Florida has more outdoor adventures than you think

The real fun lies beyond the theme parks [View this email in your browser]( Hey all, When people think of Central Florida, Disney theme parks usually come to mind. Well, there’s much more to the region than that, including the headwaters of the Everglades and multiple bodies of water. Here’s how to [get outdoors in Central Florida](. Add to that the [sporty adventures]( to be had outside of Miami, and you start to look at the Sunshine State in a whole new light. Across the country, Idaho is already a famed outdoor playground, but its climbing offerings are less well known. It’s time to change that and to discover [Idaho’s City of Rocks](. Whatever state you visit, you can keep your campsite sustainable with solar energy – enough energy to [power a kitchen](. Having a kitchen, however, means you’ve embraced #vanlife. If you haven’t yet, but want to, know that it requires an outlay of time and cash. Here’s [the lowdown]( on how to get it done. Enjoy the outdoors. Noelle Alejandra Salmi, outdoor editor OUTDOOR [How to get outdoors on the lakes, rivers, and shores of Central Florida]( Most internet searches of top sights in Central Florida inevitably result in six Disney-related attractions. But dig a little further, and you’ll learn that Ocala is the horse capital of the United States, Tampa is now an ideal place for an urban staycation, and Kissimmee has a variety of outdoor activities with more affordable accommodations than neighboring Orlando. So if kayaking through mangroves and hiking in state parks sounds more interesting to you than a crowded theme park, give Mickey and Minnie a much-needed vacation and stay clear of Clearwater Beach. Instead, explore these top outdoor activities in the heart of the Sunshine State. [DISCOVER CENTRAL FLORIDA]( LATEST ARTICLES --------------------------------------------------------------- PARKS + WILDERNESS [Miami is a gateway to outdoor adventure on water, wheels, or foot]( --------------------------------------------------------------- CLIMBING [The ultimate guide to climbing Idaho’s City of Rocks]( --------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS [Powering your campsite with solar energy just got way easier]( --------------------------------------------------------------- BUDGET TRAVEL [What it really costs to convert to the vanlife, according to someone who did it]( MATADOR GUIDE TRIP PLANNING [Beaches and Parks in Miami, Fl]( Miami does a lot of things well. Nightlife. Plastic surgery. Cafecitos. Parks? Not so much. Where many cities have broad swaths of urban green space, Miami is more like, “We’ve got beaches you can go to in January. What’s ‘green space?’” But while we don’t have big parks for public recreation, we do have a number of spectacular beaches, riverfront parks, and plenty of lesser-known places to escape hordes of sunbathers. Plus, two national parks within an hour’s drive. So whether you’re looking for a place to relax by the ocean, scuba dive, or even jump on a mountain bike, Miami has a park where you can do it. Here’s a quick guide to all the ones worth visiting. [DISCOVER MIAMI OUTDOORS]( SUSTAINABILITY [Faka'apa'apa]( In the years since Tonga banned whale hunting, an important piece of the local economy has become swimming with whales. But will this new form of ecotourism be sustainable? [WATCH THE FILM]( FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Pinterest]( [Twitter]( [TikTok]( Copyright © 2021 Matador Network, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Matador Network PO Box 7775 #40021San Francisco, CA 94120 [Add us to your address book]( Need to change something? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from our newsletter](. We'll be here when you need us!