St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

The Lighthouse Road and the pools along it are the classic gator-viewing stretch at this Gulf coast refuge south of Tallahassee, with basking gators common in the freshwater pools from spring through fall. Drive the road slowly and pull over at the pool overlooks rather than walking the berms in gator season. The lighthouse at the road's end is worth the trip on its own. Feeding wildlife on the refuge is prohibited.