Lake Kissimmee State Park lies about 15 miles east of Lake Wales and protects some 5,900 acres of old Florida: pine flatwoods, scrub, marsh, and the shallow shores of Lake Kissimmee itself. This is serious birdwatching territory — sandhill cranes, bald eagles, ospreys, and a good range of wading birds are regularly seen. The park also has a cattle camp living history exhibit reconstructing Florida's 19th-century cattle industry, a reminder that this part of the state was cowboy country long before it was tourist country.
Hiking trails wind through the scrub and along the lake shore. Boat ramps and canoe access let you get out on the water, where alligators are a common sight sunning on banks. The campground is one of the better ones in the Florida State Parks system, well situated for early morning wildlife watching. Admission is a few dollars per vehicle; the park is open year-round.