Florida State Parks & Recreation

Apart from miles of beaches, sun and innumerable shopping opportunities, Florida also has many beautiful (state) parks and recreational areas where you can take long hikes to discover local plant and animal life. Did you ever watch a real alligator or see one of the gentle manatees up close?

Then maybe it's about time that you do!

Below you will find information on some of the best recreation areas and state parks.

Cape Coral Rotary Park Cape Coral Rotary Park is located at 5505 Rose Garden Road off of Cape Coral Parkway. This park provides an insight into the world of mangrove swamps and is the perfect destination for a romantic w...

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State-Recreation Area Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area is located on a promontory in the northern part of Naples. Florida state recreation areas usually include a number of amenities, like wooden picnic table...

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park The Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is home to one of the world's largest and deepest freshwater springs. The springs are the origin of the Wakulla River, which meanders south through cypr...

Everglades: Shark Valley If you have always wanted to see an alligator, there's a good chance that you'll see one in Shark Valley in the Everglades National Park. The entrance of the well-maintained park is located at Hig...

Everglades: The Trails-from Homestead to Flamingo The Ernest Coe Visitor Center is located at Homestead, right at the main entrance to the Everglades National Park. The Center's educational displays offer lots of useful information about the Everg...

Fort Myers Manatee Park The Manatee Park in Fort Myers is a great place to watch manatees in their natural habitat. The park is situated close to a power plant that keeps the waters at a pleasantly mild temperature for the manatees in the cooler months from November to March. The early morning hours are the best time for watching manatees in the canal. The friendly park rangers, who always enjoy chatting with visitors...

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Visitors who spent several days in Key West and would like to escape the hustle and bustle of Duval Street to spend a comfortable day at the beach can enjoy a tranquil and relaxing visit to the beautiful Caribbean-style beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Those who would like to experience real manatees up close, should venture to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The park takes in abandoned or injured manatees and nurtures them ...

J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island was founded as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1945. In 1967, it was renamed in honor of Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, who became pres...

Stump Pass Beach State Park If you are looking for a beautiful beach or park off the beaten track, Stump Pass Beach State Park is right for you. This small promontory constitutes the southern end of Manasota Key in Englewood....