Welcome to Travel Tidings Florida’s pages on PARKS in Florida – While it is well known for the glitz and glamour of roller coasters and palm trees, it should not be forgotten that Florida has millions of acres of undeveloped public land on which there are state parks, national forests, wildlife refuges and preserves. Among the canopy roads, scenic highways, historic districts and national parks they are waiting to be discovered. Scroll down through the regions below to find park destinations in the area you are interested in...

Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in the country with 159 parks spanning more than 723,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach. From swimming and diving in Florida’s rivers and springs to birding and fishing or hiking and riding on natural scenic trails, Florida’s state parks offer year-around outdoor activities for all ages. There are 11 National Parks in the Sunshine State.

PARKS OF NORTH WEST FLORIDA Gulf Islands National Seashore Navarra Beach Navarre Beach is home to Gulf Islands National Seashore which offers nature lovers eight miles of federally protected, undeveloped shoreline – the longest continuous stretch of protected beach in Northwest Florida, perfect for sun seekers, birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts. Tucked away in a corner of Northwest Florida, far from crowded theme parks and packed beaches, the small beach community of Navarre offers solitude and simplicity for nature lovers. [Navarre Hotels] PARKS OF NORTH EAST FLORIDA Castillo De San Marcos National Monument St. Augustine As the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine amazes visitors with its ancient cobblestone streets and its quaint cafes. A host of historical landmarks and attractions, such as the 310-year-old Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, allow the kids to travel back to the early Spanish empire in the New World. Castillo de San Marcos (1695) was never conquered and endures as the nation's oldest and only remaining 17th-century stone fort. It was one of the two national monuments which remain as guardians over the area of St. Augustine.[Saint Augustine Hotels] Fort Matanzas National Monument St. Augustine The other national monument which kept watch over the St. Augustine area is a small Spanish tower named Fort Matanzas (1742) which once protected the inlet from pirates and British vessels approaching St. Augustine from the south. The masonry (coquina) watchtower 14 miles south of St. Augustine on Matanzas Inlet was built by the Spanish in 1740-42 to protect the "back door" to the city.[Saint Augustine Hotels] Fort Caroline National Memorial Jacksonville This park in Jacksonville memorializes the 16th century French effort to establish a permanent colony in Florida. The site includes a near full-scale rendering of the fort, a nature trail, and visitor center. The stimulating exhibits in the visitor center provide a real-life glimpse of the French colony, their interaction with the native Timucua and the colonists' brief struggle for survival. [Jacksonville Hotels] Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve Jacksonville The 46,000 acre Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve is one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast. The Fort Caroline National Memorial is located in the Timucuan Preserve; so is the Kingsley Plantation, a 19th Century sea-island cotton plantation which provides visitors with a view of plantation life. Exhibits include the planter's house, barn, slave quarters, and a small interpretive garden with crops typical of the period. The Theodore Roosevelt and Cedar Point areas provide visitors with access to the marine estuarine environment and surrounding coastal forest. Activities include hiking, photography, fishing, birding, and boating.[Jacksonville Hotels] PARKS OF CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA Canaveral National Seashore Titusville Between New Smyrna beach and Titusville on Florida's Space Coast, some 27 miles of undeveloped barrier island provide the pristine Atlantic beaches of Playalinda, Klondike and Apollo. Inland are the dune, marsh, and lagoon habitats for a tremendous variety of wildlife. It is a major destination for bird lovers. The beaches are known worldwide for excellent surfing. This is part of the largest sea turtle nesting area in the United States. More than 6,000 loggerheads, green seas and leatherbacks lay up to 600 eggs each on Brevard beaches from May - August. [Titusville Hotels] PARKS OF SOUTH WEST FLORIDA Big Cypress National Preserve Ochopee This 729,000-acre plot of land is home to cypress trees, ghost orchids and the endangered Florida panther. During the winter, visitors can enjoy wet-walks, canoe trips, bicycle tours and campfire programs. The preserve offers an exciting outdoor adventure for anyone interested in experiencing the untamed wonders of Florida. [Naples Hotels] [Miami Hotels] De Soto National Memorial Bradenton History buffs enjoy the Desoto National Memorial at Bradenton which commemorates Hernando Desoto’s historic landing in Florida and his extraordinary four year, 4,000-mile expedition through what is now the Southern United States. Living History programs are conducted daily from mid-December through mid-April and National Park Rangers in historic costumes present different aspects of DeSoto’s expedition. The Visitor Center includes displays of the park museum's collection of armor, weapons, and related period items. A Nature Trail winds along the shoreline and through several Florida ecosystems including a mangrove forest like the one de Soto's men would have encountered.[Bradenton Hotels] PARKS OF SOUTH EAST FLORIDA Biscayne National Park Homestead A 53-foot glass-bottom boat and a 45-foot diving and snorkeling catamaran takes adventurers across southern Biscayne Bay, through wilderness, mangrove creeks, islands, and out to tropical coral reefs teeming with sea life. Family snorkeling and scuba diving is available from the boat. Canoe and kayak rentals, picnic area, walking trails, fishing, camping and shower facilities are available. [Homestead Hotels] Dry Tortugas National Park Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, and its legends of pirates and sunken gold. Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts ever built, is a central feature. [Key West Hotels] Everglades National Park Covering 1.5 million acres, Everglades National Park is the third largest in the U.S. National Parks system. Made up of sawgrass prairies, mangrove swamps, subtropical jungles and the warm waters of Florida Bay, the park is home to a rare community of plants and endangered animals that inhabit the seemingly endless grassy waters. Visitors to the park can enjoy self-guided and ranger-led tours and activities from the Main Visitor Center at the Park's entrance, or journey deeper into the Everglades for a more extensive experience in the Florida wilderness. Hit the trails and catch a glimpse of threatened and endangered species such as the Loggerhead Turtle, Southern Bald Eagle, American Crocodile and the West Indian Manatee in their natural habitat.[Homestead Hotels]

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About Us: Travel Tidings Florida features vacation travel information for the cities and regions of Pensacola, Destin/Ft Walton Beach, Seaside/Beaches of South Walton , Panama City Beach , Marianna , Apalachicola/Port St. Joe , Tallahassee , Live Oak/Lake City , Cedar Key/Steinhatchee, Jacksonville/Amelia Island, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Flagler Beach/Palm Coast, Crystal River, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Tampa, Ocala, Orlando/Kissimmee, Lakeland,Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, Fort Pierce/Vero Beach, Sarasota/Bradenton, Charlotte Harbor, Fort Myers/Sanibel, Naples/Marco Island, Sebring/Arcadia, Florida Keys & Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Lake Okeechobee, Miami, and Palm Beach and more than 500 destinations throughout the state of Florida.  Activities, entertainment and speciality interestes include everything from romantic getaways, spas and secluded parks to family themeparks and holiday resorts, busy places popular for adventure, sports and surfing. General topics covered include dining, lodging, shopping, travel accommodations, attractions, hotels and more. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information at info@traveltidingsflorida.com!