CREW is the acronym for the sixty thousand acre Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. The CREW…read moreLand & Water Trust was established in 1989 as a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to purchase land, manage it, and offer public outreach. The CREW project includes parts of southern Lee and northern Collier Counties in southwest Florida. The Corkscrew Marsh, Bird Rookery Swamp, Flint Pen Strand, Camp Keais Strand, and the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary are all CREW lands. Fifty-five thousand acres of CREW land is in preservation and it provides flood protection, water filtration and important aquifer recharge. They would like to purchase even more land in order to preserve natural resources such as water and to offer protection for wildlife. I have been fortunate enough to explore several of the CREW properties and each is a treasure of native plants and animals and unspoiled wilderness. The CREW Cypress Dome Trails is also known as Gate 5. A cypress dome is a swamp that has mainly pond cypress and bald cypress trees. Tall trees are at the center with smaller trees at the edge which creates a dome effect. The moist environment is also ideal for other plants, shrubs, and trees. The dome removes carbon emissions and stores water, recharges the aquifer, and provides drinking water. In the dome you can expect to find flatwoods salamanders, white ibis, and wood storks. Be aware that black bears and panthers also live here. There are six miles of loop trails that traverse through pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, wet prairie, popash slough, and two cypress domes. Trails are flat grass and sand. The trail connects to the Caracara Prairie Preserve which is owned and maintained by Conservation Collier. A $3 cash donation is suggested for use of the trail. Trail maps are located at the trailhead along with one port-a-potty. Bring your own water.This trail allows horseback riding With a free special use license from South Florida Water Management. During my visit it was hunting season. Although I didn't hear any shots being fired all of the signs about it made me feel nervous. I went down the trail a way before becoming uncomfortable and deciding to head back. I don't know why they allow the shooting of migratory birds. I can't imagine flying 1,500 miles to Florida to get shot by a hunter. SMH. The only thing I want to shoot birds with is my camera. I'll be back after hunting season. Hopefully some birds will have survived the hunt.

This beautiful nature preserve is home to a variety of really cool native species (both plants and…read moreanimals) which makes for an adventurous hike! The camping site is also a calming space to practice yoga under the trees, which was a nice way to unwind from the long hike through the trails. I will definitely be coming back here. * Tip: hike barefoot, it feels great!! *

We spent about two hours at Pepper Ranch Preserve enjoying the majestic display of Southeastern…read moreSunflowers. The preserve was open for a weekend in October to view the sunflowers. Once in the preserve the roads are not paved and can be muddy, I have a low car and there was one area I was a little nervous about, but we did not have any problems. We were given a map of the preserve at the entrance where we checked in and the pleasant worker suggested the best location to see the flowers. The preserve is open weekends November through May except when there is hunting. There are camping sites available. There are hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails. The preserve is quite a distance off Alligator Alley, but it was worth the time to get there. I would definitely return.

I lived in Immokalee for over 17 years and never visited this place. Of course, not sure how long…read moreit has been open to the public either, but for these special weekends, they open up an area where a species of wild sunflowers abound. You check in at the welcome center and it's completely FREE. You are given a map and allowed to drive your vehicle down the path. It's not paved and can get muddy if it has rained a lot, but it's worth the drive. You might see birds, snakes, alligators and cattle, but during a particular season you can see these beautiful flowers all over the place. If you are into nature, biking and hiking, then this is a place to visit. Get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy some country time.

Enjoyable hike around the swamplands. Interesting sign about the vultures stealing the rubber…read moreseals on cars.

This is one of my favorite places to go and hike. There is no entrance fee and chances are you will…read moresee an alligator.

The tram is a section of South Eastern Goldengate estates on a sand trail road it is clear and used…read moreby old and young depending on the time or day of the week. They must have had a bad fire last summer because when I returned I noticed plenty of scorching and plenty of new growth. There are a few ways to get here. If you need directions to the tram chances you probably shouldn't be out here. People use this road for riding motocross, ATV, riding horses. On certain nights the police will be down to observe and some times they break up parties. Which leads to piles of bottles and cans. Off road conditions range from dry, dusty to muddy in some parts. A great time for simple affordable fun. Sand can be really soft and ATV or 4x4 truck or SUV is mandatory or you will get stuck in about 3 main areas. Trails run all the way to 75. While out you may see cows, deer, wild hogs, coyote, bobcats, and turkey. I've noticed more people seem to care about cleaning up the clutter as it's far more easier to clean your own cans. Bottles should not be left out there since many people are barefoot and tires are not inexpensive. If the owners of this land seen the amount of trash left by the lazy idiots I would not feel so bad if they fenced it to keep the trespassers out. Remember how bad luck prairie got closed? It can happen again here.

