| What to do in Florida this Year | | | | has a 7 mile recreation trail where visitors may run, |
| Golf | | | | bike, rollerblade or walk The Pinellas Trail is a unique |
| Florida is almost as well known for its golf courses as | | | | linear park covering 50 miles from St Petersburg to |
| it is theme parks and enthusiasts will not be | | | | Tarpon Spring with cycle and hiking paths |
| disappointed along the Gulf Coast - Florida boasts | | | | Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva offers a 10 mile |
| over 1,000 courses and there are over 80 in the | | | | looped mountain bike trail over rolling terrain with the |
| Naples area alone! Many hotels have their own | | | | opportunity of spotting wild boar, deer and gopher |
| courses and there are numerous golfing communities | | | | tortoises. Bike hire is available in the park. Myakka |
| where you'll find private villas to rent. The courses are | | | | River is one of Florida's largest State Parks with ample |
| open year-round but quietest during the summer | | | | facilities for walking and cycling. There are seven miles |
| months from May through to October. | | | | of flat, paved roads for cyclists as well as |
| Fishing | | | | back-country dirt roads (depending on the weather). |
| The beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel are known as | | | | Cycles can be hired in the park. Many of the parks |
| the "Tarpon capital of the world" and fisherman flock | | | | which offer cycle tracks have daylight hours of |
| here every spring to fish the Boca Grande Pass. The | | | | opening and regulations including wearing a helmet so it |
| name of the game however is "Catch and Release" | | | | is always worth checking any local restrictions at the |
| as there is a 50$ state permit fee to kill a Tarpon. For | | | | park information centres or cycle hire shops before |
| those interested in sea-fishing, there are many charters | | | | you set off. |
| and fishing trips for all levels of angler - these are | | | | Bird watching |
| available from all along the coast, including Marco Island, | | | | Florida attracts "twitchers" from all over the world, |
| Sarasota, Fort Myers Beach, Clearwater and Tarpon | | | | drawn by the vast array of migratory and resident |
| Springs. Try your hand at hooking shark, barracuda, | | | | birdlife.The South West Florida Birding Festival takes |
| black fin tuna and Spanish and king mackerel. There | | | | place on the 19-21 January 2007 providing an excellent |
| are also miles of shoreline, countless oyster bars and | | | | opportunity to learn about the rich bird life of this region. |
| acres of sea grass beds that attract an abundance of | | | | There will be guided trips and expert presentations. Full |
| salt water fish. For the fresh water angler, Rotonda | | | | details can be found on the Rookery Bay website |
| has miles of canals and numerous golf course lakes | | | | (see below). The estuaries, inlets, back-waters and |
| offering some excellent bass and catfish. Other | | | | country parks provide many bird-watching |
| popular areas include the freshwater canals in Cape | | | | opportunities along the Gulf Coast some of the most |
| Coral and the Caloosahatchee River. Local freshwater | | | | popular locations are listed here. Pelican Man's Bird |
| fish include bass, crappie, blue gill and catfish. If you | | | | Sanctuary in Sarasota is one of the largest Wildlife |
| don't fancy bobbing about on the water, there are | | | | Rescue & Rehabilitation Centers in the U.S., and home |
| ample fishing opportunities from the piers and bridges. | | | | to over 70 species of Florida's native and migratory |
| Popular spots in the St Petersburg/Clearwater area | | | | birds. The Rookery Bay mangrove estuary, just south |
| include Long Pier at Redington Beach, Pier60, St | | | | of Naples, is home to over 150species of birds including |
| Petersburg Pier, Fort De Soto Park and The Friendship | | | | bald eagles, ospreys, roseate spoonbills, black |
| Trail Park at Gandy Bridge for Spanish mackerel, red | | | | skimmers, and least terns. The Sanibel Lighthouse at |
| drum, speckled trout and snook. | | | | the eastern tip of the island is a prime viewing spot, |
| Canoeing & Kayaking | | | | particularly during the October migration. Birds spotted |
| Many enthusiasts head for Rookery Bay National | | | | here include warblers and Peregrine falcons. The Six |
| Estuarine Research Reserve, which encompasses | | | | Mile Cypress Slough Preserve near Fort Myers has a |
| 110,000 acres of uplands, islands, and estuaries from | | | | boardwalk trail and observation decks for visitors, |
| Gordon Pass at Naples to Everglades National Park. | | | | where you can spy wild turkeys, blue jay, herons and |
| There is a visitor centre between Marco and Naples, | | | | woodpeckers as well as a variety of other wildlife. |
| south of US 41 on Tower Road. Fort Myers Beach & | | | | Other visitors include bobcats, raccoons,deer and |
| Sanibel are also known for good kayaking - paddle | | | | squirrel. The "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on |
| through Pine Island's aquatic preserves for a good look | | | | Sanibel Island is a hotspot for migratory bird populations |
| at the local birdlife | | | | and serves as a stopover for a number of species, |
| Cycling | | | | including egrets and night herons. The riverfront at |
| Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole, Pinellas | | | | Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva is home to blue |
| County has nature trails as well as pedestrian and | | | | egrets and great blue herons as well as a vast array |
| cycle paths. Sanibel island offers 17 miles of protected | | | | of other local wildlife and plant species. Honeymoon |
| cycle paths, ideal for families. Local companies hire a | | | | Island State Recreation Area, Dunedin has an Osprey |
| range of bikes including tandems and accessories for | | | | trail for a rare glimpse of these magnificent birds in |
| children. Fort de Soto Park on the Pinellas Peninsula | | | | their natural habitat. |