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 There is no better way to relax both mind and body than to spend some
leisure time enjoying nature. Visiting Florida’s State Parks and Springs
provides an opportunity to both tourists and residents to see first-hand
what is often referred to as ”The Real Florida”.
There are over 156 state parks that cover almost 600,000 acres, from the
western tip of the panhandle to Key West. Pennekamp State Park, located
off Key Largo, is the nation’s first underwater park. These
well-preserved areas have retained the natural beauty of Florida that
Ponce DeLeon saw when he discovered this lush peninsula over 400 hundred
years ago and named it for the Spanish “Feast of Flowers”.
In the Central Florida area alone, there are 24 parks that provide an
abundance of activities. As a matter of fact, there are 320 known
springs in the state, and 27 of them produce more than 100 cubic feet of
water per second. DeLeon Springs delivers 19 million gallons of water
daily and provides an excellent setting for swimming, snorkeling,
canoeing, fishing and picnicking. Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State
Park in Bunnell, was once the site of a prosperous plantation growing
sugar cane, rice, cotton and indigo. Now when you visit, you can learn
about its history, and do a little canoeing and picnicking on the
grounds.
Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka was formed by water flowing from
beneath the sandy ridges that flank the west shore of the St. John’s
River. A 2-mile paved road winds around the ravines so that motorists
can view the Azaleas and other exotic plants. Hontoon Island State Park
in DeLand can only be reached by private boat or a free passenger ferry.
It features Native American mounds that were formed by some of the
state’s earliest inhabitants.
Salt-water fisherman enjoy Sebastian Inlet State Park, where redfish,
snook, bluefish and Spanish mackerel can be caught from two Atlantic
jetties and the nearby beaches. Those interested in wildlife and nature
study can visit the Tosohatchee State Reserve in Christmas, where its
28,000 acres include 19 miles of frontage on the St. John’s River. There
is a mosaic of swamps, pine flatwoods and marshes that support an
abundance of wildlife.
All of the parks in Florida allow visitors to enjoy the peace and
serenity of nature. The best way to find the parks that meet your
specific interests, is to obtain information before you visit Central
Florida. The Florida Park Service has an excellent guide entitled
“Florida State Parks”, which gives much more detailed information. To
obtain a copy, visit their website at
www.floridastateparks.org or call them at 1-800-326-3521.
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