Enjoying Florida’s Public Lands

Fortunate to live in a state bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one coast and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, Floridians also get to enjoy all the natural treasures in the middle.

Florida’s 161 state parks provide just under 700,000 acres of sheer enjoyment for guests of all ages and recreational preferences. There are coastal parks where beachgoers can choose from swimming, surfing, fishing, boating or just being a sand potato.

Historical parks intrigue the history buffs, educate children about their heritage and provide an insight into life before modern day conveniences became almost compulsory.

Spring parks seem to hold secrets in the deep caves that lie below the sparkling water. Visitors can delight in the cool, crisp waters while watching the unique wildlife that congregate on the banks and amongst the native plants and forested woodlands.

Many parks provide the ideal getaway for those looking to escape the normalcy of home life and take in the great outdoors through a variety of camping options ranging from beautiful, modern-day cabins, tent camping with a few certain necessities, or primitive camping bedding down in sleeping bags under a starlit sky.

From the Panhandle to the Keys, Florida’s trails offer even more opportunities to get out and explore, exercise or expand ones horizons amidst the thousands of acres of greenways, blueways and railway corridors of yore. Eight state trails, the Cross Florida Greenway, the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail and the Florida National Scenic Trail provide hikers, bicyclists, skaters, equestrians and paddlers a variety of outdoor experiences.

There are more than one million acres of public lands that remain protected and undeveloped as a result of Florida’s outstanding land conservation programs. Since the 1960s there has been some sort of program in place to protect Florida’s unique natural resources. National landmarks have been preserved as state parks thanks to these programs – places like Silver Springs, Paynes Prairie, Crystal River and the spectacular underwater world of John Pennekamp Coral Reef.

Floridians can be proud to live in a state that not only leads the nation in land conservation, but also offers some of the best eco-adventure opportunities found anywhere in the world.