlando, you may not realize that just a short
drive from the world-class attractions and resorts are some of Florida’s -
and the country’s - best beaches. Orlando’s closest beaches are located on
Florida’s Atlantic coast – the famed Daytona Beach and the nearby Space
Coast beaches.
Cocoa Beach first became a household name in the 1960s when droves flocked
to the nearby Kennedy Space Center to see rockets launch to the moon. But
Florida’s Space Coast also offers some great surfing, clean, uncrowded
beaches and the world-famous Ron Jon Surf Shop. The area is also host to
Craig Carroll’s Cocoa Beach Surfing School, where you can learn how to “hang
10” and also rent surfboards, skim boards, wetsuits, kayaks, beach bikes and
other gear. Small beach towns dot the Space Coast south of Cocoa Beach along
State Road A1A and public beach access and parks are plentiful. Most have
seasonal lifeguards, covered picnic areas, restrooms and showers. Some offer
children’s play areas and beach volleyball nets. Experienced surfers may
want to head a little further south to Melbourne’s Sebastian Inlet State
Park, known as “Surf City,” which boasts the state’s most consistent surf.
Daytona Beach boasts 23 miles (37 kilometers) of sandy beach that is up to
500 feet (152 meters) wide at low tide. The gentle slope and tides have
packed the hard, white sands nearest the ocean, enabling you to drive and
park your car along 11 miles (18 kilometers) of the beach during the day,
when the tide permits. Beach driving is a tradition in Daytona Beach with a
rich history dating back to the turn of the 20th century. In fact, the world
Land Speed Record was set 15 times on the shores of Daytona Beach. In 1948,
“Big Bill” France, the founding father of NASCAR, opened a 4.1-mile (6.6
kilometer) stretch of beach track located near Ponce Inlet which also
utilized a paved straightaway portion of Highway A1A and the first NASCAR
races were born. Today, race fans still converge on Daytona Beach for two
Nextel Cup races at the famed Daytona International Speedway. But don’t
worry that your day at the beach will be impacted by vehicle traffic – large
sections of the beach have been designated as pedestrian-only zones. And
with the sand becoming softer as you move closer to the sand dunes, you’ll
find the perfect spot to settle in for a day of rest and relaxation.
While Central Florida beaches are great spots for people watching, you can
also catch sight of some pretty impressive wildlife visitors as well.
Throughout the year, be on the lookout for playful Atlantic bottlenose
dolphins in the ocean. January and February are ideal times to spot the
endangered right whale as it migrates along the coast while the months of
May through September are sea turtle nesting season on Florida’s Atlantic
coast. Several endangered and threatened species of sea turtles nest in the
area including Leatherback, Green, Kemp’s Ridley and Loggerhead turtles.
Meanwhile, those who love to fish will want to cast a line in the ocean
waters – either from the shoreline, a nearby pier or a deep sea excursion –
to earn bragging rights about the one that didn’t get away.
After experiencing thrills and chills at our theme parks, recharge your
battery with a day at the beach. It’s like two holidays in one!
Outdoor Adventure in Orlando
Orlando’s famed attractions will have you spinning, plunging and twisting on
an adrenaline-pumping adventure. But, Orlando also offers unique outdoor
adventures that will get your blood rushing and your spirit soaring.
The View from up Here
Orlando’s varied landscape is breathtaking from the air. Green grass,
spotted with lakes, rivers and natural springs, tall native palm trees and
untouched forests are just a few of the sights you will enjoy as you sail
over Central Florida.
Enjoy the view from more than 2,000 feet (600 meters) in the air as you
glide gently back to earth at Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Flight Park. Don’t
worry – no experience is required. You will be tethered securely to a
two-person hand glider with an instructor by your side. The ride may last
only 15 to 20 minutes but the experience will stay with you forever.
Perhaps you would like a longer ride? Check out the scenery from a hot air
balloon excursion at sunrise, complete with champagne, and transportation to
and from your hotel. Several companies offer flights in the attractions area
including Bob’s Balloon Flights, Magic Sunrise Ballooning and Orlando
Balloon Rides.
Feel the rush of flying in an open cockpit with the wind in your face just
as they did in the golden era of flight at Fantasy of Flight, in nearby Polk
County, which offers bi-plane rides seasonally from October through May.
Traveling the Waterways
With more than 2,000 lakes, rivers and springs, you’ll find that any outdoor
adventure in Orlando will likely lead to water. Luckily there are lots of
ways to explore our waterways from the peaceful paddling of a kayak to the
wind-blown excitement of a jet-engine-propelled airboat ride. Or rent a
pontoon boat for the day and explore on your own. Several companies offer
airboat tours of area waterways including Airboat Adventures and Big Toho
Airboat Rides where you are sure to see alligators, turtles, snakes, native
birds and even bald eagles.
Fun 2 Dive Scuba and Snorkeling Tours offers a daily manatee tour that
allows you to learn, interact and experience the manatees in their natural
environment without putting undue stress on these peaceful animals. These
small tours are capped at only six people and are only offered Monday
through Friday to ensure a quality experience for participants.
Off-the-Beaten Path Exploration
Orlando also offers several land-based excursions that offer unprecedented
access to the natural Florida. Boggy Creek’s Wildlife Safari Tour offers a
bouncy, off-road trip through a working cattle ranch in search of deer,
alligators, snakes, birds and even spiders. Join a safari eco-tour at
Forever Florida and you will probably see deer, gators and feral hogs. If
you are lucky you might also spot the more elusive Florida panther, black
bears, coyotes and bobcats.
You can also experience the natural beauty of the Orlando area on horseback.
Horse World Riding Stables features 750 acres (304 hectares) of sandy riding
trails. You can choose from a nature trail ride for those with little
experience to an intermediate trail ride for the more skilled riders to
advanced trail rides for the more expert rider. Westgate River Ranch and
Forever Florida both offer trail rides through working cattle ranches for
riders of all experience levels. For those seeking less rustic experience,
the Villas of Grand Cypress Equestrian Center offers trail rides and pony
rides in close proximity to the attractions area.
Or grab some wheels – two of them – and explore miles of paved bicycle
trails on your own. Rent a bike or in-line skates from West Orange Trail -
Bikes & Blades Co. and explore the West Orange Trail – 19 miles (30
kilometers) of paved trails near beautiful Lake Apopka. Looking for a little
more speed? Rent a motorcycle for a day, week or month from Orlando
Harley-Davidson. They'll even pick you up at your hotel. You must be at
least 21 years of age and have a motorcycle license to rent a Harley.
Whether you prefer to soar through the air, to skim through the water or to
keep your feet on solid ground, you’ll find plenty of outdoor recreation
options in Orlando. So get outside and play, and soak up some of Central
Florida’s natural beauty.
|
