Page 27 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

tors through twisting and winding tidal
corridors on a “guided by nature” two-hour
kayak tour. Fresh water drains into the
watershed, creating a habitat abundant with
diverse aquatic plant and wildlife. Around
350 birds, 40 reptiles, 20 amphibians and 580
different plant species reside in this unique
ecological environment. Ripple Effect
Adventure Outfitters, located in the town of
Marineland just south of St. Augustine, also
offers tours aboard the only vegetable-oil
powered ecotour boat in Northeast Florida
and catch-and-release fishing opportunities
for angling enthusiasts. 101 Tolstoy Lane,
St. Augustine, Florida 32080. 1-904-347-1565.
rippleeffectecotours.com

TUBE THE CRYSTAL CLEAR
8 WATERS OF THE ICHETUCKNEE
RIVER IN FORT WHITE
Float the pristine sapphire waters of the
Ichetucknee River, a spring-fed river in Florida,
declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972.
Visitors can choose from the 3-hour, 1.5 hour
or 45 minute tube float within Ichetucknee
Springs State Park on this lazy six-mile river
with opportunities to see natural Florida
springs, otters, beavers and an occasional
manatee. Tube, kayak and canoe rentals are
available, and only non-motorized vessels are
allowed on the river. 12087 SW U.S. Highway
27, Fort White, Florida 32038. 1-386-497-1113.
floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/
Ichetucknee-Springs-state-park

DESCEND INTO THE
9 LABYRINTHINE
UNDERGROUND AT FLORIDA CANYONS ZIP LINE & CANOPY TOURS, OCALA
CAVERNS IN MARIANNA
The only dry-air cave tour in a Florida state HUNT FOR TREASURE habitat of Project Greenshores, and the rolling
park can be found at Florida Caverns State 10ALONG THE ESCAMBIA sand dunes of Perdido Key. The Department of
Park in North Florida. Visitors take a 45- COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL Environmental Protection (DEP), Escambia
minute guided tour with a park ranger GEOCACHE TOUR County and the City of Pensacola partnered to
winding their way through narrow passages Eight geocache sites take treasure hunters create this remarkable ecotour. Visitors who
and around unique limestone formations like through the diverse ecosystems and unique locate six out of eight caches can receive a prize.
dripping stalactites, mounding stalagmites, environmental habitats of Escambia County. Participants should log their finds on
flowstones and draperies. Blind crayfish, bats Using GPS coordinates, visitors hunt down geocaching.com. Log sheets and coordinates
and cave salamanders can also be found in the hidden caches. Highlights of the geocaching are found at myescambia.com/our-services/
this unusual 65ºF year-round Florida habitat. adventure tour include: experiencing bayou natural-resources-management/natural-resources-
3345 Caverns Road, Marianna, Florida 32446. boardwalks, a glimpse of the carnivorous white conservation/escambia-county-geocaching-tour.
1-850-482-1228. floridastateparks.org/parks- top pitcher plant of Tarkin Bayou Preserve State DEP, 160 West Government Street, Pensacola,
and-trails/Florida-Caverns-state-park Park, oyster reefs, salt marsh and sea grass Florida 32502.1-850-595-8300.

2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA 25