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GREEN WITH ENVY: (clockwise from right) There is no shortage of greenery in and around Orlando’s lakes and canals. Select your own eggs at Lake Meadow Naturals. Stick your neck out and visit the Giraffe Ranch in Dade City. Do some bird watching on a boat tour or at Disney Wilderness Preserve. It’s hard to believe that all of Orlando’s green spaces are only a short trip from downtown. Enjoy a day canoeing (leisurely) on the Wekiva River.
Florida by Boat
“This is the real Florida, folks,” says the Premier Boat Tours captain as he guides
a pontoon boat across Lake Dora, part of the Harris Chain of Lakes, on the way to the Dora Canal. After crossing the lake,
he steers the vessel along the narrow waterway, which is shaded by cypress trees. One of them is estimated to be 2,250 years old—dead for more than 300 yet still standing.
The Dora Canal is protected by local, state and federal agencies. Consequently, the verdant foliage is the backdrop for fauna of all kinds. You may see a great blue heron, a tricolored heron and an anhinga lounging near a baby turtle shaded by Spanish
moss. On this ride you’ll even glide past an alligator breeding ground. Departure points vary; 352-434-8040;
doracanaltour.com; tours from $17 per adult
A Slice of Africa
After visiting Africa 30 times to lead
safaris and participate in international zoo conferences, Lex Salisbury created the Giraffe Ranch—a 47-acre swath of land adjoining an 875-acre wilderness area. Hundreds of live oak trees shade the zebras and giraffes, which guests are invited to feed from the coach that takes them around the savannah.
Animals live well here, each breed penned in an expansive area with species friendly
to it. Over the course of a 60- to 90-minute exploration, you’ll probably encounter ostriches, Sicilian donkeys, blackbuck antelopes, llamas, axis deer, warthogs and pygmy hippos. For an extra fee you can feed two Indian rhinos, which gobble up whole apples and wedges of cabbage and pumpkin. 38650 Mickler Rd., Dade City; 813-482-3400; girafferanch.com; adults $70
Finding Your Path
If time is limited or you’d be satisfied with a sliver of eco, plan an outing to the West Orange Trail, a growing 22-mile stretch adjacent to the neighboring county’s nine- mile South Lake Trail. Hop on at any point, such as the Oakland Nature Preserve or the Killarney Station, a remote outpost that has a bike and skate rental shop (bonus: bikes built for two). Then walk, jog, ride, glide or skateboard your way past pretty town centers, playgrounds, residential neighborhoods and undeveloped areas.
You’ll find locals along the path whenever the weather is nice, walking their dogs or heading to Winter Garden’s quaint historic district. About 55,000 people a month find their way to this scenic stretch of Florida along the West Orange Trail. Winter Garden; orangecountyfl.net; free
Get on Your High Horse
Located within a 14,000-acre reserve, Rock Springs Run Trail Rides is an operator that takes guests 6 and older through hammocks, pine forests and open meadows to spot wild turkeys, deer and bald eagles.
The facility’s 21 horses are all on their second careers. Owner Debra Jamie Zito buys them once they’re done with their more demanding jobs and trains them to take riders of all levels around the property. One is an American Thoroughbred that worked as a polo horse in Argentina. Another is a great-grandson of Secretariat, the legendary Triple Crown winner.
You can even camp in the reserve, by booking a spot near the stables or reserving the Indian Mound or Buffalo Tram site, both reachable only by canoe or kayak. 31700 County Rd. 433, Sorrento; 352-266-9326; rockspringsruntrailrides.com; one-hour rides,
$45 per person
18 OCTOBER 2014