Unique Florida Vacation Guide: Photo Tours

Photo Tours of Our Favorites For Florida Vacations

Please see Introduction for Tips on using this Vacation Guide section.

High-Quality Photos are worth a thousand words!

Within each region, tours are arranged from North to South.

Central-West (Gulf Coast): Cedar Key to Venice

Rainbow Springs State Park Perhaps the best of the Florida Springs, due to the parallel Hill with Waterfalls and beautiful Paths and Views. Excellent Play/Picnic Area. Great canoeing.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park A real Gem. Best place to see Manatees and Native Florida Birds & Mammals up close. The only place where you can view Manatees year-round in the wild.

St. Petersburg Sunken Gardens Coming Soon.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens Coming Soon.

Marie Selby Gardens World renowned orchid and bromeliad collections, as well as its banyan, bamboo and other gardens has been named one of the Top Ten Botanical Gardens in America.

Siesta Key Siesta Key Beach is #15 on Dr. Beach's list of the Best Beaches in America. Great BEACH RV Park on nearby Turtle Beach.

Historic Spanish Point Beautiful Garden walk and very interesting late 1800 History & Indian Shell-mound Archeology.

Myakka River State Park Coming Soon.

Oscar Scherer State Park Coming Soon.

Venice Coming Soon.

Central (Inland): Ocala to Lake Okeechobee

Silver Springs World's largest clear Artesian Spring. Florida's oldest public attraction. Many movies made here. Glass-bottom Boat Cruise. Quality Zoo, esp. Bears & gators. Feed the Giraffes.

Silver River State Park New State RV Park a few miles from Silver Springs and on the Silver River which flows out of Silver Springs. Great RV sites. Fishing and nice trails.

Ocala National Forest Expansive National Forest with a number of Natural Springs.

Deleon Springs State Park A nice half-day stop for picnicing, swimming and canoeing. The Original Holiday House in nearby Deland is famous for it's fresh, home-made buffet.

Wekiwa Springs State Park VERY popular on weekends with nearby Orlando. Beautiful. Excellent swimming in the Springs. Downstream, one of the nicest Canoeing & Fishing spring-fed rivers. Lots of Gators.

Henry Leu Gardens Best we have seen to show Tropicals that will grow in Florida with widest & exotic variety. Best in having each clearly labeled. Beautiful grounds and walks.

Bok Tower Gardens A true Sanctuary located at the top of the highest hill in central Florida. Spirtually peaceful walk. Glorious sounding Carillon.

Highlands Hammock State Park Our favorite park for hiking/biking, it is a Gold Nugget that has been preserved in it's pre-European state and contains all the Florida inland plant ecosystems.

Central-East (Atlantic Coast): Daytona to Jupiter

New Smyrna Beach RV Driving/Parking on the Beach. Smyrna Dunes Park is a great eco-walk with five ecosystems (ocean, river, dunes, scrub zone, saltwater marsh). 5-star Riverview Restaurant.

Canaveral National Seashore Really getting away from Civilization. Great Birding, Fishing and Beach activities. Turtle Indian Archaeological Mound. Eldora Village & Museum.

Sebastian Inlet State Park One of our favorite BEACH RV Parks. Great Saltwater Fishing & Surfing. Good Biking & Hiking. Nearby McLarty Treasure Museum and Vero Beach & great Restraurants.

Stuart J. Dickinson State Park: RV sites nestled under Australian Whispering Pines, Fishing. Gilbert's Bar Museum, Bathtub Reef, Jensen Beach, Rotties 5-star restaurant

Ft. Pierce Little known, Heathcote Gardens is a gem. Ft. Pierce Inlet Park & Pepper Beach are popular surfing and fishing destinations. Mangrove Mattie's Restraurant on the Inlet.

South-West (Gulfcoast): Port Charlotte to Everglades City

Ft. Myers Beach San Carlos Campground has a superb location with RV sites directly on Hurricane Bay. Fish from your RV or rent their Kayaks. Close to Lovers Key. More photos to come on this area.

Lovers Key State Park Close to Ft.Myers Beach, actually four Keys. Best Inshore, Mangrove Island, Kayaking & Fishing. Locals say Shelling better than Sanibel. Best way to see how Mangroves create Barrier Dune Islands.

