Travelers revel in the ecotourism paradise of Wakulla County, located south of Tallahassee, Florida. Nearly 70 percent of the county’s land is public and protected. Here, ecotourism is serious business. This travel guide highlights three of Wakulla's ecotourism treasures.
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs Lodge and State Park
If there's only time to visit one place, this is it. Wakulla Springs offers a variety of ecotourism activities including a scenic river cruise, swimming in a natural spring, hiking and biking trails, spectacular wildlife watching, paleo history and pop culture (“Tarzan the Ape Man” (1932) and “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954) were filmed here).
Wakulla Springs is home to one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world. Fossilized bones from mastodons, giant armadillos and other animals along with spear points dating 12,000 years ago have been found in the park’s complex underwater caves.
Florida businessman Edward Ball purchased Wakulla Springs in 1934 and built the Wakulla Springs Lodge. The Lodge’s 27 rooms are television-free, comfortable and reasonably priced. Nightly rates range between $85 and $105. If only visiting for the day, have lunch in the Wakulla Springs Lodge Dining Room. Don’t miss the fried chicken or Navy bean soup.
The park is open daily. Park admission is $4 per vehicle and boat tours are $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Telephone: (850) 224-5950
Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory
Hidden away on Panacea’s shore and 40 minutes south of Tallahassee is a window to the sea. The Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory is a research center, sea turtle rehabilitation facility and educational aquarium.
Don’t expect to be dazzled with dolphin shows and huge tanks with complex displays. Thankfully, exhibits are simple and easy to understand. Visitors can see and touch some of Florida’s sea treasures, such as starfish, sea urchins and sponges.
Observation tanks hold various species of fish, crabs, sharks, seahorses, shrimp and other sea life like the funny looking remora. The fish looks like it’s swimming upside down and in its natural habitat, the remora attaches itself to the bottom of sharks and other sea life.
Ecotourism enthusiasts of all ages will learn about Florida’s sea life by visiting the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory. It’s open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. and closed for major holidays. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children between 3 and 11. Telephone: (850) 984-5297.
St. Marks Wildlife Refuge
Florida ecotourism is at its finest in St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, the nation’s oldest wildlife refuge. Located just 35 minutes south of Tallahassee, ecotourism enthusiasts will appreciate St. Marks’s 68,000 acres with coastal marshes and tidal creeks, ideal for wildlife watching.
Built in 1832, the St. Marks Lighthouse is a historical treasure still used today. St. Marks was an important port of entry during the 1820s and the lighthouse helped ships navigate into the port. The lighthouse has weathered hurricanes and the Civil War.
Wildlife watching is superb year-round, however, St. Marks Wildlife Refuge is recognized for the monarch butterfly migration. The end of October, the Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival educates visitors about the butterfly’s migration from the Gulf Coast to Mexico. There’s even an opportunity to tag monarch butterflies and release them.
St. Marks Wildlife Refuge is open daily. Admission is $5 per vehicle. Telephone: (850) 925-6121
Where to Stay
The Wakulla Springs Lodge is classic and comfortable but some ecotourism travelers may appreciate The Inn at Wildwood, a 71-room, nature-based lodge and certified green hotel with modern amenities. Nightly rates begin at $99. Telephone: (850) 926-4455.
Visit the Wakulla County Web site for additional information in planning an ecotourism vacation to Florida’s natural place to be.
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