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These days most people think about Disney World and Universal Studios when they here the words "Orlando" and "Florida," but Florida has much more to offer than just theme parks. The original appeal of Florida was its great climate and natural beauty, and if you travel one hour from Orlando you can really get in touch with the natural beauty of Florida. That place is Forever Florida, a 4700 acre nature preserve set up by conservationist Allen Broussard.
Forever Florida is not museum or a man-made park. Rather it is a large eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area that includes nine distinct ecosystems. At Forever Florida you can learn about and see alligators, 200 species of birds, bears, deer and the unique and rare Florida panther. The terrain includes pastures, wetlands, forests and streams.
Matching the beauty of this locale are the imaginative activities and tours or "eco-safaris" that are offered at Forever Florida. These include the Zipline Safari, the adventurous Horseback Safari and the comfortable Coach Safari. Each one of these allows you a chance to get a first hand experience of the Florida wilderness.
An adventurous way to see the wildlife is with the Zipline Safari. Using a network of cables and aerial bridges you will go on a two and a half hour tour of the park at tree top level reaching heights of 55 feet and speeds of up to 25 mph. The park also offers a night time Starlight or Moonlight safari as well.
If zipping through the air on cables is not your thing you can try a relaxing coach safari. Here you will enjoy a ride on coaches that are elevated five feet off the ground with a guide who will explain the terrain below. The tour starts with a visit to Crescent J, a Florida ranch featuring descendents of the original horses that Ponce de Leon brought to Florida. The tour continues through the wilderness areas of Forever Florida including a flood plain forest, Bull Creek, and the other eco systems of this nature preserver. On the way you are likely to get glimpses of alligators, wild turkeys, white tail deer, and maybe the endangered Florida Panther, so be sure to keep your camera ready for some unique photos.
Another popular tour is the horseback Safari that allows you to view the wilderness as it was seen by the original explorers of this region. Some of the best horseback riding in Florida is available here and it uses the original trails of the Native Americans. The tour is guided by experts who will point out the features of the eco-systems that you will ride through. Horses are matched with the skill levels of the participants, so horseback beginners can also enjoy this tour.
If you are truly concerned with habitat preservation and protecting natural wildlife you will also be glad to know that 30% of the revenues of these tours are used to purchase additional lands that will be added to this nature sanctuary and to advance the charitable goals of the Allen Broussard Conservancy.
You can contact Forever Florida at this address: Forever Florida 4755 N. Kenansville Road, St. Cloud, Florida 34773, Phone: 1-866-85-4EVER Or, 1-407-957-9794 ext 1, Fax: 1-407-957-1227 and their web page is: http://www.foreverflorida.com/
