National Forests
Florida contains three national forests, all of which are located in the northern portion of the state. All three parks feature campgrounds and opportunities for hiking, kayaking and mountain biking, among other activities.
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is the "largest subtropical wilderness in the United States," according to the National Park Service. The park features wetlands containing numerous endangered species and plenty of alligators and crocodiles.
Florida National Scenic Trail
Florida is home to one of the 11 national scenic trails. This 1,400-mile scenic trail travels through Florida's national forests. The entire trail is open to hikers, and certain portions are also open to bikers and inline skaters.
Great Florida Birding Trail
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission created the Great Florida Birding Trail, which is a 2,000-mile trail comprising 489 bird-watching sites. Free trail guides can be downloaded from http://floridabirdingtrail.com/guide.htm. Over 500 species of birds can be viewed throughout the state.
Florida Panther
The Florida panther is the official state animal of Florida. It is highly endangered, with only 90 to 100 panthers remaining in 2010. Panthers are present in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.
