Birding, Hiking, Biking - Kissimmee, Florida

Birding

You know the difference between an Osprey and an Egret, and spotting a bird you’ve never seen before makes you feel a bit like Teddy Roosevelt. Your heart races at the thrill of discovery, even as you’re overcome by a complete sense of well-being, knowing that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

For the merely curious or the serious hobbyist, bird-watching is a wondrous activity. There’s no better place for birding than Kissimmee, where you’ll discover a seemingly endless assortment of bird species at any of nine state-recognized Great Florida Birding Trail sites. From the wetlands to the woodlands, you’ll be able to spot ibis, hawks, falcons, quail, and herons of practically every color. If you’re lucky, you may even enjoy a sighting of some of the rarest birds in North America, including the Florida scrub jay, Snail kite, Whooping crane, Crested caracara and Limpkin. Kissimmee has the largest population of nesting Bald eagles in the lower 48 states, and was selected as a re-entry location for the nearly extinct Whooping Crane. You might even spot the "Osceola" Wild turkey, considered by many wildlife experts to be the most beautiful bird in the world.

Bring your binoculars and your camera. Kissimmee won’t disappoint.

Check out our Kissimmee birding photo gallery on Flickr.

Hiking and Biking

A walk or bike ride is a chance to get out and explore your surroundings. You’ll find that a trek through Kissimmee’s natural wonderland is more than mere exercise. It’s a way to experience one remarkable discovery after another.

The Florida countryside yields sites and sounds just not found in other parts of the country. This is the gift of Kissimmee’s great outdoors and there is an abundance of trails that take you through the woods, around a lake, or along a river. Within the Kissimmee area there are several wildlife management areas protected by the State of Florida with hiking and riding trails that are part of the Florida National Scenic Trail and/or the Great Florida Birding Trail. Along the way you’ll be entertained by the chorus of birds and other sounds, marvel at mosaics of wildflowers, intricate spider webs, colorful and unusual birds, including the American bald eagle; and lots of wildlife such as turtles, deer, alligator, the Florida wild boar, the famous Osceola turkey. The Kissimmee area is home to approximately 35 different protected species of wildlife. So get out and about and discover the “real” Florida.

To explore some of the area's more popular bike routes, check out our interactive map.