Florida state parks

16 years ago

Just to let everyone know, for the month of september you can get in free to any florida state park either by showing a public library card or by donating a book that is in good condition. This includes Homasassa State Wildlife Park which is a great place to see manetees up close right now and to see all there plants. I went there with my family the weekend before last and it was great time.

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Comments (9)

KaraLynn
Original Author
16 years ago
Here's a link to some pictures that I took while there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Homasassa Springs
maureen155
16 years ago
Nice pictures, Kara. It looks like you had a fun day.

I really enjoy visiting the Homosassa Park. It's only about 20 minutes from me and when I need a shot of nature, I go there.

Here are a couple of manatee shots I took from their underwater observatory last Spring.

Another of my favorite places is Rainbow Springs State Park, also just a short drive away.
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the_musicman
16 years ago
Cool!

my favorites are...
Ichetucknee Springs
Alafia Springs
and Honeymoon Island.

Ok, now I have to go hit up some parks...
Thanks for the tip, karalynn!!

oh, to anyone who's interested, you can check out the full list of state parks with this link right here...

Here is a link that might be useful: Florida State Parks
tropicalfreak
16 years ago
Blue Springs is a great one to go to if you live in Central Florida. The Manatees come in from the St John's River to the spring for the winter. Good place to take visiting relatives to see a part of "Old Florida". There is a old house to see there too.

Hugh Taylor Birch is a nice one here in Ft Lauderdale. On the intercoastal. Great place to bring food and watch the boats coming and going.

Tropcialfreak
manature
16 years ago
Thanks for reminding us to take advantage of our state's treasured places! I love DeLeon Springs for a cook-at-your-table pancake breakfast on cold mornings and a walk along the nature trail. Gemini Springs is 6 miles from my house, and it is a beautiful place to walk my dogs and see nature, too. And Wekiva Springs is my favorite in this area. Mark and I were married on the arched bridge there, with ospreys circling overhead and turtles sunning below us.

For camping, I like Alexander Springs and Juniper Springs, though Mark & I really prefer to backpack in somewhere more private. We can't do that right now with the problems they've been having in the Ocala Forest, so it's campgrounds all the way until they clean it up around there.

Our State Parks are treasures we should support in every way we can. We have many, usually centered around a body of water of some sort, and most are really beautiful. You can even get some good gardening ideas from them.

I've always wanted to go to Torreya in the panhandle area, but haven't made it there yet. Anyone been?

Great thread!

Marcia
wanda662
16 years ago
Anyone been to fish eatin creek lately? It's not like I remember when I was a kid but have fond memories of going with my Grandma and GrandPa and having fried fish lunch.
The springs are really nice! Been to Ichenatucknee, beautiful place!
Love everyones pictures!
manature
16 years ago
I haven't been to Fisheatin' Creek since I was about 12 years old! Would love to drive down there sometime. I caught a large GOLDEN shiner there once. Couldn't believe my eyes!

I tubed Ichatucknee years ago...FULLY CLOTHED! Jeans, long sleeved shirt...the works! That water was FREEZING! But it was a fun trip, though I wouldn't go down it again without my canoe for anything! It's a beautiful little river.

Marcia
AmberSky
16 years ago
Oh man, that's a trip in the "Way back machine!"

Fish Eating Creek was the family haunt when I was a kid, but the Lykes brothers were not happy with it's use and shut the main camp side down, then limited the Wilderness side to just pre-booked hunting groups. For a while, it is said, they tried to restrict canoing though, but were stopped from doing that. Still, when you canoe though, you are not welcome to stop.

Very sad!
guapogardener
16 years ago
I used to get the annual pass when I lived in Florida. I love seeing my old favorites pictured and listed here! I miss them while I'm in New York. Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes are gorgeous of course...but...

My favorites:
Rainbow Springs
Blue Spring
Sebastian Inlet
Honeymoon Island
Grayton Beach
Florida Caverns
Anastasia Island
Big Talbot Island
Fort Clinch
Washington Oaks