Nature & Outdoors

Yes. As migration patterns send scores of wildlife south in colder weather, Orlando’s moderate climate becomes a popular haven for birds and those who love to watch them. Photographers and birders can find paradise here among areas like Lake Apopka, a magnet for nesting and migrating birds lured by the lake’s acres of undeveloped shoreline. In fact, more than 360 different species of birds — including bald eagles, great blue herons, snowy egrets and anhingas — have been identified in the Lake Apopka North Shore area, more than any inland site in Florida. Accordingly, true bird-lovers and wildlife fans won’t want to miss the North Shore Birding Festival, which is held each winter and offers free birding and nature tours.

The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is another good resource for wildlife viewing sites, with 17 highlighted in the Orlando area alone.

Yes. Tranquil and enchanting, Orlando’s many opportunities for kayaking and canoeing are not to be missed. Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando or JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, for guided canoe or kayak tours of Shingle Creek, known as the Headwaters of the Florida Everglades. Several other Orlando-area resorts offer kayaking excursions, too.

You can also enjoy kayaking on numerous waterways and natural springs throughout the Orlando area with an assist from innovative standalone operators such as Epic Paddle Adventures, Get Up and Go Kayaking, Discovery Kayak & SUP, and others.

Several pristine natural springs are less than an hour’s drive from Orlando’s main entertainment district, featuring crystal-clear waters that are perfect scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and fishing — not to mention manatee encounters.

In Apopka, about 40 minutes from our main tourism districts, Wekiwa Springs State Park (pronounced “Wekiva”) offers just about everything nature-lovers could want, from trails and canoe rentals to untouched wild vistas and family-friendly play areas. Camping is also available here. Closer to Orlando’s core, Kelly Park features a free-flowing natural spring and a clear, swift creek, Rock Springs.

Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, approximately an hour from our tourism districts, is famous for its annual influx of manatees. Blue Spring is especially popular in the colder months but offers beauty and adventure year-round.

A little more than an hour from our tourism districts, De Leon Springs State Park combines all the beauty of natural Florida springs with a historic and delicious addition. The popular Old Sugar Mill Pancake House operates in a 100-year-old replica of the original 1830s sugar mill and is famous for the option to cook your own pancakes at the table.

Yes. For hiking, bicycling and other outdoor activities, Orlando’s many nature parks and preserves offer a treasure trove of wildlife for you to explore. Fans of a good bike ride will love the West Orange Trail, featuring 20.8 paved miles with restroom, picnic and playground facilities, stretching from Winter Garden to Apopka in the north. Did not bring a bicycle with you? No problem: You can rent one from West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades Co., who will even deliver to your hotel for a nominal fee.

Many other ecotourism activities can be enjoyed while in the Winter Garden area. About 20 minutes south, the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve features 438 acres of pristine wilderness that include many bodies of water in the Butler Chain of Lakes, officially recognized by the state as Outstanding Florida Waters. Open 363 days per year, excluding only Christmas and Christmas Eve, the Tibet-Butler Preserve also boasts four miles of trails and seven ecosystems with hiking, walking, youth programs, wildlife sightings and many other reasons to visit.

Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area is another local nature preserve worth visiting. Named for a spectacular, 200-year-old live oak tree that survived after being split down the middle, Split Oak features a mixture of trails and unpaved roads through diverse wildlife habitats, including the 5.3-mile North/South Trail. It is about 35 minutes east of our tourism districts.