Bird-watching, boating and sailing, camping, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, golfing, tennis -- you name it, the Sunshine State has it. In fact, you'll find these activities almost everywhere you go in Florida. Of course, beach lovers and watersports enthusiasts can indulge their passions almost anywhere along the state's lengthy coastlines. Merely head east or west, and you'll easily find plenty to do -- or viewed another way, Florida's multitudinous watersports operators will find you.

These and other activities are described in the outdoor activities sections of the following chapters, but here's a brief overview of some of the best places to move your muscles, with tips on how to get more detailed information.

The Florida Sports Foundation, 2390 Kerry Forest Pkwy., Suite 101, Tallahassee, FL 32309 (tel. 850/488-8347; fax 850/922-0482; www.flasports.com), publishes free brochures, calendars, schedules, and guides to outdoor pursuits and spectator sports throughout Florida.

For excellent color maps of state parks, campgrounds, canoe trails, aquatic preserves, caverns, and more, contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Communications, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399 (tel. 850/488-2960; www.dep.state.fl.us).