Natural Attractions Central Florida’s Nature Spaces Draw in Visitors

By Kirsten Harrington Photographs Courtesy Of Kirsten Harrington

Some of Orlando’s oldest attractions have nothing to do with roller coasters or 3-D rides. Tranquil lakes, forests, and ponds filled with water lilies are home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles and mammals that called the area home long before tourists arrived. Head to some of these natural attractions to experience the thrill of the real, wild Florida without the high prices and long lines of theme parks.

De Leon Springs State Park

Visitors flock to this iconic Florida state park 45 miles north of Orlando for the famous Old Sugar Mill Pancake House. Inside this 100-year-old wooden replica of a sugar mill, guests feast on unlimited “build your own pancakes” which they cook on their own griddle at the table.

The waterside restaurant has stunning views over the springs; do not forget your swimsuit for a post-meal swim. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, snorkels, and paddleboards. With a paved nature trail and plenty of bird watching, you could easily spend the day. Make sure to arrive early, as the park often reaches capacity and visitors will be turned away when the park is full.

Insider Tip: Put your name on the restaurant’s waitlist and take a 50-minute Fountain of Youth boat tour through the park and nearby Lake Woodruff Wildlife Refuge. You will not lose your spot and you will learn more about how the park got its name and the animals that call it home.

Wekiwa Springs State Park

A favourite for locals and visitors alike, the clear 72-degree emerald water of Wekiwa Springs is a great way to cool off in the summer. You can swim in the springs, picnic near the shore, or enjoy hiking or biking on nearby trails. Canoe and kayak rentals are available in the park and paddling down the nearby river is a great way to see nature unfold. Turtles swim next to your boat, gators sun themselves on the riverbank and herons are easily spotted fishing for their dinner. There is no better way to get the feel for wild Florida so close to Orlando.

Insider Tip: Rent a canoe and paddle down the river to Wekiva Island for lunch at Without a Paddle Café or a cold drink at the Tooting Otter. Checkout Gallery CERO on this tiny island; just remember to paddle back before the afternoon thunderstorms.

West Orange Trail

Hop on a bike or stroll along one of Orlando’s most popular urban trails. Stretching 23 miles, this well-maintained pathway winds its way through neighbourhoods, small towns, and green spaces. If you are lucky, you may see a peacock, armadillo, or bobcat on the trail. Take in the scent of blooming citrus trees, and look for banana trees, bamboo, and colourful bougainvillea along the way. The West Orange Trail runs past the Oakland Nature Preserve where you can park the bikes and take a short walk to Lake Apopka.

Shady oaks cover the trail in many places, and you will find playgrounds, restrooms and drinking fountains. Bike rentals are available at several trailheads and Bikes and Blades offers rental bike delivery and guided tours.

Insider Tip: Explore Historic Winter Garden after your ride for ice cream, a cold brew or meal at one of many restaurants. Small boutiques and artisan shops are fun for browsing, too.

Mead Botanical Garden

This 47-acre urban oasis in Winter Park, just north of downtown Orlando, is perfect if you need a quick nature hit in your day. It is free to visit, so you can pop by for a stroll to see if the Camellias are blooming and admire the orchids in the Legacy Garden. If you plan your visit on a Saturday, you can join a yoga or Tai Chi class in the garden for an extra dose of tranquillity; advanced reservations are required.

Insider Tip: The garden’s pond is a perfect spot for a picnic. Stop at one of Winter Park’s many restaurants or bakeries on your way and grab lunch to go. Croissant Gourmet Bakery is a local favourite.

TIBET-BUTLER NATURE PRESERVE

Located just ten minutes from Disney World, Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve offers a welcoming spot to escape the theme park crowds and experience nature. You will find over three miles of easy hiking trails and elevated boardwalks through native pine forests and over swampy marshland. Listen for owls, visit the butterfly garden, or try your hand at geocaching. Learn more about the gopher tortoise, indigo snake, foxes, and bobcats that live here by visiting Vera Carter Environmental Center. Hike to the end of Osprey Overlook Trail to see the cypress forest and look for native birds.