Koreshan State Park On Estero River with canoeing, fishing & RV Sites with a deep-in-the-woods feel. Short hiking trail & nice kid's playground. Includes Koreshan Historic Site.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary BEST Swamp Boardwalk & place to see wild Alligators up close (see Bellowing Gator in Tour). Owned by Audobon Society. Largest remaining stand of Virgin Bald Cypress in USA. Most bird calls we've heard in one place. Bear & Otter Scat were on the Boardwalk. A REAL GEM!

Delnor-Wiggins State Park One of the Prettiest Beach Parks, specifically the Paths, the Shaded Picnic tables, the Beach and the VERY Fishy-looking Inlet.

Carribean Gardens Great for kids & adults alike. Highlights: Large Cat up-close displays, Monkey Islands, nice walks, Alligator Feeding, Playground, on-site Subway.

Everglades City Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve - one of Florida's best cypress strands. Smallwood's Store. The Oyster House. Collier-Seminole State Park. Kountree RV Park.

North-East (Atlantic Coast): Fernandina Beach to Ormond Beach

Anastasia State Park One of Florida's most popular Parks on the Beach with RV sites (others are Bahia Honda & Grayton). Beach is deep & long. Can be cold in Winter.

Ravine Gardens 100 feet deep, it is a rarity in Florida and well worth the side-trip. Walking its trails, you will have alternating images of being in the Smokies, an African Jungle or a Japanese Garden out West.

Marineland The Original - long before Sea World. Still Best: On-The-beach (enjoy both), Education (vs. Shows), more Friendly and up close, Peaceful (vs. crowds). We noticed small children really liked it.

Washington Oaks State Gardens Memorable experiences at this truly unusual combination: world-class Gardens, exotic Beach, uplifting Hike through several ecosystems, and History.

Gamble Rodgers State Park Small and somewhat remote. 30 RV sites overlook a shell (not sand) beach. Ocean is deep close to shore - probably great fishing.

Tomaka State Park Scenic picnicking and camping. 13-mile canoe trail. Biking and Fishing.

All Photos Copyright ©2003-2005 Robert Waite

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Top Picks	Photo Tours	Tampa Bay	Old Florida