i love the tram it's super fun nothing better than the tram! Riding is just the best when your with…read morethe fam and friends! highly reccomd

This was a nice spot to take the dog for a walk. We wanted to try another park but once we got…read morefurther in it was too wet and a little overgrown. Definitely will come back there were spots to look out onto the wetlands and several benches to sit if needed along the way. Some shade but not a lot. We brought water along for the pup so she was good.

It was a very beautiful day today. I was excited to be able to take a walk in this park and it is…read morereally close to our home. The path is made out of crushed shells and easy to walk on. The long winter shadows cast their images along the winding walk. There is a little boardwalk and bridge which actually runs along the swampy area. I expected that to see an alligator baking In the sun. There are benches every so often, so you can stop and take in the beauty of the area. I love the winters here....... A hidden gem in our local community!

This animal rescue sanctuary is truly a special place. My husband and I loved it. You can feel the…read morecompassion and dedication the moment you arrive. Julie and the volunteers clearly care deeply about the animals and go above and beyond to ensure they are safe, healthy, and loved. The sanctuary is clean, well-organized, and focused on the animals' well-being above all else. It's inspiring to see animals given a second chance at life in such a nurturing environment. Thank you Julie for being our tour guide! It was amazing!! The sanctuary is a must see!!

I'll just go ahead and say it. You can't walk through the gates of Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary on a…read moreguided tour and come out the same person you were before. Not if your heart is beating. Nestled in a secluded animal mecca near the Babcock Ranch proximity of Punta Gorda, live 57ish forms of wildlife who have found their forever home in Octagon, most of whom would not be alive had it not been for the compassionate hearts who saved these sentient beings. Yes, of course, this Disneyland For Wildlife has lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! (admit it, you saw that one coming), but so much more, including species you would not expect to see at a wildlife sanctuary. For example, the homing pigeons who landed at Octagon because they were orphaned and have no knowledge of how to forage for food. As well as the alligator who grew up in a bathtub (don't even get me started). How about the pair of Macaws that were rescued from a dentist's office after the patients were teaching them one too many curse words ? And the monkey (cue the waterworks, it's ok to cry along with me) who was abandoned in a cage and left at the gates to Octagon on Thanksgiving Day. We can't forget the baboon who spins gleefully on three legs when he thinks no one is watching, which is extraordinary when you learn that he came to Octagon because of a history of being mentally abused. The one thing they all have in common? They're all rescues. All of these majestic creatures have been rescued and offered a New Beginning to live out the rest of their lives in a place where they are happy and well-cared for. In fact, Octagon was rated as one of the Top 10 wildlife sanctuaries in the country for the happiest animal residents. Now, that's saying something. Octagon even has resident "squatters", i.e. animals that don't need to be here but choose to be, for example Blue, the handsome peacock who hangs out to spread his beautiful plumage for the lady hens (hang in there, pal, one day you might get lucky) and the ibis who travel in and out to the sanctuary, to score a free meal and to swap stories with their friends. The feeling of joy is palpable as you walk along the path, as every animal resident (humans too) was thrilled to see my tour guide, Tracey Pirozzi, chuffing at the fence to gain her attention. No animal is ever asked to do anything it doesn't want to do. Every enclosure is arranged to make the animal as comfortable as possible. In fact, enclosures are often customized to the resident to work around any historical triggers they may have. In addition to the opportunity to see these precious animals thriving at their new beginnings, the tour also was extremely educational. I learned so much, as did the others in my tour group. Tracey kept things light and informative, engaging everyone in fun games and quizzes along the way. While fielding questions and engaging us with the animals along the way, Tracey speaks earnestly and passionately about the purpose, about the origins, of Octagon. I shed a few tears (maybe more than a few) when I saw how dear this place is to her heart. And it's easy to see why. Every animal here is given some sort of enrichment, something to keep their mind stimulated, which is critical to their overall well-being, whether it's a large ball that they can push around, a hanging crate of meat that they have to unpuzzle to claim, or a TV to watch their favorite cartoon. And marshmallows! Psst, Tracey, how about another marshamllow, puhhhhleeeeezzzzzz? As a 501(c)(3) nonrprofit organization, Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary depends entirely upon donor support, with no government assistance. As you can imagine, Octagon has a hefty expenditure in just keeping their doors open. Their food bill alone, as you can imagine (we saw one tiger tackle five chickens for breakfast), runs in the tens of thousands of dollars every month. Not only that, but there are no paid jobs here. The facility is managed by a 100% volunteer workforce, and every volunteer we encountered had a huge smile on their face, and a fierce passion upon their brows. We could feel it. The animals could feel it. The guided tour is suited for people of all ages, a terrific way to spend the morning. One little boy in our tour group was so engaged and so spot-on with the answers to Tracey's questions that I'm pretty sure that he'll soon be a tour guide . For Southwest Florida residents or for visitors from out of town, I highly recommend this opportunity to see nature at its best. I give it four paws up. To make your tour extra special, make a reservation for the 9:30am tour on Thursdays, so Tracey can show you this magical place!

