08 septembre 2017

Important Places To Visit On A Florida Wildlife Tour

By Maria Schmidt


The US state of Florida is renowned for its large cities and bustling metropolitan life. One other aspect that makes it famous is its abundance of flora and fauna. It has always been a top travel destination for holiday goers from within and abroad. If your Florida wildlife tour is on the cards, there are some spots you cannot afford to leave out.

Many nature enthusiasts always insist on touring the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Owing to its unique location near Cape Canaveral, it has not suffered significant degradation with the passing of time. Its conservation can also be credited to its proximity to the closely guarded Kennedy Space Center. It is significantly safe for anyone wishing to enjoy nature without much worry.

During your tour, look out for manatees as they graze near the rocket launch pads. There are sea turtles that lay their eggs nearby too. Sitting on 220 square miles of land, the refuge also hosts roseate spoonbills, bald eagles and alligators. One can also spot the Florida Scrub Jay, an endangered animal, by chance.

It is always hard to mention the state without talking about the Everglades National Park. The park is located south of the city of Miami. It occupies an estimated area of 2500 square miles. Much of it is swampy and infested with large snakes and alligators. In all honesty, this is a place to visit if you have a heart of stone.

The park also hosts the Anhinga trail. The trail consists of a mile long boardwalk that goes over saw grass marsh. It can be quite exhilarating to walk on a boardwalk with wading birds, cormorants and alligators watching you closely from below.

On the East coast is the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Green and loggerhead turtles use the beaches of the refuge to lay their eggs. May usually marks the start of the nesting season and October the end of it. From the start of the season, the shores host an estimated 18000 turtles. Park authorities usually provide rangers to take visitors through walks on the beach as they explain what nesting entails.

Gatorland should be the highlight of your tour. Here, one gets to see alligators in a controlled setting. Founded in 1939, the theme park welcomes visitors of all ages all year round. The 110 acres that the park sits on hosts hundreds of alligators. Feeding demonstrations are also part of the package for tourists. These take place throughout the day.

To enjoy the best experience possible, you might want to start saving and planning early. If you are thinking of using an RV to move around, make sure you carry everything you need for the entire journey. The marshes are best traversed in knee high boots.

There is nothing wrong with taking some time to cool off from work and enjoy nature. If vacation time is soon approaching, include Florida in your itinerary. You will undoubtedly appreciate what it has to offer.




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