Natural Orlando
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Orlando Wilderness
The Disney Animal Kingdom theme park has its lions and tigers and bears. But for a real "Oh, my!" factor -- and to experience native Central Florida wildlife at its natural best -- the area's state parks are where it's at. Visitors who want to get away from the human traffic can rent a canoe or kayak for a paddle along the Wekiwa River.
Up Next: Black Point Wildlife Drive -
Black Point Wildlife Drive
The most popular activity at MINWR is the Black Point Wildlife Drive. The seven-mile, one-way loop takes you along the estuaries, with jump-out points where you can wander onto viewing platforms to get closer to the wildlife. Be sure to make the detour to the observation deck at Haulover Canal. It's a good place to spot manatees, with as many as 400 observed here during the spring months. Alligator sightings are also common along the Wildlife Drive, and viewing them from the safety of your car makes the idea that much more appealing.
Up Next: Central Florida -
Cormorant
Central Florida -- from the inland swamps and springs to pristine stretches of national seashore along the east coast -- is home to some of Florida's most impressive wildlife. You can see alligators by the hundreds, migrating birds, nesting sea turtles and, if you're lucky, even the rare and reclusive Florida Black Bear -- all within a short drive of Disney.
Up Next: Merrit Island National Wildlife -
Merrit Island National Wildlife
Thank rocket science for this spectacular Florida park. The Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge -- a barrier island between Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River, roughly one hour from downtown Orlando -- was established in 1963 as a buffer zone for NASA activities at nearby Kennedy Space Center.
Up Next: Roseate Spoonbills -
Roseate Spoonbills
You won't even need your binoculars to spot the gorgeous roseate spoonbills -- the pink birds are often mistaken for flamingoes, but bear a distinctive rounded beak.
Up Next: Sebastian Inlet -
Sebastian Inlet
The Beach Line -- a cheerily named Orlando toll road -- takes visitors from International Drive to Cocoa Beach in about an hour. But it's worth exiting onto Interstate-95 and heading north a few extra minutes to reach Canaveral National Seashore -- one of the most beautiful and blissfully empty stretches of Sunshine State sand.
Up Next: Turtle at Wekiwa Springs State Park -
Turtle at Wekiwa Springs State Park
Canaveral National Seashore is a popular beach for nesting sea turtles, with three species -- the leatherback, loggerhead and green sea turtle -- lugging themselves ashore between May and August to nest.
Up Next: Wekiwa Springs State Park -
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Most visitors to Orlando stick to the theme parks and neon-induced International Drive -- the tourist mecca thoroughfare that's packed with cheap souvenir shops and chain eateries. After overdosing on all that faux, there's no better antidote than a relaxing foray into the real Florida. And you don't even have to venture all the way south to the Everglades to get a taste of the Sunshine State at its swampiest, wildest best.
Up Next: More AOL Travel Stories -
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