The island is made up of maritime forests, desert like dunes, and undisturbed salt marshes. The diverse habitats inside the park are home to river otters, marsh rabbits, bobcats, and a variety of native and migrating birds. Little Talbot Island remains one of the few undeveloped barrier islands in Northeast Florida.

Ravine Gardens State Park »

The park features a ravine that was created over thousands of years by water flowing from the St. Johns River. In 1933, the ravine was transformed into a dramatic garden. For the most part, the original landscaping remains as formal gardens and an extensive trail system.

Welaka State Forest »

A series of foot trails offers the public an opportunity to walk and observe wildlife. Mud Spring trail leads the visitor on a two mile self-guided looped walk to Mud Spring Picnic Area. John's Landing trail meanders along old road beds to the St. Johns River.

Hontoon Island State Park »

The park is an island in the middle of the river and is reached via a ferry that runs every few minutes. Hammock Hiking Nature Trial offers an approximately 3 mile round trip to the large Indian shell mound at the southwest corner of the island.

Blue Spring State Park »

Blue Spring encompasses 2,644 acres and is a popular winter home to many endangered manatees. Temperatures in the spring remain a constant 72 degrees, creating a safe haven for the manatee during the cooler months and a cooling swim for humans during the long hot days of summer.

Library Online Resources

Bill Bellevile Meet the Author Video »

Florida author and documentary filmmaker Bill Belleville reads selections from his new book, Salvaging the Real Florida: Lost & Found in the State of Dreams, and explains why Florida in its natural state is more beautiful and magical than any theme park or man-made attraction.

General OneFile »

Explore our largest database of full-text articles and find comprehensive articles on Florida nature, trails, boating, and other topics.

Science Online »

Research Florida nature and ecosystems with helpful illustrations, diagrams, and videos on various subjects.

Southeastern Regional Newspapers »

Get full-text newspaper articles from local sources here. Go to the list of Florida newspapers and choose the ones (or all) that correspond to the region of Florida you are interested in.

Destinations

Natural lands in Florida are administered by many agencies, including federal, state, local, and private. Here are some of the more comprehensive websites to start your exploration:

Federal Lands

Fish and Wildlife Services: Florida »

Catch a glimpse of a Key deer or perhaps even an American crocodile at one of Florida's refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

National Forests in Florida »

Explore Florida's National Forests, including Orlando's own Ocala National Forest. It features large springs, spring runs, the Florida Trail, and an important black bear population. This is one of the largest tracts of natural land in the state and this website provides useful maps through the USDA Forest Service website.

National Park Service: Florida »

Locate and learn more about Florida's eleven National Parks like the Canaveral National Seashore where you can rent a canoe for island camping or just explore the Shipyard Island Canoe Trail.

State and County Lands

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission »

Enjoy a number of outdoor recreational opportunities like boating, hunting, fishing, or watching wildlife. The Species Profiles section gives descriptions and maps of where to find a particular species like a whooping crane or a gopher tortoise.

Florida Greenways and Trails Guide »

Download PDF maps for hiking, biking, and paddling trails from this website provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Florida State Forests »

Take a look at over a million acres of state land that you might not have heard of. Simply click on the map to get a description of each forest.

Florida State Parks »

There are many state parks in Florida and each has something unique to offer. Close to Orange County there is Blue Spring State Park. In colder weather, manatees are almost always present and easily observable in the main spring.

St. Johns River Water Management District »

Explore the large tracts of land that surround the St. Johns River. Even if you don't have a boat, there are great opportunities for hiking, camping, mountain biking, and other activities. View details about each of their properties.

Private and Local Lands

Nature Conservancy in Florida »

Learn about this private group that buys and protects environmentally sensitive lands. They specialize in preserving unique ecosystems that might escape the notice of other agencies.

Orange County Parks and Recreation »

Check to see if there is a park nearby that you haven't discovered yet.

Social

eBird »

Get up to date reports of which bird is being sighted in Florida or the U.S. You can post your own reports too.

Green Wave Forum »

Paddle to new destinations with information from this paddling community. Join the forum and start a discussion or post your own pictures and videos.

My Florida Hikes »

Find new places to go and new things to do from other hikers in Florida. Ask a question in the forum or post your own trip report.

Library Materials

Florida Outdoors »

Read about outdoor recreation, including trails for hiking, biking, and other activities.

Florida's Fabulous Book Series »

Get a good basic knowledge of natural Florida with this series of books that cover Florida's plants, animals, and wildlife areas. These books have large color pictures and easy to read descriptions. Great for school reports and general information.

Florida's Natural History »

Read about Florida's environmental history and explore the wild side of Florida.

The St. Johns River »

Learn about the longest river in the state of Florida, and browse the recreational guides.

Kids & Teens

Library Online Resources

Kids - World Book Online »

Enter the world of animals to find fascinating animal facts, or select plants and animals from the side bar to access a variety of useful information about nature.

Library Materials

Florida, Naturally »

Discover Florida nature! These titles will help you learn more about Florida's ecosystems and wildlife.

Websites

Educational Opportunities for Youth and Students »

Find everything you want to know about Florida wildlife from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Learn about manatees, sea turtles, panthers, and gopher tortoises.

Ecology Kids | Ecology Global Network »

This ecology based site has a bit of everything you need to know about nature. Follow the miraculous journey of baby sea turtles and learn fascinating facts about soil.

Mobile

To fully access this content, you may need the latest version of iTunes. Download iTunes for free now!

Butterfly Farm

Find, collect and raise beautiful butterflies for your virtual garden. There are unlimited varieties and no two are alike.
iTunes | Website

Websites

Central Florida East Coast Fishing »

View this website for information on fishing the local coast, current fishing reports, how-to's, and more.

Florida Native Plant Society »

Find out how you can help preserve, conserve, and restore native plants of Florida.

Florida Trail Association »

Find detailed information on 1,400 miles of hiking trails from the Florida Trail Association.

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods »

Make your own nature preserve in your yard through the University of Florida IFAS Extension website.

Great Florida Birding Trail »

Download the full trail guide to pursue your bird watching interests. Learn the birding basics before you plan your excursion. In some places you can even borrow binoculars.

Sky & Telescope »

Enjoy the Interactive Sky Chart that helps you find your way in the night sky quickly and easily. [Registration is required but it is free].

Mobile

Accuweather Mobile »

Take a weather station with you. Accuweather has lots of products that are compatible with many types of devices and telecom carriers.

Google Earth Mobile »

Get the renowned mapping application, Google Earth, free for your iPhone or Android.

MotionX GPS

For $.99, download maps and track your position with this popular GPS/mapping software for the iPhone.
iTunes | Website

Peterson Feeder Birds of North America

Peterson Field Guides have been around for a long time and are well regarded by the birding community. Make quick and accurate identification of over 160 bird species with this free application.
iTunes | Website

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