Really Florida!

Posts Tagged ‘Florida Parks’

As I mentioned in the previous post, I thought I’d put up some Florida vacation ideas.  (Here’s the vacation ideas part 1 if you missed it.)

Park It (And I Don’t Mean Theme Park)

The Florida parks are the unsung heros of the Sunshine State. From State Parks like Grayton Beach in the Panhandle to National Parks like the Everglades, it’s a side of Florida that all too many people never see.

This photo was taken in Everglades National Park, at the Shark Valley entrance.  This is one park that can almost pass for an attraction, it’s so neat!  Plus there’s the awesome tram tour, which is not to be missed.

For example, there are caves in Florida where you can take a tour.  They may not exactly be Mammoth Cave, but Florida Caverns is worth a trip to the Panhandle to see.

There are two parks that are almost entirely underwater — Biscayne and Pennekamp in the Florida Keys are.  Both of these parks offer glass bottom boat tours of the only living coral reef in the continental United States.

There are state parks like MacArthur Beach where you may be almost alone on a gorgeous stretch of sand and sea.  I don’t know why, but the beach has been almost empty every time I’ve gone; if you like a quiet Florida beach, it may be for you.

If you love camping, there are places for beach camping in the summer (the sea breezes help keep the mosquitoes away) and more inland the rest of the year.  Spring and Fall are especially nice for Florida camping!

Before I forget, here’s something else to consider; Florida parks are great for your wallet.  The entrance fees are small, and even if you rent boats or take a tour, it’s far, far less than the cost of one of the major theme parks!

I hope I’ve given you some Florida vacation ideas.  In the meanwhile, here is a list of some interesting Florida parks — there should be one in your area.

If you’ve been thinking about a trip to Florida’s Everglades National Park, go soon, before the rainy season comes. Not because you might get rained out during the wet season, but because of a 4-letter word that strikes terror into Floridians’ hearts.

B-U-G-S.

More specifically, mosquitoes that will pick you up and fly away with you. Okay, maybe not, but they will plague you until you wish you were somewhere else.

Everglades National Park is a really neat place to visit, especially in the cooler, drier months like now. It’s full of all kinds of wildlife, especially the Shark Valley entrance on the north side of the park. If you go to Shark Valley, make sure you take the tram ride tour. It’s about 2 hours long and covers about 15 miles of parkland. It’s very popular, though, so get your tickets when you walk into the park.

The Florida Everglades are truly unique, and it’s not until you actually visit that you realize how beautiful, and how fragile, this glorious piece of Florida is.