See Alligators in the wild on Orlando’s FREE Wildlife Drive!

“Where can we see alligators?” is a common question that we hear regularly from guests staying in our villas in Orlando. And we have the perfect answer, as it’s the latest discovery in our ongoing search for that ‘something different’ factor.

It is the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, a spectacular conservation area just half an hour north of Walt Disney World, where an 11-mile driving trail has been carefully woven into the natural landscape of wetlands and marshes – and alligators are guaranteed!

As much as we love the world-class theme parks, we think visitors should definitely take time to get off the beaten track and discover some of the more organic attractions of the area – because there’s a LOT out there, and the Wildlife Drive is a brilliant example.

Not only is it somewhere you can enjoy from the comfort and convenience of your hire car, there is also no charge to visit.

True, you won’t find Lake Apopka on many tourist maps, but it is only about 25-30 miles from the popular Davenport and Kissimmee communities we have villas on. It is the fourth largest lake in the state, and the largest in the greater Orlando area, covering almost 50 square miles (125 square kilometres).

Easily located just off the (toll) expressway of Highway 429, the lake is a fine example of Florida conservation work. Its former history as the state’s most polluted lake has long been cast off for its ‘new horizon’ as a wildlife refuge and mega-popular weekend haunt of bird-watchers.

Pollution peaked in the 1980s, turning one of the best bass-fishing lakes in the country into something of a wasteland, but that was followed by a major restoration project that continues today, planting new areas of native aquatic plants and removing harmful phosphorus and other contaminants from the water and soil.

This active programme of environmental renovation has brought the fish and other wildlife – especially the birds – flooding back to the area, creating the big spin-off of the Wildlife Drive in 2015.

In conjunction with the nearby city of Winter Garden becoming one of the must-see examples of vibrant small-town America, Lake Apopka is now a bona fide local attraction that is well worth putting on your holiday agenda for a half-day of relaxed, rural fun.

Just to start with, it is situated within the 20,000 acres of the lake’s North Shore conservation sanctuary, and consists of a well-maintained gravel road through the marshes and wetlands that skirt the main lake. It is criss-crossed by a series of man-made dikes, ditches and canals, and has one major stopping point at the historic pumping station that helps to control the water levels and offers a fabulous lake overview.

More importantly, it is home to a profusion of native wildlife, from the ever-present alligators (and you will see plenty of them from the safety of your car!) to more than 360 bird species that nest and feed here and are especially numerous in winter.

You’ll see egrets, herons, ospreys, anhingas, swallow-tailed kites and a huge variety of water fowl, and it is quite common to see them feasting on fresh-caught fish (or even snakes) beside the road.

It is an absolute cornucopia of exciting, natural Florida and, if you take your own drinks and snacks, you can easily make it a two or three-hour excursion with lunch or dinner afterwards back at delightful Winter Garden.

Best of all, it is completely free. Unlike our other local favourite of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near the Kennedy Space Center, the Wildlife Drive has no charge to visit (although they are happy to accept donations to maintain their work). Just be aware it is only open Friday-Sunday, and from 7am to 3pm (last exit at 5pm), and you’ll need to allow 90 minutes to do the full one-way drive, as the speed limit is only 10mph (16kmph).

The entrance is at 2850 Lust Road, Apopka, Florida 32703, and can be found off exit 29 of Highway 429, via Ocoee-Apopka Road, Harmon Road and South Binion Road. Look up more at the Lake Apopkoa website

You can also plug into a narrated audio tour for the Drive that details the sights and wildlife at the Apopka website here

For another example of offbeat, local Florida, check out our blog about New Smyrna Beach on the Atlantic Coast.