Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
"Ave Maria residents often visit for nearby access to hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing. The preserve provides a scenic and educational escape into native Florida habitat."
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is a remote wilderness preserve in the western Everglades, famous for its rare plants, old-growth cypress, and abundant wildlife. It offers a true backcountry experience for paddlers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts seeking solitude and unspoiled Florida habitat.
Collier-Seminole State Park
"Ave Maria visitors can enjoy a nearby park outing with camping, fishing, and interpretive history. It is one of the closest major outdoor destinations for residents of the eastern Collier County area."
Collier-Seminole State Park offers a quiet escape into South Florida's mangrove and freshwater wetlands, with excellent opportunities to see birds, alligators, and other wildlife. The park also preserves a historic tram road used in the early 1900s to move boats across the swamp.