Florida Wildlife Beats Theme Parks

Florida's wildlife, like bald eagles and alligators, is easy to see in Tampa, Orlando and on the Space Coast so go beyond the theme parks and get some natural thrills.

I expected to enjoy Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and all the other theme parks and fun experiences when I went to Florida recently. The Spiderman ride? Fantastic! Go back and do it again. We went Soarin' at Epcot two days in a row. And who doesn't enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean? But what really blew me away about Florida was the wildlife.

We saw manatees swimming at the Blue Springs State Park, and again at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, just a few miles from the Kennedy Space Center. We saw 'gators, bald eagles and wild pigs, right in the Space Center itself. Injured manatees were being cared for at Epcot and SeaWorld, under the excellent wildlife protection programs that many theme parks operate.

Two of the best days we spent in Florida were when we got out and did some wildlife watching with knowledgeable guides. One was with Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, who are just south of Kissimmee, and with our excellent guide Martin Wallace we saw osprey, bald eagles, snail kites... and, of course, 'gators.

The other great wildlife experience was with Brian Faulk, who runs Canoe Escape and was our guide on a canoe trip of a few miles down the Hillsborough River. It was a rich and relaxing experience, getting up-close views of roseate spoonbills, anhingas, hawks, all kinds of herons and ibis, woodpeckers, and, yes, Florida's 'gators. As Brian said to us at the end of the trip: 'That's an experience you don't get in a theme park.'

The wildlife of all of the United States, not just Florida, is wonderful and precious. Protect it and cherish it.

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Read about the Boggy Creek Airboat Rides near Orlando and Kissimmee here.

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Read about the Canoe Escape near Tampa here.

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