Travel with Children - Florida - page 87

Leon Sinks Geological Area Tallahassee; bizarre sinkhole terrain is bound to make an im-
pression.
St George Island State Park Apalachicola; loggerhead nesting.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Cocoa Beach; Black Point Wildlife Dr and excellent
visitors center.
Butterfly World Coconut Creek, outside Lauderdale-by-the-Sea; sanctuary of butterflies and
exotic birds.
Wildlife Encounters by Water
Biscayne National Park Homestead, 30 miles south of Miami; glass-bottom boat tours,
snorkeling over epic reef.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Key Largo, Florida Keys; great coral reefs, by
snorkel or glass-bottom boat tour.
Loxahatchee River Jupiter, 20 miles north of West Palm Beach; one of Florida's two Nation-
al Wild and Scenic Rivers, this placid eight-mile river is great for kayaking and canoeing.
Canaveral National Seashore Titusville, 35 miles south of Daytona; easy paddling on the
Indian River and sea-turtle watches along 24 miles of undeveloped Atlantic Coast beaches.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Eighty miles north of Tampa; legendary manatee
spot where you can boat and swim among them.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park Fort White, 37 miles northwest of Gainesville; inner-tube
along crystal-clear slow-moving water with manatees, otters and turtles.
Blue Spring State Park Deland, 35 miles north of Orlando; canoe and cruise among
manatees.
Suwannee River State Park 75 miles east of Tallahassee; great muddy river dotted with
crystal-clear springs for swimming.
Dolphin Study Naples; dolphin-spotting ecotours.
Fin Expeditions Cocoa Beach; kayak through the mangroves with small-group nature tours
tailor-made for kids.