Bok Tower Gardens

National Historic Landmark and Gardens featuring Live concerts, beautiful relaxing gardens, a wildlife preserve, Picnic areas, and Visitor center with a theatre. This location features the Blue Palmetto Cafe and Gift shops.

Alafia River Reserve

This park offers some of the most challenging off-road bicycling trails in Florida. Once the site of a phosphate mine, the reclaimed land has unique topography that offers some of the most radical elevation changes in Florida. Equestrians and hikers can explore 20 miles of trails that travel through mixed hardwood forests, pine flatwoods, and rolling hills. Bird-watchers and nature enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of wildlife along the trails. Scattered lakes and the south prong of the Alafia River provide opportunities for canoeing and fishing. Picnic pavilions, a playground, horseshoe pit, and volleyball court are available. For overnight stays, the park has a full-facility campground and equestrian friendly campsites. Located 10 miles southeast of Tampa on County Road 39. Acquired to preserve the natural wetlands (90 percent) and uplands along the upper corridor of the Alafia River, this property is home to numerous species of wading birds and amphibians that require seasonally flooded areas free of predators to complete their life cycles. Forested hardwood wetlands are the primary natural community, and common trees include sweet gum, laurel oak, ironwood, hickory, sabal palms and bay. Ground cover is sparse due to extended periods of flooding. Property was jointly purchased by the District and Polk County.

Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek State Preserve

Located along the beautiful Lake Wales Ridge, with 6 miles of hiking trails, 8 miles of equestrian trails, a covered pavilion, fishing, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities in some of the rarer habitats in Florida, home to several specise of protected plants and animals, Catfish Creek offers something for everyone. Equestrians: Catfish Creek is home to some of the rarer habitats in Florida. The park offers 7 miles of equestrian trails. We do ask that horseback riders please stay on the designated equestrian trail, as the park is working hard to restore the quality of our hiking trails and our service roads. The preserve's scrub, sandhill, and flatwoods communities are home to numerous rare plants such as scrub morning glory, scrub plum, pygmy fringe tree, and cutthroat grass. They are also home to several protected animal species including Florida scrub-jays, bald eagles, gopher tortoises, and Florida scrub lizards. Visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, and horseback riding. When you visit the preserve make sure you are prepared for the rugged conditions typical of the scrub habitat. Bring plenty of water and be prepared for the challenging trails at the park. Enjoy your visit and bring back memories of one of the rarer habitats in Florida.

Babson Park Nature Center and Caloosa Nature Trail Ridge Audubon Center

The Ridge Audubon Society's Babson Park Center, located just south of Lake Wales on the Scenic Highway (SR17/US27A), is a gateway to America's most diverse eco-system. The Lake Wales Ridge offers the highest concentration of rare and endangered species in North America. We hope you stop by on your next visit to our area. Walk our nature trail, visit our museum and enjoy all the area has to offer.