dr.juice

You'll be only about a 90 minute to 2 hour drive from Gainesville. You might call the local Chamber of Commerce to find out whether Paynes' Prarie south of Gainesville has dried out some. It should be an excellent place for birding. Check also with the Florida State Museum at UF who should have a pretty good idea about the degrees of wetness in/on Paynes. Just park safely and go to it. When we used to take visiting bird people out there, we'd be gone from about an hour before sunrise and finish them off with lunch at a local fishing camp getting them back to wherever they'd been put up by about 2/3 pm.

Have a great time.

virginia

jim32736 Loc: Tavares, Florida

Black Point Drive can be interesting at times....Merritt Island area.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

And the Florida State Museum in Gainsville has a world class butterfly house and exhibit. It is a wonderful place.

kpsk_sony

The Ponce Inlet is a great spot. The lighthouse there won a local newspaper contest for me. I also liked the inside shots especially the stairway.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

These two would be a bit of a drive from where he will be located.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Melbourne is very close to the Space Center, if that interests you.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Rae Zimmerman Loc: Pine Island, FL

I think I recently read that Merritt Island Wildlife Reserve is closed. Check before going. It is fabulous, if open.

arperry Loc: Miami/Florida

That is true, parts of Merritt Island Refuge were closed last weekend. The reason is truly sad: too much trash left by visitors caused the closure. Many volunteers had to come out to clear the area. They declared another trash pick-up day in February. On another note: I would be cautious to swim in the ocean at New Smyrna Beach, it is also called the shark attack capital of the world.

Alan Gilbertson

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel/Captiva Island (off Ft. Myers Beach in Gulf) is a wonderful place to shoot birds! Wildlife Drive takes you through some great wading birds; territory (herons, egrets, spoonbills, etc.) with good/varying angles and lighting, unobstructed views, etc.. Early morning with low tide is best. You can check out photo opps by going to the Ding Darling WLF Conservancy website and looking at previous years Annual Photography Contest. Enjoy!

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

This can be pretty useless. I put in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the output was zero!

dr.juice

While you're in Florida, you might want to try a couple of horse ranches in Marion county (Ocala is the county seat and several really famous race horses have stood at stud in that area).

Hope this helps.

drjuice

ChaplainPlato Loc: Florida

There are some backroads along the intercoastal that have yet to be screwed up by developers. Wonderful vistas of cypress and sable palm stands, tons of birds, dolphin, yachts and sailboats transiting the intercoastal waterway.

(from DAYTONA mainland side of the Halifax River) Riverside Drive going north from Mason Ave and North Beach Street (which becomes Riverside drive) It'll become South Beach Drive then North Beach Drive (still on the mainland side) You'll head into the Tomoka State Park, the road is Old Dixie Highway by then, you'll kick out to the North West. Just follow the road -- it is canopied by old, squat, live oaks. When you get to Walter Boardman Lane, turn right, east, and follow the road across Halifax River to John Anderson Drive, Turn Right, South, and follow it back. --- this drive has opportunities for some nice shots but you must understand that majesty is rare in Florida. I tell people when we're heading out that everything in Florida happens between your shoulders and your shoes -- wear good shoes. There are 3 types of rattlesnakes, the coral snake, the cottonmouth water moccasin and copperheads here. Even in winter, mosquitoes are an issue so get a good repellent as four species that are present on the Atlantic Coast, carry viruses.

I'm sure there are those who will challenge my warnings but just consider -- I grew up in the Everglades. I've walked all over this state. I've carried people out when they got hit. Just understand there and risks when you're out even on the edges of the highway. That said just roaming around will likely deliver you to good opportunities. The central part of the state around the Swannee and the Gulf Coast north of Crystal River are awesome areas. Also, the blue springs -- parks in and around Ocala National Forest are thick with 1st and 2nd magnitude springs -- Ocala National Forest is close to where you're going to be.

Sorry, this is long. Thanks for reading it.

Happy Trails.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

I go to Wakodahatchee in Delray Beach, perhaps too far away. Great for birds and alligators.

Where in MI?

ChaplainPlato Loc: Florida

That place is so very cool, a reserve run by a county utility.

The thing about Florida is that nature fights back and there are so many places that you can visit over and over and not repeat yourself, except for the drive. There's always something you didn't expect. Delray is south of the two shots I posted, but there are crazy amazing places inland of there and north and south. It depends on how much saddle time you want between shooting.

Have a great time here. MI is amazing. I had never been to a place that had little underbrush, just massive trees. Have a wonderful time on your trip.

Peace