| Florida has a great amount of
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| | Garden and the new Kitchen Garden with
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| biodiversity and nature lovers will enjoy
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| | herbs, vegetables and a butterfly
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| the great variety of plants found in the
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| | garden!"Highlands Hammock State Park 5931
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| Sunshine State. On our recent trip to
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| | Hammock Road, Sebring, FL 33872; Phone:
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| Orlando we had a chance to visit several
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| | (941) 386-6094. "The contrast of the dark
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| locations with a beautiful parks and
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| | swamp waters against the bright trunks of
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| gardens, such as the Harry P. Leu Gardens
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| | the bare trees is reminiscent of more
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| and the Historical Bok Sanctuary. Even my
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| | northerly forests. White-tailed deer
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| excursion on the Scenic Boat Tour in
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| | munch their way through the campsites,
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| Winter Park brought me up close to some
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| | enjoying the scattering of acorns around
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| of the fascinating flowers and plants
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| | the base of many oaks. Bobcat tracks are
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| found in the Orlando area.Florida has a
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| | found each morning in the damp sands
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| mix of subtropical and tropical climates
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| | along the roadways, and the Barred owls
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| and the area around Orlando are more
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| | call as soon as the sun goes down.
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| subtropical. Central Florida has a hot,
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| | Visitors are enjoying viewing alligators
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| but often stormy climate and experiences
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| | as they soak up the warm sun that follows
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| many thunderstorms with a frequent risk
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| | the cool nighttime temperatures."Lake
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| of hurricanes.Geographically, the Central
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| | Kissimmee State Park 14248 Camp Mack
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| Florida area encompasses Orange, Osceola,
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| | Road, Lake Wales, FL 33853; Phone: (941)
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| Seminole, Lake, Brevard, and Volusia
| |
| | 696-1112. "Florida's cowboy heritage
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| counties, and some consider Polk and
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| | comes alive with living history
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| Sumter counties also to be part of
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| | demonstrations of the early Florida "cow
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| Central Florida. This low-lying area is
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| | hunters" in an 1876-era cow camp, open
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| dominated by hundreds of lakes surrounded
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| | 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekends and
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| by marshland. Historically predominant
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| | holidays. White-tailed deer, bald eagles,
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| industries include cotton, citrus and
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| | sandhill cranes, turkeys, and bobcats
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| cattle-raising. The climate favours a
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| | have been seen in the park, located on
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| great deal of plant and animal
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| | the shores of lakes Kissimmee, Tiger, and
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| species.Nature lovers will revel in
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| | Rosalie. Visitors enjoy boating,
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| Central Florida's abundant gardens and
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| | canoeing, and fishing in the picturesque
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| parks which give them a perfect
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| | lakes. Nature students can hike over 13
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| opportunity to enjoy nature up close.
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| | miles of trails to observe and study the
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| Here is a collection of parks and gardens
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| | abundant plant and animal life. Six miles
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| that will give you great exposure to
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| | of trails are open to equestrians. A
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| Central Florida's natural beauty:Archbold
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| | large, shaded picnic area with pavilions
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| Biological Station P. O. Box 2057, (Old
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| | is available. The park has full-facility
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| State Road 8), Lake Placid, FL 33862
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| | campsites, as well as a primitive camping
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| Phone: (941) 465-2571. "The Station
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| | facility. The youth camping area can
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| fosters long-term ecological research on
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| | accommodate up to 50 people. The dark
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| native plants and animals of central
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| | skies make stargazing a popular nighttime
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| Florida and also provides environmental
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| | activity for campers."Ocala National
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| education for K-12 children."Bok Tower
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| | Forest USDA Forest Service, 17147 E. Hwy
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| Gardens 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales,
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| | 40, Silver Springs, FL 34488 Phone: (352)
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| FL 33853-3412; Phone: (941) 676-1408.