Insider Tip: Head to Playa Pizza after your nature walk. You can feast on New York Style Pizza and homemade pasta while you watch the nightly fireworks over Magic Kingdom theme park from the restaurant.

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Situated on the north shore of Florida’s fourth largest lake, this 11-mile one-way drive is a bird and wildlife watcher’s delight. On any given day, you may see numerous alligators soaking up the sun, osprey flying overhead with their catch, a water moccasin in a murky pool and black anhinga drying their wings. It is home to over 360 species of birds, making it one of the premier birding spots in Florida. Bears, otters, raccoons, armadillos, and coyotes call this area home as well.

Roll down the car window as you slowly cruise this gravel path and listen to songbirds, rustling wind and occasionally the bellowing call of alligators in mating season. Be respectful of wildlife and cautious of hikers and cyclists on the trail. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is only open Friday to Sunday and major holidays. Allow two to three hours to complete the drive.

Insider Tip: After your drive, head south to Magnolia Park for a shady picnic area, scenic boardwalk, clean restrooms, and a butterfly garden.

Paddle Board On Lake Ivanhoe

Getting out on the lake on a stand-up paddle board is an activity the whole family can do together. No experience is necessary, and patient guides will have you cruising across the lake in no time. They will catch you on camera, so you will have bragging rights after your vacation. This is an alligator-free adventure, but turtles, otters, and birds are common. Afraid you will feel wobbly on your feet? Kayak tours are available if you would prefer to sit and paddle.

Want to make it an epic adventure? Choose the night-time option and hop on a paddle board decked with colourful LEDs that will make the water beneath you glow in brilliant colours as you glide across the lake.

Contact www.epicpaddleadventures to book.

Insider Tip: Add a visit to the nearby Orlando Science Center for a full, fun family day.

Whether you prefer to peddle, paddle, stroll or swim, you will find Orlando’s nature areas offer something for everyone. Experiencing these natural attractions provides a thrill that rivals even the popular award-winning theme parks. UA

Celestine Eneas is a proud entrepreneur in one of the oldest industries in The Bahamas – straw vending. At 68 years old, she can boast never having worked for anyone other than herself, as she accomplished dreams and goals that she set for herself, and educated her four children from money she made in the Straw Market through the work of her own hands.

James Rolle, 62, recalls his pre-teen market days, helping his uncle, Audley Jones, a woodcarver in the Straw Market, for pocket change – twenty-five cents … on a good day fifty cents – which allowed him to fill his pocket with penny candy from the shop. But the day his uncle did not pay him, Rolle, who said he was between 11 and 12 years old at the time, decided he need to learn to carve for himself.

Two weeks after learning the art form, he sold his first piece for eight dollars.

He has been carving ever since and, like Eneas, has never worked for anyone but himself and has sustained a family through the money he made as a carver in the Straw Market.

A far cry from those early days, he recently sold a carving of the Nassau grouper for $3,600.00.

Both Eneas and Rolle have been working artisans in the Straw Market far longer than The Bahamas has been a sovereign nation.

Eneas’ earliest memories of having worked in the Straw Market she said goes as far back as her preschool years when she was just four years old.

Rolle, on the other hand, said his foray into working in the Straw Market took place one week before Bahamian independence.

The Bahamas celebrates 50 years of independence on July 10th.

And both Eneas and Rolle are proud of the lives they have afforded themselves through their own hard work and industriousness.

They both have also lived the Straw Market experience from its early days through to the 21st century experience of today.

“I remember there were no stalls,” said Eneas as she recalled her early market days. “You tote your work that you didn’t sell that day back home.”

In those early days when many Bahamians could not afford a vehicle, she said they were seen as less than.

“I can remember as a child that people did not think anything of us. They used to call us market donkey.”