FLORIDA PLACES AND DESTINATIONS - WILDWOOD
Its centralized location and easy access to both coasts has led Wildwood to be known as "The Crossroads of Florida".
It is also aptly named. When the telegraph industry strung new lines, a telegraph lineman called back in to the branch office in Monticello and when asked for his whereabouts, for the lack of a better name, tapped in W-I-L-D-W-O-O-D as a reasonable description of his location.
Wildwood is tailor-made as a base for fishing, boating and kayaking among manatees, otters, bald eagles, swallowtail kites and hundreds of species of birds.
It is along The Great Florida Birding Trail, a collection of sites throughout Florida selected for their excellent birdwatching or bird education opportunities; The Withlacoochee State Trail is a 46-mile paved stretch of railroad right-of-way that has been converted to a recreation area suitable for hiking, biking, and horse riding enthusiasts.
Wildlife of all types abound here. The Withlachoocee River and Lake Panasoffkee hold a wide variety of fish, as well as abundant populations of alligators. Deer, raccoons, armadillos, wild hogs, wild turkeys, opossums, and gopher tortoises are just a few of the animals here.
Photo: Visit Florida