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| | 625-7470. "The Forest offers 383,573
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| "Historic Bok Sanctuary offers visitors
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| | acres of unique ecological sites, trails,
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| Florida's most abundant
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| | natural springs. There are hundreds of
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| opportunities for aesthetic, cultural
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| | camping sites throughout the forest
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| and personal enrichment. The lush
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| | offering everything from full-service
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| landscapes of the Olmsted gardens, the
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| | campgrounds to more rustic sites. The
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| majesty and music of the carillon tower
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| | National Forest also has designated
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| and the splendor of Pinewood Estate
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| | trails for horseback riding. Hunting is
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| create an experience that inspires all
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| | permitted in designated areas where the
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| who visit."Cypress Gardens 2641 South
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| | enforcement of state regulations is
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| Lake Summit Road, Cypress Gardens, FL
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| | strict. Recreation areas include
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| 33884; Phone: (800) 282-2123. "Standing
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| | Alexander Springs, Fore Lake Recreational
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| sentinel in the historic gardens is the
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| | Area, Juniper Springs, Lake Eaton Loop
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| giant Banyan tree, which was planted in
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| | Trail, Lake Eaton Sink Hole, Mill Dam
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| 1939 from a seedling during the parks
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| | Recreation Area, Salt Springs and Salt
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| early years. Topiary Trail features a
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| | Springs Trail. Specially marked walking
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| collection of colorful topiaries,
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| | hiking trails are located throughout this
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| including a variety of animals such as a
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| | wonderful resource. Lake Eaton Sinkhole
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| rabbit, swan and serpent. The crowning
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| | and the Lake Eaton Loop are only two of
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| gem in this trail of jewels is the
| |
| | the trails that allow the visitor to
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| waterfall, a sparkling cascade accented
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| | explore the area on easily traveled
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| by brilliant floral blossoms. The
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| | interpretive trails."Silver River State
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| Plantation Gardens grace the manicured
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| | Park 7165 N. E. 7th Street, Ocala, FL
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| landscape of Snively Mansion and include
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| | 34470; Phone: (352) 236-1827. "This park
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| the aromatic herb garden, a glorious rose
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| | has more than 14 distinct natural
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| garden and the butterfly garden adjoining
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| | communities, dozens of springs, and miles
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| Wings of Wonder."Disney Wilderness
| |
| | of beautiful trails. The adjoining Silver
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| Preserve 6075 Scrub Jay Trail Kissimmee,
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| | Springs attraction houses the headwaters
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| FL 34759; Phone: (407) 935-0002. "Fifteen
| |
| | of the Silver River, which flows through
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| miles south of Walt Disney World, in the
| |
| | the park into the Ocklawaha River. The
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| heart of Central Florida, lies the Disney
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| | park is home to a pioneer cracker village
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| Wilderness Preserve. The site, originally
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| | and the Silver River Museum and
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| the Walker Ranch, is now owned and
| |
| | Environmental Education Center. The
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| managed by the Nature Conservancy, a
| |
| | center is operated by the Marion County
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| private, non-profit conservation
| |
| | School District in cooperation with the
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| organization that is responsible for the
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| | park and is open to the public on
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| largest network of private conservation
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| | weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to
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| lands in the world."Harry P. Leu
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| | 5:00. p.m. Admission to the Museum is
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| Botanical Gardens 1920 N. Forest Avenue,
| |
| | $2.00 per person.Children 6 and under are
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| Orlando, FL 32803-1537; Phone: (407)
| |
| | free."Silver Springs P. O. Box 370, (5656
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| 246-2620. "Miles of paved scenic walkways
| |
| | E. SR-40), Silver Springs, FL 34489;
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| that take you through garden settings,
| |
| | Phone: (800) 234-7458. "Silver Springs is
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| including: America's largest Camellia
| |
| | a 350 acre nature theme park surrounds
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| collection outside California and the
| |
| | the headwaters of the beautiful Silver
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| largest formal rose garden in Florida, a
| |
| | River, the largest artesian spring
|
| house museum dating from the 1880's, a
| |
| | formation in the world. Located 90 miles
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| palm garden and bamboo garden. New
| |
| | north of Orlando, just east of Ocala,
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| gardens include the Tropical Stream
| |
| | Florida.
|
