While Naples is known for its pristine beaches, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - known for its ancient cypress forest and colony of nesting American woodstorks. Nature lovers will find plenty to like at this preserve. Located 30 miles northeast of the 11,000 acres of marshland is home to 600-year-old trees, otters, alligators and a beautiful collection of endangered birds. A boardwalk cuts through the sanctuary on which you can take a self-guided tour and get a feel for what Florida was like before it was developed. Naturalists are stationed throughout the boardwalk to answer questions. Recent visitors say it takes about three hours to walk the sanctuary's nearly 3 miles.
The Sanctuary’s is within the Big Cypress Swamp and they contain the country’s largest remaining stand of 400 to 700 year-old virgin bald cypresses. A two-mile long boardwalk passes through the sanctuary and through distinct environmental areas including pinelands, freshwater marshes and wet prairie, cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks. The main attraction here is the boardwalk, constructed of sustainable wood. If you have ever wanted to experience the Everglades, but were too scared to venture out for fear of disturbing a sleeping alligator or stepping on an unsuspecting snake, then the walkway wanders through habitats that include prairie marsh and pine flatlands and continues into the heart of the old-growth forest, offering a taste of primeval Florida. Today, the boardwalk of a little under 2 miles provides walking access through (actually 'over') pine flatwoods, wet prairie, pond cypress, bald cypress, and marsh ecosystems within the sanctuary. If you spend a couple of hours to take theself-guided tour along the boardwalk, A nature center educates you about this precious, unusual habitat with a dramatic re-creation of the preserve and its creatures in the Swamp Theater. The sanctuary is a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail. It is an important breeding area for the endangered wood stork and other wetland birds. It also has wintering passerines, including the painted bunting. Numerous wading bird species can be found in the wetlands of the sanctuary, including the yellow-crowned night heron, black-crowned night heron, tricolored heron, great egret, and snowy egret. Specialist birds include limpkin, barred owl and, in summer, swallow-tailed kite. The sanctuary visitor center is a Living Machine demonstration site.
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Naples Private ToursThere are plenty to do in Naples, here is our recommended points of interest for Groups of friends and family to get together and enjoy. Categories
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