Tigertail Beach is a unique destination and an adventure for visitors to Marco Island, a corner of…read moreFlorida surrounded by the Everglades and mangrove islands. The beach is named after a Seminole leader and what makes it so special is that it is divided by a tidal lagoon. The developed lagoon side is an important bird habitat and it has amenities like a playground and restrooms. To reach the beach side you wade through the lagoon which is about 50 yards and which allows you to reach the waters of the Gulf. If you prefer not to walk through the lagoon you can walk around the lagoon to the south to reach the beach in about 20 minutes. The main part of Tigertail Beach across from the lagoon is Sand Dollar Island or Sand Dollar Spit. The area was an off shore sandbar completely surrounded by water until the winds of Hurricane Wilma and erosion connected it to Marco Island. It is known for its incredible deposits of sand dollars, giving it the name and making it a favorite spot to find sand dollars and shells. Adjacent to the park is Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area managed by the state and it is a resting site for a variety of migratory shorebirds. Tigertail Beach is a birding hot spot during spring and fall migration. It is a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, one of the longest running programs of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The trail consists of more than 500 wildlife viewing sites across the state. Things to keep in mind, if you are going to to the beach pack what you can carry if you plan on crossing the lagoon. Most people carry their belongings overhead. Parking is ten dollars to park or a Collier County beach pass. if you like a beach adventure and nature, this may be the experience for you.

The sand here is white and like quicksand, so soft. Best time to go is early in the morning or…read moreafter 3pm otherwise impossible to find parking. You can walk through the inlet (in water - if youre under 5'8" youre going to get more than your legs wet) and then over to the beach...if you walk north, its less busy and you feel like youre on your own remote beach. Its not a deep beach so in areas near parking it can get crowded, but if youre up for a walk, its worth it!

At dawn we drift where the still reeds sigh, Silver line…read morekissing a blushing sky. Egrets stitch light through the cypress air, Herons pause--like thoughts we share. An alligator glides, old moon on the tide, Ancient eyes watching love pass by. Cast after cast, the world slows its breath-- Hooked not on fish, but the hush of this depth. Hand in hand where the water remembers, We fall in love with the day's soft embers.

We got to see an alligator in the pond swim around. Worth the quick trip just for this!read more

We love this park! On any given day, you can walk or bike around the lakes. They offer bike and…read morepaddle boat rental options and a train to ride. Today, we rented the pedal cart for four and another for two. Our teen grandsons and their friends really had fun! Plus, they saw a small gator, a fairly big green iguana and a snake (in addition to all the beautiful birds). Wednesday mornings they have a very nice farmer's market with quite a few vendors. Put it on your to-do list!

What a lovely little park! Great spot for a picnic, rent a shelter for a party, or like us: morning…read morewalk. I love that this area offers a semi-shaded walking path - can be hard to find in the area! There's tons of trees and wildlife around here, and the path can be about 3 miles, plus more if you add on other little sections. The amenities here are plentiful: a music/kids section, a cactus and plant area, a train museum, tons of walking and biking paths, Wheel Fun bikes for rent, and even a mini train ride! The mini train ride is soooo cute and worth it - $5 per person and you sit on this little mini train and it goes along the path and back to a ton of mini figurines and buildings made to look like Fort Myers. It's so stinking cute!! Our walk here was so enjoyable - tons of birds and wildlife to see that made it fun to get out our binoculars and snap photos. We'll definitely be back!