Outdoors & Nature Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail If you’re not ready for the forest, head for this popular city-to-city paved recreational trail that ties together downtown St. Petersburg and the Greek community of Tarpon Springs. The wide, smooth and level 47-mile trail was built on the railbed of the old Atlantic Coast Line and attracts bicyclists, skaters, joggers and pedestrians. On the northern half of the trail, many fi nd a welcome oasis in the shops, restaurants and boutiques of Dunedin’s active, eclectic Main Street. Sanibel & Captiva Islands Few places in Florida capture the serenity travelers seek more perfectly than these twin islands o the coast of Fort Myers. Among the reasons visitors return are natural attractions like trails woven into the heart of one of America’s premier birding sites at the famed J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Nearby, a network of broad paved paths lead to Sanibel’s many attractions such as the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and Sanibel Lighthouse. Paradise, found. West Orange Trail Less than 30 minutes from seven of the world’s top 10 theme parks in Orlando, the “theme” in Winter Garden is the great outdoors. Thousands of walkers, skaters and bicyclists relax in gift shops, boutiques and sidewalk cafés before traveling the 22-mile West Orange Trail. It’s mostly level, but a few hills could pose a challenge. Three adjacent trails run west of town, dipping into the Oakland Nature Preserve near Lake Apopka. A Quick Guide to Big Thrills By Lauren Tjaden Search { Thrills } at VISITFLORIDA.com Looking for a Florida adventure? Put some get-up in your getaway with these Sunshine State escapades. Zips & Dips Forever Florida in St. Cloud, south of Orlando, not only offers Florida’s largest zipline thrill park, but also the country’s rst zipline roller coaster. Crocodile Crossing at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park adds teeth to the adventure: you’ll see live alligators and crocodiles below as you tackle aerial obstacles. Mountain Biking Part of the Cross Florida Greenway, the Santos Trailhead near Ocala offers free fun with more than 60 miles of mountain biking trails. The trails are clearly color-coded for dif culty, and there are designated skill areas perfect for practicing. The free ride area is stocked with daring drops and obstacles. Watch riders perform impressive stunts or, if you’re skilled and brave enough, join them. O -Road Adventures Unleash your inner swamp child at Revolution Off Road in Clermont, west of Orlando. You can take the wheel of an ATV for a guided ride through sand, mud, swamp and forest, or choose an easy-to-drive two-seater buggy for a jaunt around the track. For the ultimate off-road experience, climb into a “Mucky Duck,” an Argo Amphibious UTV that can tackle the muddiest trail. Flying & Gliding Florida may not have mountains, but don’t let that stop you from hang gliding. On your tandem hang gliding adventure with Wallaby Ranch, located just outside of Orlando, you and your instructor will get towed to altitude by a specially designed airplane. After releasing from tow, you’ll gently free-y back to earth. You’re in good hands–open since 1991, the ranch holds the distinction of being the rst full-time aerotow hang gliding ight park in the world. Skydiving With an abundance of at, open elds and balmy winters, Florida is the ideal place to skydive. Skydive Space Center in Titusville boasts the world’s highest tandem jump–a staggering 18,000 feet–as well as an utterly unique view. NASA granted the center permission to y directly over the Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Launch Complex, the Main Assembly Building and the Shuttle Landing Runway. ð Top: Santos Mountain Biking Trail, Ocala; Bottom: Forever Florida, St. Cloud OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN FLORIDA Scan this page with your smartphone to witness adventures from skydiving to scubadiving. Download the free Layar App. See full instructions on pg. 12. 36 4 VISITFLORIDA.com PHOTOS: MICK SHEA FOR OCALA/MARION COUNTY VCB; FOREVER FLORIDA
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