Mossy Oak Primitive Camp

If you are yearning for a get-away to experience Florida’s wilds, hiking/backpacking the 12 mile Bee-Hive Loop in Myakka River State Park will offer adventure and scener that is more than satisfying. Trek through tropical Oak-Palm Hammock dripping with Spanish mosses, resurrection fern, and a multitude of epiphytes. Airplants that were commonly spotted were Gold Foot Fern, Shoe string fern, Wild Pine, Butterfly Orchid, and Giant Airplants. Giant Airplants are a rare spot outside of the Everglades and seem to thrive happily in these mature live oaks. The trail then takes you out into a globally-impaired habit, the Florida Dry prairie comprised primarily of saw palmetto, with intermittent splashes of color added by Florida Wildflowers. Silver aster, sabatia, giant yellow bachelors button, candy weed, are complimented by the chocolate brown color of the prairie grasses. Listen for the musical sounds of the Meadowlark in distance of this vast endangered habitat. This loop has two primitive campsites for overnight hiking: The Mossy Oak Campsite is 2.5 miles from the Trailhead and the Bee-Island Campsite is 4.5 miles counter clockwise from the Trailhead. Both sites offer protection in the cover an Oak Hammock with fire rings and a utility post on which to hang packs and such. This hike is recommended for the cooler, dryer months as the Oak Hammocks show signs that they are seasonally under water in places. The dry prairie can also be harsh in the hot sun for there are no sources of shade along the trail until you reach the pine forest.
Myakka River State Park has a unique back country scenery like no where else and is worth a visit. Trails are maintained by the Florida Trail Association, Sun Coast Chapter.  Myakka River State Park also offers biking, paddling, airboat rides, fishing, equestrian trails, and wildlife viewing as other recreational opportunities.  Myakka Lake provides a shallow habitat that attracts large wading birds.  It is not uncommon to see large flocks of Roseate Spoonbill and Sandhill Crane foraging in the shallow lake. There is also a Nature Center, gift shop and Cafe  in the Park for those who have families and would like to stay several days. Myakka River State Park has approximately 39 miles of continuous hiking /backpacking trails.  Click here for more information and trail maps.

Click the Bee Island Trail to view more photos on Flickr.

Boy holding Alligator at Wooten's

Wooten's Airboat Tour

Wooten’s Airboat Everglades Adventuresoffers the best overall experience of the Florida Everglades.  Wooten’s,  located in the town of Ochopee, FL off US 41, offers an Air-boat tour through the mangroves to see bromelaids, air-plants, alligator, Great Blue Heron and other Florida birds in their natural habitat. The intricate root system of the Mangroves are an important part of the Everglades ecosystem offering erosion protection from waves and hurricanes as well as shelter for fish, crustaceans and shellfish. They also host large variety of organisms, including algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, and bryozoans.  Mangroves are a unique plant with an ability to actually extract the fresh water from the salt water.  

Alligator on the side of Parking Lot

Wooten's Alligator Show

Along the Air-boat tour, it would be rare not to see an alligator. If you are down in Florida during the cooler months you will probably see an alligator from the parking lot. The staff is so used to living with alligators they do not seem to be alarmed if one is underfoot.  Do not try this at home!

Wooten's Staff w/ Inconspicuous Gator

Wooten’s also offers a Swamp Buggy Ride through the Big Cypress Swamp to see natural flora and fauna of the Everglades such as Strangler Fig Tree, beautiful Orchids, Air-plants, Ferns, Pop Ash, and Willows and wildlife such as bobcats, panthers, snakes, North American crocodiles, alligators, turtles and deer in their natural habitat.  Swamp Buggies were invented in the early 1930′s as a means to hunt and navigate the wetlands prior to the invention of the air-boat and are still commonly used today.

Wooten's Swamp Buggy Bus

Don’t forget to take time to visit the Alligator and Wildlife park.  Wooten’s is a sanctuary for Florida endangered species. They host several endangered American Crocodile and the Florida Panther along with hosting several alligators, a tiger, otters and a large live snake exhibit.  At the back of the park there is a periodic alligator show put on by one of the Wooten’s trained staff.  At the end show the more adventurous visitors can actually hold a small alligator.   To my surprise, the alligator skin is one of the smoothest and softest skins of any reptile.