Alright, so Florida is not quite Jurassic Park, but it definitely is home to a large menagerie of exotic creatures (especially to this native Chicagoan's eyes). Here's a look at several, and where to find them.

1. Jurassic
Florida
T O N Y A N G I U L I
T O N Y A N G I U L I . O R G
Wildlife
in the
Sunshine
State

2. Okay. So while Florida might be a far cry
from Jurassic Park, it still holds a wealth
of exotic life that is in many ways just as
impressive and strange (especially to this
Chicago native). Here's a look at several:

3. Manatees
Ah, the
mysterious sea
cow! Until you
see one of these
critters in-
person, it’s hard
to exactly know
what sort of
aquatic
adorableness
you’re in for.
Imagine large,
grey underwater
shar-peis. Give
them fins and
magnify their
clumsiness by
ten and you
have a manatee.

4. You can find manatees all around the Florida coast, but one of the
best places to find them is the Manatee Springs State Park. The
water here stays 72 degrees year round. During Winter this brings
over Manatees from the West Indian Ocean. Rest assured, you’ll
get to see some underwater shar-peis here.

5. Dolphins
I remember one of my first trips to Florida before I
moved here. I was kid and was with my family. We
were staying at a sea-side resort. I kept on seeing
these fins pop up out of the water. “Mom,” I said, “look
a shark!” My mom followed where my hand was
pointing and laughed. It wasn’t a shark…it was just a
dolphin.

6. You can see dolphins in a variety of coastal areas coming up to catch a
breath, but if you’re looking for a more intimate experience you can check
out Dolphin Lagoon at SeaWorld Park or a number of other places.

7. Alligators
It’s the mascot of my alma mater (University of Florida)
and maybe the closest thing on this list to anything
you’d see in Jurassic World.

8. If you’re looking for gators, the best place for you to search is the
Everglades State Park. There’s no shortage of touring options available. Just
make sure to keep your hands in the craft at all times. If you’re looking for
less of an in-the-wild experience, check out Gatorland.

9. Tropical Fish
Snapper, tarpon, sea turtle, sharks and more! One of the most
popular snorkeling destination in the US can be found at the the
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, just off the coast of Key
Largo. You can also find glass bottom boats that let you see the fish
without having to be close to them.

10. If you’re looking for the Gatorland of fish, check out Robbie’s Marina. Here
you’ll find nearly a hundred hulking tarpon swimming around in clear
water. It costs 1 buck to see them and 3 bucks to feed them. Also, I can’t let
the Florida Aquarium in Tampa go unrecognized.

11. For More Florida Outdoors info,
check out my blog
TonyAngiuli.org