FLORIDA STATE PARKS

For the past six years or so, I’ve undertaken an effort to visit each of Florida’s 175 state parks. I travel across the state a lot for work, and despite having lived in Florida all my life, I’ve never been to many of these places. Although I was derailed to a degree by the pandemic, I’m now about halfway through. Some observations:

·         Some of the parks are clearly land donated to the state that’s now been turned into a passive park. (Absolutely nothing wrong with that, and in some ways it’s almost better, as the natural areas aren’t overrun with people or activities).

·         Other parks are expansive and impressive. Some favorites: Tomoka (the area of the state where natural palm trees meet oaks has to be one of the prettiest in the country), Lake Kissimmee, Anastasia (try this when they open at 8AM—huge, mostly empty, gorgeous beach).

·         For a time, I tried to swim in every state park spring (there are many of them, and they’re great!). Despite the occasional down moments (the time a kid yelled: “Mom, look at that old man swimming” at Fanning Springs; the two failed efforts to get into Gilchrist Blue Springs because it was so crowded), it’s a lot of fun. A few favorites: Lafayette Blue Springs, Wekiwa Springs, Manatee Springs.

·         I’ll provide no comment on the State of Florida’s aborted effort to add golf courses, pickleball courts, etc. to some of these parks, other than to say that in some cases it can work (try the bike trails at Alafia River). On the other hand, most of the beauty of the parks is that they are a last preserve of nature against development. I don’t see that Florida needs more golf courses.

It's a beautiful state.