Snowbirds aren't the only creatures that migrate to Florida to escape cold weather. So do monarch butterflies.

Every October and November, millions of the orange-colored flutterers head south from Canada to North Florida, their mid-migration rest stop on their annual trek to their minter home in Mexico.

Their numbers are staggering -- more than 40 million, according to butterfly expert Dr. Thomas J. Walker of the University of Florida.

Many of the butterflies settle in for a spell at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf coast 20 miles south of Tallahassee. Here, for about three weeks beginning in mid-October (depending on the weather), visitors flock to the refuge to glimpse the monarchs as they cluster in trees and bushes.

''If you'd asked me 25 years ago, I would've never thought butterfly watching exciting,'' said Refuge ranger Robin Will. ''But now it's almost bigger here than bird watching.'' Some 4,000 to 5,000 visitors attend the refuge's annual Butterfly Festival (Oct. 25 this year, 850-925-6121, www.fws.gov/saintmarks/wildlife.html), Will said.

Another event, ButterflyFest, (352-273-2064, www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflyfest) will be held Oct. 18-19 in Gainesville at the University of Florida, home of Butterfly Rainforest and an excellent butterfly collection.

Butterfly gardens exist in many Florida locales, and Butterfly World, a commercial attraction in Coconut Creek, is the world's largest butterfly park. 954-977-4400, www.butterflyworld.com.

Spotting the monarchs is just one activity awaiting those touring in Florida this fall and winter.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween doings, for one, are bigger than ever this year.

Universal Orlando: Biggest of all celebrations is this park's annual Halloween Horror Nights, with 23 nights of ghouls, goblins, ghosts and gore. This year, guests can step into fairy tales gone bad: The Land of Oz if the Wicked Witch had won, Through the Looking Glass only to meet Bloody Mary, Fractured Tales when Grimm goes grim.

Nightly admission is $69.99, but a Frequent Fear Pass costs the same and admits attendees on 13 of the 23 nights. Florida residents can save up to $33 on certain Sunday-Thursday nights with a Coca-Cola UPC code, and a Gory Getaway package starting at $95 per adult provides one night's admission and one night's lodging.

Event dates are Sept. 26 and 27, Oct. 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 22-26, 29-31 and Nov. 1. 888-HORROR-7, www.halloweenhorrornights.com.

Busch Gardens: Another night of horror has been added to Busch's annual fright fest, Howl-O-Scream, for a total of 17. Busch promises what it calls ''intense adult content such as violence, gore and blood.'' One-night admission is $64.95, with some discounts available online.. Event dates are Sept. 26 and 27, Oct. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 and Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Want a peek ahead? Freaky Preview (Sept. 26-27) offers guests an advance look at Howl-O-Scream for $29. 888-800-5447, www.Howl-O-Scream.com.tampa.

Disney World: Aimed at younger guests, meaning deliberately not frightening, Disney World's Not-So-Scary Halloween in the Magic Kingdom is running for 26 nights this year, the most ever. Mickey and Minnie are dressed in formal attire and kids can go trick-or-treating all evening. Advance purchase tickets are $42.95 for ages 3-9, $48.95 for ages 10 and over. Day-of-event prices are $49.95 and $55.95 Remaining dates are Oct. 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31. 407-934,7639, www.disneyworld.com/halloween.

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