The Greenwood Urban Wetland in Orlando lies adjacent to the historic Greenwood Cemetery. Take a nice stroll around the scenic lake and look for various wildlife along the way. We saw a turtle and a pileated woodpecker during our brief journey. Seek it out!
Florida Lakes
Birding at Starke Lake
Although The Big Year (2011) is one of my favorite comedies, I do not consider myself a birder (maybe somewhat of a birdwatching enthusiast, if you will). However, one of our favorite places to go birdwatching is Starke Lake in Ocoee. For a small lake, you can actually spot quite a diverse selection of bird species. Check it out!
Lake Gertrude
We took a nice stroll along the scenic Lake Gertrude Walkway in Mount Dora yesterday. It’s mostly shaded, so it’s not too unbearable, even on a sweltering summer day!
Lake Apopka
One of our favorite walks involves taking the scenic boardwalk at Oakland Nature Preserve to Lake Apopka. Up and back is just about 1 5 miles with some great views along the way. Enjoy your hike!
Overlook Park
Nestled along scenic Lake Jesup in Oviedo, Overlook Park is a nice place to chill – if you can find it! There are no hiking trails here, but the view is excellent.
Sabal Bluff Preserve
Tucked behind a mobile home park in Leesburg, Sabal Bluff Preserve is hard to find, but well worth the effort. The Bourlay Trail takes you to the Lake Griffin Trail for some spectacular views. The entire trail system is just about 2 miles total, so you can knock it out in an hour or so. Keep an eye out for gopher tortoises (unfortunately, we didn’t see any this time out).
Port of Mount Dora
Yes, there really is a Port of Mount Dora and it’s usually bustling with activity! It features an iconic red and white striped lighthouse that’s said to be one of only three inland lighthouses in Florida. Take a nice stroll and enjoy scenic views of Lake Dora and Palm Island Park. Oh yeah, the Port of Mount Dora sign features a great quote attributed to Mark Twain. Check it out!
Venetian Gardens
Seeking some solitude for reflection? Head out to Venetian Gardens in Leesburg! This unique city park features seven small islands connected by bridges. It’s full of wildlife and scenic landscaping. We saw the purple gallinule above just wandering across one of the bridges. The Venetian Gardens overlook Lake Harris (you can even catch a glimpse of tiny Monkey Island in the distance). Check it out!
Sawgrass Lake Park
According to the Pinellas County website, 400-acre Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg features “one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast of Florida.” We strolled along the mile-long boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Park on a sunny Sunday morning and viewed an alligator, some turtles and even a yellow-crowned night heron. Sawgrass Lake Park also offers an observation tower, picnic shelter, restroom. Admission is free.
Starke Lake
Believe it or not, Ocoee does not have any nature preserves (yet), so there are only about two options available for anyone seeking out wildlife in the city: hit the West Orange Trail or visit 200-acre Starke Lake, which features an impressive variety of bird species, as well as a boat ramp and fishing pier. Check it out!
Wandering Florida 