With a sandy strand more than a mile long, Avalon State Park offers an escape to an uncluttered seashore along the Treasure Coast where sea turtles retreat to lay their eggs.
Vero Beach
Around Vero Beach, there are many more recreational opportunities on the coastal strands than inland. The barrier islands immerse you in tropical habitats.
Centennial Trail
Designed the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903, Pelican Island NWR celebrated its century mark by creating this short, scenic, accessible boardwalk for birding.
D.J. Wilcox Natural Area
In pine flatwoods and scrub along the Indian River Lagoon, D.J. Wilcox Natural Area features the ghost town of Indrio along its 2.3-mile loop
Fort Drum Marsh
Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area covers more than 20,000 acres, but this hike zeroes in on 3 miles in two loops – at Horseshoe Lake and Hog Island – near Yeehaw Junction.
Fort Pierce
The heart of the Treasure Coast, Fort Pierce is flanked by a number of state parks and natural lands along the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Coastal Ridge.
Indrio Savannahs
Only a mile from the Indian River Lagoon, Indrio Savannas has 3.5 miles of hiking around freshwater wetlands where sea breezes wash across the landscape.
Indrio Scrub
Atop the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Indrio Scrub is a place where unique scrub species thrive. A short interpretive loop trail leads you through the preserve
Lake Wales
Sitting atop the ancient dunes of the Lake Wales Ridge, the Lake Wales – Frostproof area in southern Polk County is rich with outdoor recreation opportunities.
McKee Botanical Gardens
Established as McKee Jungle Gardens by local legend Waldo E. Sexton in 1929 with the guidance of landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, a carefully designed tropical garden emerged under a canopy of old and venerable native trees.
Melbourne
Melbourne is rich in natural lands and parks that invite exploration, including habitats that are the northernmost point for many tropical species like gumbo-limbo.