As appealing as Florida's 663 miles of sandy coastline may be, there's more to the state than the view from a beach towel.
From the coral reefs dotting the turquoise waters offshore to the waving saw grass plains of its swampy interior, the Sunshine State offers a bounty of natural beauty to explore.
Take advantage of the balmy year-round climate, and add an active element to your next Florida getaway. These adventures are easy day trips from major urban base camps, yet still off the well-worn tourist path. Mouse ears definitely not included.
Bike Through the Everglades
Cars aren't allowed beyond the visitor center at the Shark
Valley entrance to Everglades
National Park, 38 miles west of downtown Miami. A two-hour tram
tour covers the 15-mile paved loop that penetrates the park's
interior, but hitting the trail with a rental bike from the gateway
kiosk allows for quiet contemplation of this swampy plain the
Miccosukee called Kaa-ha-yat-le, where alligators languish in the saw
grass and wood storks, ibis and great white herons probe the brackish
water for fish. A 65-foot observation tower at the halfway mark
provides panoramic views up to 18 miles across the subtropical
wilderness, the largest in the U.S.
Tip: Paired with an airboat concession and gift shop, the ramshackle Coopertown Restaurant outside the park has served fresh-from-the-marsh meals of catfish, frog legs and gator tail since 1967.
Swim With Manatees
From October through March, up to 400 endangered West
Indian manatees congregate 70 miles northwest of Tampa at Crystal
River, where a confluence of spring-fed waters provide a constant
72-degree comfort zone.
Book two months in advance during peak season to join one of Birds Underwater early-morning trips to swim with these easygoing aquatic mammals, which reach nearly 10 feet in length and weigh up to 1,200 pounds. (Surprisingly, early sailors mistook them for mermaids!) Tours are offered year-round, but the local manatee population drops to 30-40 in summer and clear-water sightings aren't guaranteed.
Tip: Drive 10 minutes south to learn more about these gentle creatures at the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, home to an underwater manatee observatory, rehab center, and three-times-a-day ranger talks.
Paddle With Alligators
One of Florida's few officially designated "Wild and
Scenic Rivers" runs through Myakka River State Park, about 20
miles east of downtown Sarasota. Rent a canoe or kayak on site and
paddle the 14-mile section that flows within the park boundaries. The
marshes along the route provide fertile feeding ground for sandhill
cranes, bald eagles, ospreys and a legendarily large alligator
population. The park is also a wonderland of family-friendly
activities, from camping and airboat rides to bicycling, fishing and
junior ranger programs.
Tip: For a bird's-eye view on this tropical ecosystem, follow the Boylston Nature Trail to the park's canopy walkway and 74-foot observation tower.
Horseback Riding Along the Coast
Amelia Island, 33 miles northeast of Jacksonville, boasts
America��s only state park with horseback riding on the
beach. Within the 200-plus acres of Amelia Island State Park, at the
isle's southern tip, Kelly
Seahorse Ranch runs one-hour rides four times a day on a private
trail through hardwood forest and along the shoreline. The pace never
exceeds a trot, but views of salt marshes, the Atlantic surf and the
occasional bottlenose dolphin make for an invigorating five-mile ride.
Tip: Set the stage for romance by booking into the Amelia Island Williams House, a 10-room B&B housed in an 1856 antebellum mansion in downtown Fernandina Beach.
Snorkel/Scuba on Unspoiled Reefs
Even Miami natives have trouble pinpointing Biscayne
National Park on a map. The tucked-away locale in Homestead (an
hour's drive south of downtown Miami) and the strict limits on boat
traffic yield the healthiest coral reefs in South Florida, home to
midnight parrotfish, angel fish, schools of sergeant majors and
sizable barracuda. A single snorkeling boat visits the reefs Wednesday
through Sunday; scuba trips launch on Saturday and Sunday -- often
accompanied by dolphins jumping in their wake.
Tip: Before heading back to Miami, make a beeline to El Toro Taco, a family-run BYOB Mexican joint in Homestead that's low on cost and high on spicy authenticity.