2018-12-09 01:28:01
The Can-Do State: FUN IN THE SUN FOR ALL By Kate Bradshaw It’s hard to imagine a place more welcoming than the Sunshine State. That’s why many Florida attractions strive to meet the demand for better accessibility by outfitting their amenities so that everyone can enjoy them. Whether you want to kayak, ride a horse or glide on a zipline, Florida’s got you and yours covered. PARKS & TRAILS Florida teems with inviting wilderness areas for watching wading herons, lumbering gopher tortoises and even sunbathing gators. At Oscar Scherer State Park near Sarasota, you’ll meander along wheelchair-friendly paths where you can look for the endangered Florida scrub jay and, at the right time of year, bald eagles. Along the way, a fishing pier outfitted with low railings accommodates those who need to sit while they fish. The park also has an accessible canoe and kayak launch. Other accessible parks for nature lovers: Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Southwest), Big Lagoon State Park (Northwest), Boca Ciega Millennium Park (Central West) and Cady Way Trail (Central). BEACHES & SWIMMING Dreaming of an easy beach day? Try Treasure Island near St. Petersburg, where you can rent all-terrain wheelchairs for navigating the sand. A Mobi-Mat leading from the dunes allows easy beach access. Englewood Beach near Sarasota (Southwest) offers these as well. Same goes for Hollywood Beach in Southeast Florida and Fort Clinch at Fernandina Beach (Northeast). At M.B. Miller County Pier in Panama City Beach in Northwest Florida, you’ll find Mobi-Chair floating wheelchairs and Mobi- Mats. Be sure to call ahead to reserve your beach wheelchair. As for springs diving, Blue Grotto (North Central) and DeLeon Springs State Park (Central East) will accommodate disabled divers. NATURAL ADVENTURES Find horseback riding for all mobility levels at Central Florida’s Westgate River Ranch. Looking for a wheelchair-accessible zipline? Head to Gatorland, also in Central Florida, where the Gator Gauntlet offers a 350-foot glide over the park, with aerial views of the terrain and, of course, the park’s reptilian namesakes. Want to go for a sail? Try Clearwater Community Sailing Service in the Tampa Bay area or Miami’s Team Paradise Sailing. Both make sailing accessible to all. Accessible parks make it easy for everyone to navigate Florida’s waterways via stand-up paddleboard. Or, set sail on a glass-bottom boat at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo for some mesmerizing underwater scenery. For more information, visit the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association website at fdoa.org. ALL ABOUT ANIMALS By Lauren Tjaden Manatees, dolphins and roseate spoonbills are among the many animal species that set Florida apart and will leave you in awe. BEACH BEAUTIES Waves, horses and you: a perfect combo. Explore Northeast Florida’s unspoiled beaches atop one of Kelly Seahorse Ranch’s trusty steeds on Amelia Island. Or, enjoy a beach ride in Cape San Blas (Northwest) or Fort Pierce (Central East). GENTLE GIANTS Manatees are huge, curious and ridiculously cute. In Central West Florida, you can snorkel with them in the wild in Crystal River. Your tour guide will teach you all you need to know about proper manatee interaction. FOR THE BIRDS Wood storks, pelicans and roseate spoonbills are just a few of the reasons birders flock to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on the Central East coast. It’s part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, a network with more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state, where majestic avians are always near. Find out more at floridabirdingtrail.com. DOLPHIN DELIGHT Want to help researchers survey bottlenose dolphins? Join an ecotour on Marco Island’s Dolphin Explorer (Southwest Florida). Its 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project is a long-term study of these awe-inspiring animals, and the only one in the United States open to the public.
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Outdoor Fun
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