Besides the good weather, "The Sunshine state" is known for its water. The Gulf of Mexico stretches from Pensacola on the Florida Panhandle down the west coast through Tampa and Saint Petersburg to Fort Myers, while on the east the Atlantic Ocean reaches from Jacksonville past Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale and Miami. At the state’s extreme southern tip, the Florida Keys (home to famous Key Largo and Key West) extend like a string of jewels into the Caribbean Sea, making the whole state a world-renowned outdoor playground for fishing, snorkeling, boating, and sea kayaking. Even Cape Canaveral, best known for its Space Shuttle Launches, hides a great beach to the north at Canaveral National Seashore.
But there is much more to Florida than just the coastline. Despite being better known for man-made attractions like Disney World and EPCOT Center near Orlando, Florida’s interior offers great trails and opportunities for outdoor exploration as well. Canoers can paddle on countless rivers and lakes while bicyclists can enjoy the endless miles of flat roads, not a single hill in sight. Hikers can penetrate the Ocala National Forest, affectionately known as "The Big Scrub," follow the Withlacoochee Trail, a converted rail-trail through the Withlacoochee State Forest, or tackle the long-distance Florida Trail. And mountain bikers will love the Alexander Loop Trail, a great way to tour the Alexander Springs Recreation Area with a convenient campground nearby.
Looking for wildlife? Florida’s State Parks, wildlife preserves, and refuges are laced by countless nature trails while Apalachicola National Forest still harbors the elusive black bear. And giant Everglades National Park is home to countless alligators and crocodiles.
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