Central-West (Gulf Coast): Cedar Key to Venice
Rainbow Springs State Park	Perhaps the best of the Florida Springs, due to the parallel Hill with Waterfalls and beautiful Paths and Views. Excellent Play/Picnic Area. Great canoeing.
Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park	A real Gem. Best place to see Manatees and Native Florida Birds & Mammals up close. The only place where you can view Manatees year-round in the wild.
St. Petersburg Sunken Gardens	Coming Soon.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens	Coming Soon.
Marie Selby Gardens	World renowned orchid and bromeliad collections, as well as its banyan, bamboo and other gardens has been named one of the Top Ten Botanical Gardens in America.
Siesta Key	Siesta Key Beach is #15 on Dr. Beach's list of the Best Beaches in America. Great BEACH RV Park on nearby Turtle Beach.
Historic Spanish Point	Beautiful Garden walk and very interesting late 1800 History & Indian Shell-mound Archeology.
Myakka River State Park	Coming Soon.
Oscar Scherer State Park	Coming Soon.
Venice	Coming Soon.
Central (Inland): Ocala to Lake Okeechobee
Silver Springs	World's largest clear Artesian Spring. Florida's oldest public attraction. Many movies made here. Glass-bottom Boat Cruise. Quality Zoo, esp. Bears & gators. Feed the Giraffes.
Silver River State Park	New State RV Park a few miles from Silver Springs and on the Silver River which flows out of Silver Springs. Great RV sites. Fishing and nice trails.
Ocala National Forest	Expansive National Forest with a number of Natural Springs.
Deleon Springs State Park	A nice half-day stop for picnicing, swimming and canoeing. The Original Holiday House in nearby Deland is famous for it's fresh, home-made buffet.
Wekiwa Springs State Park	VERY popular on weekends with nearby Orlando. Beautiful. Excellent swimming in the Springs. Downstream, one of the nicest Canoeing & Fishing spring-fed rivers. Lots of Gators.
Henry Leu Gardens	Best we have seen to show Tropicals that will grow in Florida with widest & exotic variety. Best in having each clearly labeled. Beautiful grounds and walks.
Bok Tower Gardens	A true Sanctuary located at the top of the highest hill in central Florida. Spirtually peaceful walk. Glorious sounding Carillon.
Highlands Hammock State Park	Our favorite park for hiking/biking, it is a Gold Nugget that has been preserved in it's pre-European state and contains all the Florida inland plant ecosystems.
Central-East (Atlantic Coast): Daytona to Jupiter
New Smyrna Beach	RV Driving/Parking on the Beach. Smyrna Dunes Park is a great eco-walk with five ecosystems (ocean, river, dunes, scrub zone, saltwater marsh). 5-star Riverview Restaurant.
Canaveral National Seashore	Really getting away from Civilization. Great Birding, Fishing and Beach activities. Turtle Indian Archaeological Mound. Eldora Village & Museum.
Sebastian Inlet State Park	One of our favorite BEACH RV Parks. Great Saltwater Fishing & Surfing. Good Biking & Hiking. Nearby McLarty Treasure Museum and Vero Beach & great Restraurants.
Stuart	J. Dickinson State Park: RV sites nestled under Australian Whispering Pines, Fishing. Gilbert's Bar Museum, Bathtub Reef, Jensen Beach, Rotties 5-star restaurant
Ft. Pierce	Little known, Heathcote Gardens is a gem. Ft. Pierce Inlet Park & Pepper Beach are popular surfing and fishing destinations. Mangrove Mattie's Restraurant on the Inlet.
South-West (Gulfcoast): Port Charlotte to Everglades City
Ft. Myers Beach	San Carlos Campground has a superb location with RV sites directly on Hurricane Bay. Fish from your RV or rent their Kayaks. Close to Lovers Key. More photos to come on this area.
Lovers Key State Park	Close to Ft.Myers Beach, actually four Keys. Best Inshore, Mangrove Island, Kayaking & Fishing. Locals say Shelling better than Sanibel. Best way to see how Mangroves create Barrier Dune Islands.
Koreshan State Park	On Estero River with canoeing, fishing & RV Sites with a deep-in-the-woods feel. Short hiking trail & nice kid's playground. Includes Koreshan Historic Site.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary	BEST Swamp Boardwalk & place to see wild Alligators up close (see Bellowing Gator in Tour). Owned by Audobon Society. Largest remaining stand of Virgin Bald Cypress in USA. Most bird calls we've heard in one place. Bear & Otter Scat were on the Boardwalk. A REAL GEM!
Delnor-Wiggins State Park	One of the Prettiest Beach Parks, specifically the Paths, the Shaded Picnic tables, the Beach and the VERY Fishy-looking Inlet.
Carribean Gardens	Great for kids & adults alike. Highlights: Large Cat up-close displays, Monkey Islands, nice walks, Alligator Feeding, Playground, on-site Subway.
Everglades City	Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve - one of Florida's best cypress strands. Smallwood's Store. The Oyster House. Collier-Seminole State Park. Kountree RV Park.
North-East (Atlantic Coast): Fernandina Beach to Ormond Beach
Anastasia State Park	One of Florida's most popular Parks on the Beach with RV sites (others are Bahia Honda & Grayton). Beach is deep & long. Can be cold in Winter.
Ravine Gardens	100 feet deep, it is a rarity in Florida and well worth the side-trip. Walking its trails, you will have alternating images of being in the Smokies, an African Jungle or a Japanese Garden out West.
Marineland	The Original - long before Sea World. Still Best: On-The-beach (enjoy both), Education (vs. Shows), more Friendly and up close, Peaceful (vs. crowds). We noticed small children really liked it.
Washington Oaks State Gardens	Memorable experiences at this truly unusual combination: world-class Gardens, exotic Beach, uplifting Hike through several ecosystems, and History.
Gamble Rodgers State Park	Small and somewhat remote. 30 RV sites overlook a shell (not sand) beach. Ocean is deep close to shore - probably great fishing.
Tomaka State Park	Scenic picnicking and camping. 13-mile canoe trail. Biking and Fishing.