Locations in Florida for wildlife

wack61

wack61

I've got an itchy hatch
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We're going to Florida in a couple of weeks and I have been given permission for a couple of days to myself.:banana:

I'll be taking a S5 pro and a few lenses including my new 300mm f/2.8 if it fits in the carry on bag.

can anyone suggest any locations up to 2hrs drive from Orlando, wildlife would be good but not too wild :D I'm not one for crawling round in the undergrowth looking up Alligators noses :help: I've watched Ray Mears bushcraft a couple of times but lost interest when he started rubbing twigs together

something along the lines of a safari park where they look wild but i'm not going to get eaten alive would be good, any sunset locations would be good too :)
 
There are some really good places near to the KSC about 90mins from Orlando, If you go over to POTN and search in the bird forums for IRA RUNYON he shoots at the Viera wetlands in that area you will see what you can shoot
 
You could head over towards Kennedy Space Centre. Merritt Island is a wildlife refuge and only an hour or so from Orlando.

Or alternatively heading towards the Gulf coast, Sanibel Island But I think this is more like 3-4 hours from Orlando rather than 2.
 
Thanks canonrebel and strax much appreciated :)
 
For captive stuff:

Gatorworld gets you very close to aligators, especially if you choose to feed them raw chicken. Imagine about 40 HUGE aligators about 4 feet away from you and a bucket of raw chicken with only a trainer with a broomstick between you.

There's a big cat rescue place in Tampa, and I can really recommend canoeing down the river in Tampa. You could do that with your family
http://www.canoeescape.com/
Amazing how much you see down that river.


Also worth a nose is someone I met at discovery cove
http://blog.robertlafollette.com/
 
Oh and another one for the family (whilst you're off photographing).
Look up Caladesi Island State Park. You take a tiny ferry (20-25 people per time) over to the island, with Dolphins swimming alongside.

I think it's about $5 to park the car and something like $8 each for the ferry trip.
Because the ferry only takes a few people you feel like you have the whole island to yourself. Great beaches, clear water that's shallow for a long way out so safe for the kids. Take a picnic as apart from loos and BBQ spots I don't think there's much there.

For wildlife there's lots of birdlife. We saw lots, herons, skimmers etc, plus racoons, and armadillos.
 
Down to the Everglades is a good day out, we saw vultures gators and loads of other stuff down there and rode an air boat when your 11 thats pretty cool.
Some place just north for the Kissimee area it is a park of types but it was a spring and the water was crystal clear and had manatees seemingly wild well not in tanks anyway just swimming in the rivers I can't remember the name something spring loads of birds and they had some animal exhibits as well.
 
A trip to the Everglades is defo worth it, you can get coach outings there organised by your hotel (assuming you're staying in a hotel), we saw all kinds of animals and critters and went on the affore mentioned air boats. As well as the wildlife, there is some good scenary to be had too. If you do go there, make sure you take insect repellant as you WILL get eaten alive if not!!
 
wack61 said:
Thanks for the advice :)
Click to expand...

Skin So Soft moisturiser by Avon was always top of our list to ward off the mozzies in Canada our friends who live there swore by it. Sure it will have the same effect in Florida. Sharon:wave:
 
I love lake louisa, It's a great place to swim in tea coloured water! Is it filled up more now? We went back there again a few years ago and it was half empty.
 
I like the sound of this one Myakka River state park i'll look into that one further

Sharon, can you buy Avon on the high st as i'm going on friday so no time to order online :)
 
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