GREAT OUTDOORS

West Orange and Southwest Orange are the perfect communities for anyone craving some time in that famous Florida sunshine.

With dozens of parks, myriad bodies of water and plenty of trails to explore, a day outside is miles away from your front door.

Here are some of our favorites.

BUTLER CHAIN OF LAKES Windermere Website: orange.wateratlas.usf. edu/butler-chain The low-down: If you love the water, then the Butler Chain of Lakes is for you. Compromising 13 lakes of varying sizes that flow south toward Reedy Creek, the Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee and then the Everglades, the Butler Chain of Lakes boasts more than 5,000 acres of surface water and a total of 32 navigable canals that make it a local hot spot for fishing, boating and other water sports.

LAKE APOPKA WILDLIFE DRIVE 2850 Lust Road, Apopka Website: sjrwmd.com/lands/ recreation/lake-apopka/wildlifedrive The low-down: Located in the Lake Apopka North Shore, the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive allows visitors to enjoy nature without even leaving their cars. Starting at Lust Road in Apopka and ending on Jones Road in Orange County, the 11-mile route is a selfguided audio tour, which includes information from a friendly voice about area’s wildlife.

OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE 747 Machete Trail, Oakland Phone: (407) 905-0054 Website: oaklandnaturepreserve. wildapricot.org The low-down: Nestled in the town of Oakland limits, the 128acre preserve — comprising 48 acres of uplands and 80 acres of forested wetlands — offers a variety of environmental education and ecotourism activities for visitors of all ages, who get to experience Florida in its natural state. Along the different paths signs can be found that offer information on the area’s diverse plant species. TIBET-BUTLER NATURE PRESERVE 8777 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Orlando Website: oaklandnaturepreserve. wildapricot.org The low-down: The Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve is the home of the Vera Carter Environmental Center, which provides a variety of fascinating — and educational — exhibits and displays. There are miles of trails to hike, and you also can participate in ongoing environmental programs. WEST ORANGE TRAIL 501 Crown Point Cross Road, Winter Garden Phone: (407) 654-1108 The low-down: The West Orange Trail stretches a healthy 22.26 miles from the Orange/Lake County line and heads east through the Killarney community and town of Oakland, the city of Winter Garden, across U.S. 441 and on through to downtown Apopka to Welch Road. Locals and visitors take to the trail at all times of the day, looking for a fun hike or bicycle ride that is heavy on scenic beauty.

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