FLORIDA

Next to nature in Florida's Everglades

By Maggie Barnett, Times Staff Writer
12:00 AM PST, January 29, 2006

PADDLE the inlets of the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge on six-day canoe trips to the southwestern corner of Florida.

The trips, which explore the saltwater ecosystem of the Everglades, are offered Feb. 21 and March 4 and 13.

"It's natural Florida," said Greg Lais, executive director of Wilderness Inquiry, emphasizing the wildlife and environment of the region, which abounds with bird species, manatees and dolphins.

Wilderness Inquiry trips are designed to include people of all ages and abilities. The nonprofit, whose philosophy is that diversity is educational, provides additional support staff such as sign-language interpreters or personal-care attendants at no additional charge.

Cost: $745 per person, including trail meals and snacks, tents, group camping and cooking gear, canoe and paddle. Adaptive gear is available as needed. Airfare to Fort Myers, Fla., is not included.

Contact: Wilderness Inquiry, Minneapolis, Minn.; (800) 728-0719, http://www.wildernessinquiry.org .

CALIFORNIA

Birds of the bay

GO birding for a day on Morro Bay.

The package, available daily, includes an overnight hotel stay and a half-day guided tour by canoe or kayak to learn about bird biology, anatomy and identification techniques.

Participants will paddle the Morro Bay estuary, searching for bird groups including sandpipers and raptors.

Cost: $269 and up Sundays through Thursdays and $299 and up Fridays and Saturdays for one or two people, including accommodations, a picnic lunch and a tour of the estuary.

Contact: The Cliffs Resort, Shell Beach, Calif.; (800) 826-5838. Tours are led by Baysong Eco-Tours, http://www.baysong.net .

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