The OTHER Florida - Part 1

When most people think of a vacation in Florida, the first thing that pops into their mind are the theme parks.  But, what many do not realize is that Florida has a lot of other, more natural and local, sights and activities to offer as well.  We moved to Florida in 1998 and in the nearly 14 years that we have been here I have been lucky enough to enjoy some of the great other parts of Florida.  Don't get me wrong, the theme parks area great!  Our daughter and I get a yearly pass to one park each year and we greatly enjoy our days at the theme park.  But, there is also a bit more hidden part of Florida that so many visitors to this State never even begin to explore.  The photo above was taken while on an air boat ride on the St John's River basin, just west of Orlando.  During the hour long ride, we saw over 30 "gators" and a more natural side to Florida that was beautiful!  Read on for a few of my favorite "other" Florida attractions.  Enjoy Part one of my "other" Florida postings.

Relaxing days at the beach.  One of our favorite family outings is a day at the beach.  We are lucky in that we have so many wonderful beaches within an hour of our home.  For me, there is nothing more relaxing then spending a day at the beach, building sandcastles, sitting in a chair with sand between my toes, playing in the waves, and watching my "boys" surf.  We prefer the east coast beaches as there are waves on the east coast(a must for surfing).  The further north you go on the east coast, the softer the sand gets.  Some of our favorites are South Cocoa Beach(Tables), New Smyrna Beach(near the Jetty), and St Augustine Beach(Butler Beach area).  The west coast of Florida also has amazing beaches.  We haven't been to the panhandle area beaches, but they are to be amazing.  Sanibel Island has beautiful, natural beaches. Ft. Myers beach is great for those wanting a bit more "action".  Then, for those wanting all the excitement, there is South Beach in Miami.  While we prefer the more "low key" beaches, there really is a beach in Florida for nearly everyone's style.

Mangrove trees can be found nearly everywhere.  They are an interesting tree as their root systems can expand great distances.  Most alligators have their egg nesting areas in mangrove tree forests.  Getting back into these areas gives one almost a surreal feeling as life is so still, quiet, and you really get a feel for the natural Florida.

The many city parks within Central Florida alone is astounding.  One of the most beautiful parks is Lake Eola located in downtown Orlando.  They have a wonderful playground, a small Japanese style garden, a running path that circles the lake, expansive grassy areas to relax or play a game, and it is not uncommon to see Tai Chi classes or people meditating.  On Sundays there is also a great, year round, farmer's market.

Life in The Florida Keys is somehow simpler, quieter(for the most part), and just laid back.  Everyone is familiar with the islands of Key Largo and Key West.  But, we really enjoy Islamorada, Marathon, and Bahia Honda.

Blue Springs State Park is one of several parks within the state that has a natural spring.  The water is amazingly clear and at this particular park, those that are certified scuba divers, can dive into the springs crevice.  The water is a year round 72 degrees and in the summer, although it is a bit chilly at first, it is fun to ride in an inter tube down the river.  In cooler months, the gentle Manatee loves to make these waters their home.

While Florida is not known for its' big wave surfing, the east coast has several areas that are great for small to mid height waves.  The fact that one can surf year round(part of it with a wet suit) is a plus as well.  We typically like the Tables area in South Cocoa, but also enjoy surfing the jetty in New Smyrna and catching some waves in St. Augustine.  You will see all types of boards and all levels of experience in surfers.  Surfing is part of Florida.

Hiking on area trails is another great activity.  Most of the state parks offer trails such as pictured at the right.  Again, it is easy to imagine yourself in another time period when walking along one of these trails as you take in the natural vegetation and animal life.

The warm to mild year round climate in Florida allows farmer's markets to operate all year!  A weekend visit to one of the farmer's markets is another of our favorite activities.  I personally love the market in Winter Park as we follow up our visit with some time in the park playing kick ball and just relaxing.

Another great activity in the Winter Park area(just north of downtown Orlando) is the boat tour on the chain of lakes.  Years ago, the city made Venetian style canals that connect a series of lakes in the area.  A local company offers (nearly) daily tours of the lake and give a great history of the area.  For those that love SUP's(Stand Up Paddle Boards) there is now a company that offers SUP tours on the lakes as well.

Horseback riding.  If your an avid horse rider, or just want to try it out, there are several horse riding ranches in the Central Florida area. Again, the year round weather makes it typically more ideal for all types of riding.

Beautiful ocean views.  I can never get enough of these.  There is something about walking on a boardwalk, crossing over the dunes, and seeing the beauty of the ocean sprawling out before you.  Many of the east coast beaches are also home to turtle nesting and this is an amazing event to see!

Lighthouses - Florida's got those as well.  The one pictured here is at the jetty in New Smyrna.  Many people don't know, but it is actually the second tallest lighthouse in the United States and it is still operational.  There is another great lighthouse in St. Augustine that (for those of you that like ghost stories) is even said to be haunted.

One of our favorite, short getaway, destinations is St. Augustine Florida.  This historic city is home to Castillo de San Marcos, the Oldest School House, and has so much to offer.  We enjoy strolling down the streets, watching the horse drawn carriages, and stopping for some candy at one of the local sweet shoppes. They have some great city tours as well.

The west coast of Florida has wonderful beaches as well.  The water on the west coast is typically much calmer and a bit warmer due to currents.  One of our favorite areas is Sanibel Island.  This island is known as one of the best shelling islands in the world and nearly every morning you will see people walking along the beach and doing, what locals call, the Sanibel Stoop.  Life on Sanibel and Captiva Islands is very laid back and very relaxing!


So, there is part one of my "Other Florida".  More will come in the future, but I hope this gives you a taste of other activities available in Florida outside of the ever-so-famous theme parks.  I wish you all sunny days!