Traveling to Orlando Jan 27-Feb 3: We plan to visit Orlando Wetlands Park and Kennedy Space Center while there. Will have rental car and are wondering about other nature/birding...

jliane Loc: Washington state

We plan to visit Orlando Wetlands Park and Kennedy Space Center while there. Will have rental car and are wondering about other nature/birding habitats to visit in the area or within a 100-150 mile drive for a day-only adventures. (We're not interested in Disney or Epcot.) Being from the Pacific NW, we're looking forward to warm weather and hoping it is a good time to see birds we never have a chance to see. Would appreciate any suggestions. Many thanks in advance.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

jliane wrote:

We plan to visit Orlando Wetlands Park and Kennedy Space Center while there. Will have rental car and are wondering about other nature/birding habitats to visit in the area or within a 100-150 mile drive for a day-only adventures. (We're not interested in Disney or Epcot.) Being from the Pacific NW, we're looking forward to warm weather and hoping it is a good time to see birds we never have a chance to see. Would appreciate any suggestions. Many thanks in advance.

Did you look at a map??

I believe the Orlando Wetlands Park opens Feb 1, so check on that. An hour from the Park and you can be in the Merritt Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Many like to use the Black Point Drive. http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Black_Point_Wildlife_Drive.aspx

It is minutes from the space center.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

DaveO wrote:

Did you look at a map??

I believe the Orlando Wetlands Park opens Feb 1, so check on that. An hour from the Park and you can be in the Merritt Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Many like to use the Black Point Drive. http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Black_Point_Wildlife_Drive.aspx

It is minutes from the space center.

ucftom

Also suggest Lake Toho in Osceola County(rent a pontoon boat), Lake Apopka in Orange County and Crystal River on the West Coast

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Relax and enjoy the trip. No pressure!

Jaxfish

Gatorland near Orlando phenomial wild breeding birds free admission for miltary Veterans.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Excellent and really good if you can get ride on some tours, but Black Point Road in Titusville is my favorite : http://visitcentralflorida.org/featured/circle-b-bar-reserve-1

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Then you must go to the Circle B Bar reserve, only a half hour ride(not in rush hour, which lasts many hours) from Orlando. You will see more wildlife here in a couple of hours than anywhere else in FL without walking too far IMHO.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37991479@N08/albums/72157633095236003

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Hi,
From Orlando, you are 40 minutes from Blue Springs State Park - roosting place for Manatees, many water fowl, fish, huge alligators ... There is two hour boat ride too. It's a unique experience with an abundance of photo ops. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring
Mark

jliane wrote:

We plan to visit Orlando Wetlands Park and Kennedy Space Center while there. Will have rental car and are wondering about other nature/birding habitats to visit in the area or within a 100-150 mile drive for a day-only adventures. (We're not interested in Disney or Epcot.) Being from the Pacific NW, we're looking forward to warm weather and hoping it is a good time to see birds we never have a chance to see. Would appreciate any suggestions. Many thanks in advance.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

The Orlando Wetlands Park is open every day or the year: http://www.cityoforlando.net/wetlands/plan-your-visit/ Be aware that you cannot drive - you have to walk. I would normally suggest the Viera Wetlands but it has not recovered from the severe drought followed by floods that we had this summer - several of the ponds dried up entirely, killing the fish, so many birds are elsewhere right now.

The rookery at Gatorland, already mentioned, is fantastic - it might be a bit early for chicks, but there will be a lot of nesting large birds. You can get really up close and personal with them! And - you can get some good alligator photos....

I would also highly recommend nearby Lakeland - the Circle B Bar Reserve - and old farmstead that has been preserved because of the fantastic wildlife that lives there. It is also a walking trip. Lakeland always seems to have something going on during the weekends, and is a neat town.

Hessie

While in the area, drive about 30 miles south to Viera, FL. Google Rich Grissom Memorial Wetlands. You will not be disappointed. And if you go to the Orlando wetlands, take the tram ride. Have a great trip. You will be going to some of my favorite spots. Oh, yes. You will enjoy the space center as well.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

jliane wrote:

We plan to visit Orlando Wetlands Park and Kennedy Space Center while there. Will have rental car and are wondering about other nature/birding habitats to visit in the area or within a 100-150 mile drive for a day-only adventures. (We're not interested in Disney or Epcot.) Being from the Pacific NW, we're looking forward to warm weather and hoping it is a good time to see birds we never have a chance to see. Would appreciate any suggestions. Many thanks in advance.

From Orlando down to Bradenton (just across the Sunshine bridge from Saint Petersburg is rife with nature preserves. I live in Clearwater, and have 4 or 5 within a 20-30 minute drive.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

sb wrote:

The Orlando Wetlands Park is open every day or the... (show quote)

I just called to confirm the year round opening and they are, as you said, open year round. The site I checked still had the shutdown posted. Up until 2015 they used to close December and January. Big deal for me because I may stop there in the first week of December, so thank you!

PhotoKurtz Loc: Carterville, IL

Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary is awesome. Several miles of road through swamp and gulf shore.
https://dingdarlingsociety.org/
Sanibel, FL

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

I've been living in the Pacific NW since 1989. I moved here from Longwood FL (outside Orlando). Back in the early 80s I lost all my palm trees to frost when it went down to 17 degrees at night for a week one January. Point being, it does get cold in Florida, but as rare as it hitting 95 in Seattle.

I agree with Mark, Blue Springs is loaded with wildlife. There is a wood walkway winding thru the woods back to the spring head. The cold winter weather brings the Manatee into the springs as it is then warmer than the St Johns River. Then around the corner is Hontoon Island State Park. The park has a free pontoon shuttle boat taking you across the St Johns River to the park. There is a tower to climb for views of the area and the winding river. Watch out for snakes and gators.