This is a guide to the places we go for our outdoor adventures.
Below are links to and descriptions of the various locations we frequent.
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Florida State Park System
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"Geographically, Florida is a large state with up to 150 park
areas that can provide you with quality recreational experiences.
Swimming, camping, hiking, fishing, or simply reflecting on
Florida's natural and cultural resources are but a few of the
great opportunities available in Florida State Parks. This
homepage is your passport to our parks. You can access this
information by geographic location, recreational activities
provided from park to park, calendar of events, or an
alphabetical listing of all parks. We hope that you will
become one of the nearly 14,000,000 people that visit Florida's
state parks each year."
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Myakka River State Park
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"Florida's Largest State Park: Over 45 square miles of woodlands, wetlands
and prairie invite you to explore by foot, bicycle, canoe or auto. The
park is famous for its abundant wildlife and quiet, scenic beauty. Be
sure to stop by the visitor center to watch the Myakka Movies and
discover how the park is restoring one of our country's rarest
communities--Florida dry prairie. Spend a day or camp overnight in
the campgrounds or in one of the log cabins built by the men of the
Civilian Conservation Corps. The Myakka "Wild and Scenic River" flows
through the western portion of the park and its two lakes and floodplain
marshes are a haven for wading birds and waterfowl. The scenic drive
winds through shady hammocks, verdant marshes and along the Upper
Myakka Lakeshore. Airboat tours, tram rides, and ranger-led walks
provide insight into one of Florida's last remaining wildernesses."
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Withlacoochee State Trail
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"The Withlacoochee State Trail currently consists of a 46-mile paved
stretch of railroad right-of-way that has been converted to a
recreation area suitable for hiking, biking, and horse riding enthusiasts."
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Lovers Key / Carl E. Johnson State Recreation Area
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"Made up of Black Island, Lovers Key, Inner and Long Key, this
712-acre area features canals and tidal lagoons fringed with
mangroves, which support an array of fish and other aquatic
animals. Although the park has been disturbed in the past by
dredge and fill activities and the invasion of non-native
plants, today the area provides habitat for numerous animals."
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Oscar Scherer State Park
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"Along with the wildlife easily observed at Oscar Scherer State
Park, there are a number of recreational activities available.
A small freshwater lake provides visitors with a perfect location
for swimming. Fishing is enjoyed in South Creek with freshwater
species found above the dam and saltwater species found below
the dam. A Florida freshwater fishing license is required for
all persons 16 years of age or older. A saltwater license may
be required. See a park ranger for specific license requirements.
Visitors with a sense of adventure will find South Creek ideal
for canoeing. Canoes may be rented at the ranger station. You
may want to join a park ranger for a guided canoe program and
learn more about the park's history and plant and animal life.
Campsites are available for tent or RV camping with complete
hook-ups for electric and water. The park also has a primitive
youth camping area available. Trails wind through natural areas
of the park providing the visitors with a close look at the
different varieties of plants and many wildlife species. Park
rangers give guided walks and campfire programs according to
seasonal demand. Oscar Scherer State Park is the only park in
the state with a totally ADA accessible nature trail. The
Lester Finley Trail was named after the late Mr. Finley a
park volunteer who was blind. Mr. Finley spent many hours
working in the park helping to manage the resources, clean
trails, and any other task assigned to him. Much of the trail
is a result of volunteer labor from local residents and local
school children who worked together to create this trail for
everyone to enjoy."
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Collier Seminole State Park
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"Tent and RV camping is available at Collier-Seminole State Park.
Fishing, boating and canoeing are popular activities at the park
where the Blackwater River flows through the park allowing
access to the Ten Thousand Islands and the Gulf of Mexico. A
6.5-mile hiking trail winds through pine flatwoods and cypress
swamp, allowing visitors to observe the great variety of vegetation
and wildlife found at the park. A self-guided nature trail
featuring a boardwalk system and observation platform overlooking
the salt marsh is also available. Additional exhibits of plants
and wildlife may be seen in the park's Interpretive Center."
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Highlands Hammock State Park
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"Webster's defines hammock as 'a fertile area in the southern U.S.
and especially Florida, that is usually higher than its surroundings
and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich
soil.' True enough. But visitors to Highlands Hammock State Park
know exactly what it means -- 'Beautiful!.'"
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Ocala National Forest
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"Deep in the heart of central Florida, away from the bustle of attractions and
congestion of retirement regions, lies an unspoiled area spanning 3 counties
and covering over 380,000 acres.Nestled between two rivers, the mighty
St.Johns River on the east and the Oklawaha on the west, the Ocala National
forest is the southernmost national forest in the USA. It is also the last
major Sand Pine community left in Florida."
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This page was last modified 1/29/00 00:43.
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