Natural Wonders

Although famous for its man-made attractions and entertainment venues, Central Florida is also home to an extraordinary mixture of ecological systems and natural park reserves. Your InnHouse vacation home makes the perfect place to begin your exploration of these natural wonders.

St. Johns River: Forty-five minutes northeast of Disney World, Seminole County provides a natural alternative to the typical Central Florida vacation. The area's 2,000 freshwater lakes and the clear-running rivers that course around three sides of the county provide plenty of unique adventures. To the east runs the St. Johns River, which at 342 miles is the longest navigable inland waterway in Florida. The St. Johns River basin and the surrounding wetlands provide a natural habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life. Exploring the area aboard a guided nature cruise, visitors may be lucky enough to spot bobcats, wild boars or even the Florida black bear. Glancing into the water during the winter months, visitors may spot a slow-moving endangered Florida manatee munching on aquatic vegetation.

Wekiva Springs State Park: Running along Seminole County's western frontier is the popular Wekiva River, where spring-fed waters flow through the shade of an ancient and delicate semi-tropical forest. The park comprises approximately 8,000 acres of wild scenery that offers an opportunity to see how areas of central Florida looked when the Timucuan Indians speared fish in the spring-fed creeks and stalked the uplands. Wekiva Springs State Park, located at the headwater of the river, provides locales for horseback riding, fishing, bird watching and nature hiking on more than 13 miles of trails through distinct landscapes ranging from wet, marshy swampland to dry, sandy elevated plateaus. But the best way to experience the river and see its inhabitants is by canoe. Several canoe outfitters operate along the river. In addition to canoe and boat launching, Katie's Wekiva River Landing offers half- and full-day eco-adventure trips featuring kayaking, all-terrain cycling, hiking, horseback riding and educational lectures.

Lake Tohopekaliga: Although only minutes from Orlando's hustle and bustle, Kissimmee-St. Cloud has acres of cattle pastures, miles of peaceful lakes and rivers and quiet parks where Florida birds and wildlife abound. One way to explore the area's natural beauty is on a narrated nature cruise on Lake Tohopekaliga where there is ample evidence of the area's Native American history and where bald eagles, wading birds and alligators grace the scenery.

Tosohatchee State Reserve: Wildlife and nature study are full-time activities at Tosohatchee State Reserve, near the festively named town of Christmas, in eastern Orange County. With 19 miles of frontage on the St. Johns River, the reserve offers scenic hiking routes along dikes and numerous vantages for wildlife observation.

Lake Region Audubon Nature Conservatory: Bird-watchers will be pleased to discover the 42-acre Lake Region Audubon Nature Conservatory in Winter Haven. Winding nature trails and a boardwalk over the waters of Lake Ned provide excursions into the world of nature, where visitors can observe numerous species of wildlife. Famous for its bird watching, the conservatory is home to over 140 species of birds, including a flock of bald eagles, red-tailed hawk and green-backed heron.