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2 0 1 7 | P A R A D I S E C O A S T . C O M 2 3 Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Made up of a variety of habitats, from the swamps and prairies to the islands of tropical hardwood hammocks, the Fakahatchee Strand is home to a wide array of wildlife and plants. Resident and migratory birds draw nature photographers, as do the huge number of orchids and bromeliads that can be found along the Big Cypress Bend boardwalk. Explore more on a comfor table tram ride through the park. There are even moonlit tours that star t at sundown, one of the best times to spot creatures in the wild. Collier-Seminole State Park Originally created to preserve its beautiful royal palm trees, the park is an ideal destination for nature lovers to camp, hike and bike. For history buffs, there are also interpretive kiosks and displays at various points throughout the park, including a stylized recreation of a Seminole War fort. Explore more during a leisurely paddle down the Blackwater River. Its gentle flow is perfectly suited for beginners. You can launch your own canoe or kayak, or even rent one from the park to begin your adventure. Ten Thousand Islands Everglades National Park No trip to Florida's Paradise Coast is complete without a visit to this famed park, offering adventurers a 1.5-million- acre wetland playground of new experiences. Take advantage of the spectrum of wildlife and ecosystems present in this subtropical wilderness by scheduling a sightseeing boat ride, joining a birding tour or launching a kayak for a paddle through the mangroves. Explore more and experience your own private safari on a motorboat-assisted kayak eco-tour of the park's wilderness waterway. Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Located between Marco Island and Everglades City, the refuge is a maze of islands covered in mangrove trees. Along the waterways, narrow, picturesque beaches are shaded by sea grapes and Jamaican dogwoods. The refuge protects impor tant habitats as well as threatened and endangered species such as West Indian manatees, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and Atlantic loggerhead tur tles. Explore more along the Marsh Trail, a 2.4-mile out-and-back hike or bike ride through the mangroves. An observation tower provides the perfect perch from which to photograph and view wildlife. Picayune Strand State Forest The four th-largest state forest in Florida, Picayune Strand is located in the biologically diverse Big Cypress Swamp. It gives shelter to many different species of unique flora and fauna, including the only stable population of panthers east of the Mississippi River. Explore more and check out the 3.2-mile Sabal Palm Hiking Trail through the impressive cypress forest. This trek is par t of Florida's Trailwalker Hiking Program, designed to encourage visitors to get out and experience as many of the beautiful state parks as possible.

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