The landscape has definitely changed since my annual walk last August in 2008. The two huge lakes are a cluster of five to six smaller lakes which make walking around them a lot easier. You can see all the lakes by taking the sand foot paths which surround them and dissect their locations, this was not possible last year.

The woods were great to walk through, and the wild life was very rewarding. I saw lots of species of birds including a wood pecker with a red head. I saw my first Armadillo, a young one I think, it scurried away when it saw me, it must have been more frightened of me than I was of it.

On the first lake we came to we saw a pair of nesting cranes. Their nest was on the ground on an island in a small lake. We walked within thirty yards of the nest and could see quite clearly two young chicks. There were two types of herons, white ibis and lots of waders.

I had a camera with me, but the thing that I missed most was a pair of binoculars, my next trip will include these as well as a bird field guide. I must say I see something different on each walk, it is so relaxing and rewarding to be up close to Central Florida bird and wild life within a few minutes walk from the villa.

This was the perfect escape from the theme parks and a perfect way to watch the Florida sun go down. This is just one of the many benefits when you book at

www.mickeyswoodlandretreat.co.uk

Please come and try it for yourselves, Florida is not just full of theme parks!