Orlando Wetlands Park

Central Florida

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Woodlands, lakes and marshes flush with migrating birds, alligators, deer and all kinds of other critters. There are 20 miles of hiking trails and dirt roads, as well as restrooms, picnic tables and charcoal grills at the main entrance. Biking is limited to unpaved berm roads. The park, 30 miles east of downtown Orlando, sits about halfway between Orlando and Titusville, home to Canaveral National Seashore and the Kennedy Space Center.

Take Hwy 408 east, continue on Hwy 50 east, then north on Fort Christmas Rd past Fort Christmas, and right onto Wheeler Rd into the park.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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  • The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile endemic to the southeastern United States. It is one of two living species in the genus Alligator within the family Alligatoridae, it is larger than the other extant alligator species, the Chinese alligator. Adult male American alligators measure 3.4 to 5 m in length, and can weigh up to 453 to 600 kg. Females are smaller, measuring around 3 m. The American alligator inhabits freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps from Texas to North Carolina. Alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates.

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