Florida reveals many different facets: Everglades National Park covers 1.5 million acres in the south of the state and encompasses far more than swamps. Freshwater marshes, marl prairies, tropical hammocks, pine forests and cypress landscapes are all part of the park, along with mangroves, coastal lowlands, and marine and estuarine ecosystems. Anyone wishing to discover Florida’s nature will get a sense here of how diverse habitats can be within a single national park.

Everglades: Trails, Views and Wildlife Watching

Everglades National Park offers several ways to explore its different environments. Shark Valley has trails, an observation tower, tram tours and opportunities for wildlife watching. At Royal Palm / Anhinga Trail, boardwalks shape the experience and offer particularly good opportunities to observe animals. Both places are ideal for nature watching, but have different emphases: one offers a choice of trails, a tower and tours; the other is known for its distinctive boardwalks.

It can also be helpful to plan by park area: the northern part of Everglades National Park can be reached via Miami or Everglades City, and the southern part via Homestead.

Hiking and Wildlife in Florida

The Florida National Scenic Trail, also called the Florida Trail, is a state-designated, non-motorized long-distance hiking trail about 1,500 miles long. It is distinct from the many activities available in Florida’s state parks: year-round options include swimming, diving, birdwatching, fishing, hiking and horseback riding on scenic trails through natural areas. The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail connects more than 500 wildlife-watching sites across the state. Together, these offer both a designated long-distance hiking trail and an extensive network for wildlife watching.

For an up-close look at animals, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park has an underwater freshwater observation station, one of the largest of its kind in the world. Visitors can see manatees and a wide variety of saltwater fish there. At Ichetucknee Springs State Park, the Ichetucknee River is more than seven miles long, and there are three launch sites for canoes and tubes. The two places offer different experiences: underwater viewing at Homosassa and river launch points at Ichetucknee Springs State Park.

Water Worlds and Coasts

Florida has 825 miles of beaches with a great variety of landscapes. The state’s beach offerings include state and national parks, camping, accessibility options and opportunities to observe marine life.

There are also special experiences to discover underwater. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is Florida’s only underwater state park. Visitors can take glass-bottom boat tours and dive and snorkel over coral reefs, surrounded by diverse marine life. Florida is also known worldwide as a destination for scuba and cave diving.

Calusa History and Historic Sites

A Calusa village stood at the Pineland site for more than 1,500 years. Today, the archaeological site serves as an open-air museum and educational center. It is open to the public daily and includes the Calusa Heritage Trail. Here, history comes to life at a site that combines archaeological significance with an outdoor walking trail.

Florida’s forts also tell stories of different chapters in history. Castillo de San Marcos preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States. Fort Matanzas was completed in 1742 and built from coquina. At Fort Matanzas National Monument, visitors can explore the fort and nature trails; they reach the fort by ferry from the visitor center. Checking the ferry schedule before visiting can help with planning.

At the Florida Museum of Natural History, collections focusing on Florida, the southeastern United States and the Caribbean form the basis for exhibitions and public programs. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers a different perspective on the state’s history: it explores Florida’s contributions to the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions, as well as the shuttle program.

Practical Travel Information

Florida has 27 designated scenic highways. The state’s official transportation map includes highways and other roads, airports, cities and other visitor information.

Dry Tortugas National Park has a special access requirement: since there is no road connection, it can be reached only by boat or seaplane. Visitors can learn about the history of Fort Jefferson there. Check current transport availability and operating conditions before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Monroe, Miami-Dade, Collier, Broward, Lee, Palm Beach, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Indian River, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Osceola, Orange, Lake, Citrus, Volusia, Flagler, Okaloosa, Martin, St. Lucie, Liberty, Hillsborough, Brevard, Hernando, Seminole, Sumter, Marion, St. Johns, Taylor, Clay, Bay, Duval, Walton, Leon, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Alachua, Okeechobee, Nassau, Columbia County, Highlands County, Lake City, Washington County, Jackson County, Wakulla County, Hendry County, Putnam County, Madison County, Levy County, Bradford County, De Soto County, Suwannee County, Glades County, Jefferson County, Gadsden County, Holmes, Franklin County, Gulf County, Baker County, Hamilton County

For the main travel overview: USA.