Sun-Soaked Treasures
The search for tropical bliss ends right here in Florida. Most tourists skip these state parks, leaving their beauty untouched. Secluded beaches and islands make all of them a secret paradise.
Fort Clinch State Park
History buffs might initially visit Fort Clinch for its well-preserved 19th-century fortress, but they stay for the Caribbean-worthy beaches surrounding it. Fort Clinch State Park is a 1,400-acre area on the northern tip of Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Fort Clinch State Park (Cont).
Individuals can enjoy hiking on several trails, such as a 4.8-mile beach walk and a 5.7-mile multi-use trail. Other activities include pier fishing, surfcasting, swimming, sunbathing, bicycling, birding, and wildlife viewing. The park also hosts living history re-enactments of Civil War-era military life.
Caladesi Island State Park
Only accessible by boat or ferry, Caladesi Island feels like stepping onto a private Caribbean getaway. The park has a 2.5-mile nature trail that passes through slash-pine forests and the historic Scharrer Homestead. Wildlife thrives here, with sea turtles nesting along the shoreline.
Caladesi Island State Park (Cont).
What makes Caladesi truly special is its isolation. The park is across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin and north of Clearwater Beach. Here, you will find a marina, picnic pavilions, bathhouses, a concession stand (Cafe Caladesi), and a three-mile nature trail.
Cayo Costa State Park
The warm, crystal-clear waters surrounding Cayo Costa offer some of Florida's best snorkeling opportunities. This remote island is accessible only by boat or private ferry and is located directly south of Boca Grande (Gasparilla Island) and north of North Captiva Island.
James St. John, Wikimedia Commons
Cayo Costa State Park (Cont).
The park displays nine miles of beautiful beaches, acres of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks, and mangrove swamps. It is said that the Calusa Native Americans once inhabited this island, which Cuban fishermen later used for fishing operations.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrea_pauline/, Wikimedia Commons
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Kayaking down the tea-colored Loxahatchee River through cypress swamps feels like an adventure out of a tropical jungle. While Jonathan Dickinson State Park doesn't feature traditional beaches, its diverse ecosystems give an equally impressive natural experience.
Stephen B Calvert Clariosophic, Wikimedia Commons
Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Cont).
Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a huge 10,500-acre park in Florida, sitting in Martin County, right between Hobe Sound and Tequesta. There are two full-facility campgrounds and a primitive campground in the park, as well as the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center.
Stephen B Calvert Clariosophic, Wikimedia Commons
Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Cont).
Historically, the park got its name from Jonathan Dickinson, a Quaker merchant who was shipwrecked in 1696. It was also the site of Camp Murphy, a US Army radar training school during WWII. The park supports about 150 species of birds, deer, raccoons, and alligators.
Stephen B Calvert Clariosophic, Wikimedia Commons
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
This spot was established in 1967 and is named after T H Stone, a respected community leader in Gulf County. As per reports, it was initially developed under the Land Acquisition Trust Fund program. The Bayview Trail is a popular hike here.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (Cont).
Some of the nicest beaches in the United States can be found at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, about 21 miles from Port St. Joe. It functions as a vital habitat for many endangered creatures, like the snowy plover and the St. Andrews beach mouse.
Little Talbot Island State Park
Little Talbot Island preserves one of the few undeveloped barrier islands along Florida's northeast coast. It is situated on State Road A1A and is accessible via Heckscher Drive. The park is usually open from 8 a.m. to sunset and provides wheelchair-accessible entrances.
Little Talbot Island State Park (Cont).
This park was established in 1951. Its highlights include beachside picnic pavilions, bathhouses, a nature trail, a playground, a youth/group tent campground, a full-facility campground, and a small boat ramp. The campground also offers boat and bicycle rentals.
Biscayne National Park
Situated in Miami-Dade County, Florida, around 21 miles south of Miami, Biscayne National Park is a must-visit spot. It is characterized by various marine ecosystems, such as a mainland mangrove shoreline, mangrove forests, coral reefs, and Biscayne Bay's shallow seas.
Fredlyfish4, Wikimedia Commons
Biscayne National Park (Cont).
Certain islands offer camping options and opportunities for fishing, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, and nature observation. Over 10,000 years of human history are preserved in Biscayne National Park, which was renamed a national park in 1980 after being established as a national monument in 1968.
Gary Bremen Park Images for Media Use, Wikimedia Commons
Myakka River State Park
One of Florida's biggest and oldest state parks, Myakka is just outside Sarasota and covers 37,000 acres of wetlands, prairies, and pinelands. In addition to a 74-foot observation tower, the park has picnic spaces, barbeque grills, public restrooms, and a canopy walkway.
Mx. Granger, Wikimedia Commons
Myakka River State Park (Cont).
The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the park in the 1930s. The family of Bertha Palmer donated a section of the park. It experiences a subtropical climate with mild winters and warm summers, with a mean temperature range of approximately 50°F to 92°F.
Anastasia State Park
St. Augustine, the earliest continuously occupied European settlement in continental America, was founded in 1565 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Menendez de Aviles. It is closely linked to the rich cultural and historical legacy of Anastasia State Park, which was set up in 1949.
Anastasia State Park (Cont).
One of the park's historical features is the Old Spanish Coquina Quarries. These quarries were used to extract coquina rock, a sedimentary rock composed of shells and sand, which was used in constructing the Castillo de San Marcos. The quarries date back to the 1700s.
Anastasia State Park (Cont).
Anastasia State Park was then acquired by the state of Florida in 1949 from the US War Assets Administration. The place has picnic tables, BBQ grills, public restrooms, and a campground with 139 spots for RVs and tents. Plus, there’s a beach shop.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
This Gulf Coast beauty takes its name from the massive dunes that once resembled the topsails of ships. What makes this park extraordinary is its collection of rare coastal dune lakes. The freshwater bodies occasionally connect to the Gulf.
Skye Marthaler, Wikimedia Commons
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park (Cont).
Nature enthusiasts can explore 15 natural communities within the park's boundaries, from pine flatwoods to wet prairies, each supporting different plant and animal species. This park's history goes back to Native Americans' use of the land for fishing and hunting.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park by 30A
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Wekiwa Springs is celebrated for its scenery and varied ecosystems, which encompass tropical hammocks and sandhill uplands. Here, visitors can find canoe and kayak rentals, bike rentals, and a famous dining option known as The Watering Hole.
The original uploader was Mwanner at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons
Wekiwa Springs State Park (Cont).
About an hour north of the Disney region, in Apopka, Florida, is Wekiwa Springs State Park. It is a 7,000-acre area with admission fees of $6 per vehicle (up to eight passengers), $4 for single-occupant vehicles, and $2 for bikers or walkers.
