Locations
McDonald
Canal Pavilion

24600 CR 448A
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Meeting Place for many trips
C.S. Lee Park and Little Big Econ State Forest 
Drive 15 miles east of US 17-92 on SR 46 just before crossing the St. Johns River. The state forest is on the south side of SR 46 just before the St. Johns River and C.S. Lee Park on the left. 
Possible meeting place for Fri 15
Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area
Emeralda Island Road
Leesburg, FL 34788
Meeting Place for Thurs 5
Ferndale Preserve
19220 County Rd 455
Clermont, FL 34715
Meeting Place for Fri 4
Frank Rendon Park
2705 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118-5701.
Meeting Place for Mon 7
Green Mountain Scenic Overlook and Trailhead
20700 County Road 455, Montverde,  FL 34715
Meeting Place for Sun 8 
Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park 
4500 Dallas Blvd,
Orlando, FL 32833.
The actual entrance is located at: https://goo.gl/maps/a7LNonHEP729WuWt5
Meeting Place for Fri 1
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
2850 Lust Rd
Apopka, FL 32703
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and most Federal Holidays, entry 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; exit by 5:00 p.m.
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, 2045 Mud Lake Road, De Leon Springs, FL 32130
Meeting Place for Fri 9
Lyonia Preserve
2150 Eustace Avenue
Deltona, FL 32725

Meeting Place for Sat 9
Magnolia Park
2929 S Binion Road
Apopka, FL 32703

Renovated with dock.
A good site for sunsets.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
From I-95, take Exit 220 (Titusville, SR 406). Drive east on SR406, also known as Garden Street. Continue east on Garden Street for 4 miles and travel over the Max Brewer Causeway Bridge. The Refuge begins on the east side of the causeway.  Meeting Place for Mon 6.
Newton Park
31 W Garden Ave
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Visited on Sat 11
Oakland Nature Preserve
747 Machete Trail
Oakland, FL  34760
Meeting place for Sat 11
Ocala National Forest
Clearwater Lake Recreation Area

24511 Co Rd 42, Paisley, FL 32767
Meeting Place for Sun 2
Orlando Wetlands
25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas, FL 32709
Meeting Place for Sat 12 and Sun 7
Parrish Park
1 A Max Brewer Causeway
Titusville, FL 32796
Meeting Place for Mon 6
Palatlakaha Environmental and Agricultural Reserve (PEAR) Park Wildlife Conservation Area 
4800 Univ. Ave.
Leesburg, FL 34748

Meeting Place for Mon 2 
Pine Meadows Conservation Area
2280 Pine Meadows Golf Course Rd, Eustis, FL 32726
Meeting Place for Sat 8
Rusty Anchor - Dora Canal Tours
400 W. 4th Avenue
Mount Dora, FL 32757

Meeting Place for Trip 7
Seminole State Forest
SR 46, Bear Pond Trailhead
Mount Dora, FL 32757
This is the South Entrance,
just west of the Wekiva River Bridge. Approx
14 miles west of Sanford.Meeting Place for Mon 5
St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge
SR 50 west of Titusville
Meeting Place for Thurs 11
T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, Broadmoor Marsh
3200 T. M. Goodwin Rd., Fellsmere, 32948 
Meeting Place for Thurs 7
Trimble Park
5802 Trimble Park Rd, Mount Dora, FL 32757
Meeting Place for Fri 8
Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area 
3365 Taylor Creek Road Christmas, FL 32709 
Meeting Place for Fri 2
Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka, FL 32712
Meeting Place for Fri 6, Fri 16 and Mon 4

Where to Stay During the NORTH SHORE BIRDING FESTIVAL
The hotels listed below are those the festival organizers have worked with in the past.
There are also some camping options, listed below.

Hotels
Please note that it is "high season" for hotels in Central Florida. Less expensive rates can be found closer to Orlando's tourist area ( International Drive or US-192), but it will take more time to get to the field trip sites. 
Note that each field trip starts at a different location, but that many on Saturday and Sunday start at the McDonald Canal Pavilion, 24600 CR 448A, Mount Dora, Florida 32757. That is where box lunches are served for trips that indicate that they include a box lunch.
Featured hotels 
Hampton Inn and Suites Orlando - Apopka
321 S Lake Cortez Drive, Apopka, FL, 32703.
(407)
880-7861
Estimated 23 minutes to McDonald Canal, 16 miles. 

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Leesburg/Mt.Dora
9700 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34788.
(352) 315-1234
Estimated 24 minutes to McDonald Canal, 15 miles. 
This hotel is 5.8 mi from Venetian Gardens, a pleasant place for walks on your own and easy place to see Purple Gallinules. 
Other suggestions
Fairfield Inn and Suites Ocoee
10971 West Colonial Drive, Ocoee, FL 34761.
(407) 573-1010

Estimated 28 minutes to McDonald Canal, 22.2 miles (tolls on SR 429).
​​​​​​
Camping
Orange County has several nearby county parks with RV/tent sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Site rental, per night  for non-Orange County residents is $ 23.00;  for non-Orange County Seniors (55 and older) is $17.25 per night;  for Orange County resident is $18.00;  for Orange County Seniors (55 and older) is $13.50 per night. Online link
Contact the park directly at the numbers below.
Magnolia Park, 2929 South Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703, 407-886-4231
Magnolia Park has 18 RV/tent sites.
Trimble Park, 5802 Trimble Park Road, Mt. Dora, FL 32757, 352-383-1993
Trimble Park has 15 RV/tent sites
Kelly Park/Camp Joy, 400 East Kelly Park Road, Apopka, FL 32712, 407-254-1902. Kelly Park has 26 RV/tent sites
Clarcona Horseman’s Park, 3535 Damon Road, Apopka, FL 32703, 407-254-9010. Clarcona Horse Park has 28 RV/tent sites
Some commercial campground options are:
Orlando NW / Orange Blossom KOA, 3800 W Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, FL 32712, Reservations: (800) 562-5634, (407) 886-3260
Lake County also has commercial campgrounds near the Lake Apopka North Shore listed at this link
Closest to the McDonald Canal field trip meeting site are Fisherman's Cove/Lake Harris Resort in Tavares (13 minutes), Palm Gardens Marina and RV Park in Tavares (20 minutes), Rolling Ridge RV Resort and Clerbrook Golf & RV Resort in Clermont (both 20 minutes), and Bee's RV Resort in Clermont (21 minutes).

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