Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Great Florida Wedding Venues
Florida Sandhill Cranes
Ritz Carlton Amelia Island
4750 Amelia Island Parkway
Amelia Island, (904) 277-1100
Ritzcarlton.com
The Ritz Carlton at Amelia Island provides
wedding planning services that include every
detail down to the centerpieces placed on
the reception tables. With the hotel as your
venue, you have the option to plan a wedding
outdoors or within the events room. The
banquet hall is superb for a reception with its
beautiful décor and large crystal chandeliers
your reception will be unforgettable.
Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
200 Ponte Vedra Blvd, Ponte Verdra Beach
(904) 285-1111, Pontevedra.com
At the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club you have
the option to plan your wedding and reception
through the inn or through the lodge and
club. With the picturesque seaside you have
Florida Hiking
Withloacoochee State Forest
15003 Broad Street, Brooksville,
(352)-754-6896, dep.state.fl.us
The Withloacoochee State Forest spans 113,431
acres. Within this forest, you find numerous
tracts, trails, and loops. Each hiking option ranges
in mileage from 3 miles to up to six miles. You
have the opportunity to experience the natural
beauty of the forest. Visit the Visitor Center to acquire
maps for the hiking areas and rules that
apply.
Ocala National Forest
3199 NE Highway 315, Silver Springs,
(352) 236-0288, Fs.usda.gov/ocala
The Florida National Scenic Trail located at the
Ocala National Forest. The hiking trail spans 75
miles total. The trail is accessible for bikes and
horses. Elevation is minimal. From the trail you
view ponds, lakes, and wildlife. According to
the Florida Trail Association, this hiking trail is the
crown jewel of the statewide scenic trail system.
the option to have a beach or indoor
wedding. The staff at the inn and club
provide you with start to finish wedding
planning to include catering services.
The Westin Diplomat
Resort and Spa
3555 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood
(954) 602-6000, Diplomatresort.com
The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa offers
the opportunity to earn an exceptional
honeymoon. Brides who opt to
utilize the resort as their wedding venue
are offered the change to earn points
toward their honeymoon based on the
cost of their wedding and reception.
The resort offers space for up to 300
guests within the banquet hall and the
events room. Reception decorating
and catering services are provided.
Kissimmee River
National Scenic Trail
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee
(850) 245-2157, Floridastateparks.org
The Kissimmee River National Scenic Trail
spans nine miles. Throughout this hiking
trail you view the Kissimmee River and a
vast amount of wildlife. You pass oak hammocks
and pine flatlands while venturing
through the trail. The trail is remote and allows
for a peaceful and serene hike.
Alexander Springs
Campground
49525 CR 445, Altoona, (352) 669-3522,
Reserveamerica.com
The Alexander Springs Campground provides
a challenging hiking trail in addition to
campsites. You have the option to reserve
one of the 67 sites located throughout the
park for $15 per night. The Florida Trail runs
84 miles. You see beautiful greenery and
locale wildlife through the trail. The temperature
in this area is typically 72 degrees
throughout the year.
Sugarloaf Mountain Summit
20449 Sugarloaf Mountain Road, Clermont
The Sugarloaf Mountain trail spans up to 39
miles and is segmented into multiple trails.
The full length of the trail is included into the
annual bike challenge. This area is great for
hiking or riding your bike. You have access
to the scenic overlook through the trail.
Florida Sandhill Cranes are considered the
largest cranes in North America. The scientific
name for the Florida Sandhill Cranes is Grus
canadensis.
The adult Florida Sandhill Crane is completely
gray during breeding season. These Sandhill
cranes have a red forehead, long pointed
dark bills, and white cheeks. There is not an
underlining distinction among the Florida
Sandhill Crane females and males based on
the color of their feathers or plumage. These
birds male and female look exactly alike, unlike
most bird species where the males have
more aesthically pleasing coloring and plumage.
Paired mates of Florida Sandhill Cranes
engage in what is called unison calling, which
sounds like a loud trumpeting call. These
Sandhill Cranes mates stand close together
and call out as if they are performing a synchronized
duet. The female Florida Sandhill
Cranes sound out two calls for every one call
made by the male cranes. The Florida Sandhill
Cranes have a wingspan that expands
up to eight feet when it is completely grown.
These Sandhill Cranes use thermals to obtain
lift, which enables them to stay aloft for long
periods of time. Migratory flocks that contain
hundreds of birds, allow these birds to create
clear outlines. The outlines create rising columns
of thermals. These birds fly south every
winter. Males and female Sandhill Cranes are
different in their size and migratory habits.
The Florida Sandhill Crane is listed as a Threatened
Species. There were only four thousand
Florida Sandhill Cranes in Florida prior to the
Gulf Coast oil spill. Clean up efforts continue
to attempt to save the ever decreasing number
of Sandhill Cranes. The much needed
habitat for Florida Sandhill Cranes is freshwater
marshes which are dominated by pickerelweed
and maidencane. Florida Sandhill
Cranes need upland forests and grasslands.
The diet of Sandhill Cranes consists of seeds,
leaves, and various plant roots. To properly
protect the threatened Florida Sandhill
Cranes and their habitats and/or plant communities
requires global action. With a combined
effort of community and organizations,
these cranes will have a suitable environment
in which to regenerate.
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