If hiking, camping, swimming and fishing are on your list for outdoor fun, then look to Florida’s state parks for the best places where your family and friends can play.
It’s a great time to plan an adventure at a Florida State Park.
There are lots of opportunities for enjoying fresh air, Florida’s famous sunshine and maybe even a splash in a cool freshwater spring, the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean. No matter where you live or vacation, you’ll find a state park within an hour’s drive.
Here are four activities you can enjoy:
- Hiking – Saturday, June 3, is National Trails Day. Strap on your hiking shoes and enjoy a hike on a nature trail. The American Hiking Society encourages hikers to also enjoy a day of service and advocacy. They suggest bringing along a bag so you can pick up litter as you walk the trail.
- Camping – Pack your tent and s’mores ingredients for a camping adventure. Find a campground, make your reservation, and prepare to enjoy sunrises, sunsets, campfires and a million stars.
- Swimming – Florida’s state parks offer fresh and/or saltwater for swimming. More than a dozen parks offer freshwater springs for swimming in 72-degree, crystal-clear waters. These parks are popular so go early, bring a picnic lunch and spend the day splashing about. Beaches are also popular around the state and are terrific for building sandcastles, collecting shells or walking the beach. Some of these parks also offer rentals of canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards. These activities are terrific ways to enjoy time outside.
- Fishing – Grab your fishing poles and tackle box and pick up some bait before heading out to find a new fishing spot. Many state parks offer shorelines on rivers, lakes, the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean. Some even offer piers. A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Wildlife Commission's Fishing in Florida.
With any outdoor activity, be mindful of the weather before heading out. In June, it could be hot, rainy or breezy, all depending upon where you are and what time you’re planning to be outside. Always bring drinking water, snacks for the little ones, sunscreen and bug spray.
Learn more about Great Outdoors Month.
