Florida State Parks @FLStateParks

Experience the serenity of Silver Springs! 🚣 The crystal‑clear water gives you a window into the world below, where fish, turtles and aquatic plants drift through the spring and run beneath your kayak or canoe. The calm flow of the river and the clarity of the springs make this a peaceful, immersive way to experience #TheRealFlorida. *** 📍: Silver Springs State Park 📸: @Otterpaddleorlando 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #SilverSprings #LoveFL

Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park is one of Florida’s most historic Civil War sites. At the center of the park is the battle monument, a stone memorial honoring those who fought and died in the conflict. Today, the park offers shaded trails, picnic areas and annual reenactments each March. It’s a peaceful place to reflect on Florida’s history, the unique natural bridge formation and the events that shaped the region. *** 📍: Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park 📸: Courtesy of Florida Memory, 1957 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . @America250FL . #FLStateParks #NaturalBridge #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL #America250FL

Bald Point State Park is a dream for trail lovers, offering miles of peaceful paths through some of Florida’s most diverse coastal habitats. With 18 miles of multi‑use hiking and biking trails, the park’s five trailheads lead you through landscapes that support more than 360 plant species and 230 animal species. Seasonal wildflowers brighten the routes, and it’s one of the top stops on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. *** 📍: Bald Point State Park 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #BaldPoint #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

Standing at the southern tip of Gasparilla Island, the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse has been guiding ships into Charlotte Harbor since 1890. One of only a handful of lighthouses open to the public in Florida, this historic light once helped early phosphate vessels navigate Boca Grande Pass. Whether you’re here for the history, the beaches or the views, the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is the heart of Gasparilla Island’s past and one of its most iconic sights. *** 📍: Gasparilla Island State Park 📸: Courtesy of Florida Memory, circa 1900 💡: Plan your historic encounter at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . @America250FL . #FLStateParks #GasparillaIsland #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL #America250FL

Today is nature photography day! Curry Hammock State Park is a peaceful slice of #TheRealFlorida along the Florida Keys. The shoreline here is calm and shallow, perfect for paddling. Kayakers and paddleboarders can slip into quiet coves, explore winding mangrove tunnels and watch stingrays, fish and wading birds move through the clear water. Steady ocean breezes make Curry Hammock a favorite spot for kiteboarders, who color the sky on windy days. On land, visitors can enjoy shaded picnic areas, a sandy beach and a short nature trail that winds through the tropical hammock. *** 📍: Curry Hammock State Park 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #CurryHammock #LoveFL

Today is Flag Day! We proudly fly the American flag at Florida State Parks, and in celebration of @America250FL, our beach parks now feature a new flag to honor the historic nature of Florida and the lands that have supported our communities for generations. *** 📍: St. Andrews State Park 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #America250FL #FlagDay

The Florida Wildlife Corridor comes to life at Blackwater River State Park! Stretching from the Panhandle down to the Everglades, the Florida Wildlife Corridor links millions of acres of forests, rivers and wetlands so wildlife can move freely across the state. Blackwater River State Park is one of those essential pieces, protecting longleaf pine forests, rare plants and the sand‑bottom river that so many species rely on. *** 📍: Blackwater River State Park 📸: IG airstreamists 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #BlackwaterRiver #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

Ready to spend a night under the stars? 🌟 June is National Camping Month and Florida State Parks are perfect places to celebrate, even if you prefer more comforts than the average adventurer. Glamping lets you enjoy Florida’s natural beauty without giving up cozy beds, electricity or air‑conditioning. Several of our parks offer elevated overnight stays that keep you close to the stars and the sounds of the wild. Book your stay today! *** 📍: Hillsborough River State Park 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #HillsboroughRiver #Glamping #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

Slip into a hidden slice of coastal paradise at Caladesi Island State Park. With calm water and winding mangrove tunnels, the paddling trail here is one of the most peaceful ways to explore Florida’s Gulf Coast. Whether you’re out for a relaxing paddle or an afternoon adventure, the island’s waterways deliver a perfect mix of serenity and scenery that keeps people coming back. 🌿🛶 *** 📍: Caladesi Island State Park 📸: IG melissabyous_photography 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #CaladesiIsland #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is one of the few places where you can spot free‑roaming bison and watch them graze across the prairie. From the La Chua Trail overlook, you might catch a glimpse of these massive, iconic animals moving through the grasslands. Bring your camera, keep a respectful distance and enjoy one of the most unique wildlife experiences in the state. *** 📍: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 📸: @captain_reefs_guide_services_ 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #PaynesPrairie #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL #PrairieDay

Highlands Hammock State Park offers a blend of history, rich ecosystems and timeless natural beauty. Boardwalks and shaded trails wind through old‑growth hammock and cypress swamp, giving you a close look at the park’s rich plant life and the wildlife that thrives within it. Sunlight filters through massive trees, and the sounds of birds and rustling leaves set the tone for a peaceful day outdoors. *** 📍: Highlands Hammock State Park 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #HighlandsHammock #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

Hontoon Island State Park has a history stretching back thousands of years. The Mayaca people lived here long before European contact, leaving behind shell middens and the remarkable owl totem discovered in the 1950s. By the 1970s, the land was protected as a Florida State Park, preserving its archaeological sites, riverfront landscape and deep cultural history for future visitors. *** 📍: Hontoon Island State Park 📸: Courtesy of Florida Memory, circa 1970 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . @America250FL . #FLStateParks #HontoonIsland #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL #America250FL

Homosassa Springs has been drawing people to its crystal‑clear waters for more than a century. In the 1940s, the site became a small roadside attraction, later expanding in 1964 as Homosassa Springs: Nature’s Own Attraction. Some of the first residents of the park were trained animals from TV and film, including Lu the hippo. Since becoming a state park, the site has served as a conservation hub and a refuge for imperiled and indigenous species. *** 📍: Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park 📸: Courtesy of Florida Memory, circa 1983,1964 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . @America250FL . #FLStateParks #HomosassaSprings #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL #America250FL

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The General James A. Van Fleet State Trail is one of Florida’s most peaceful paved trails. 🦉 Trekking the trail means passing through river swamp, pine flatwoods and open ranchland, with abundant wildlife along the way. Stretching 29 miles straight through the heart of the Green Swamp, this trail is a quiet, scenic escape into #TheRealFlorida. *** 📍: General James A. Van Fleet State Trail 📸: IG Id4shows 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #GeneralJamesAVanFleet #LoveFL #StateTrail

Florida Caverns State Park is one of the most unique places you can explore in Florida. These limestone caverns formed as acidic groundwater dissolved the ancient seabed, carving out winding passageways and vaulted rooms beneath the surface. Above ground, the park offers miles of multi‑use trails winding through hardwood forest and floodplain habitats, giving visitors a chance to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds the cave system. *** 📍: Florida Caverns State Park 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #FloridaCaverns #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

Now is a beautiful time to explore Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. 🌳 The formal gardens, home to azaleas, camellias, birds‑of‑paradise and the park’s beloved reflection ponds, are especially peaceful this time of year. Shaded by the park’s picturesque oak hammock, the garden paths offer a cool, quiet escape as spring shifts toward summer. *** 📍: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park 📸: IG Alwayskul 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #WashingtonOaksGardens #LoveFL #TheRealFlorida

Crystal River Archaeological State Park is one of Florida’s most remarkable ancient sites with a 61‑acre complex of temple mounds, burial mounds and plazas built by Native Americans more than 2,500 years ago. It’s a quiet, powerful place offering sweeping views of the Crystal River and a rare window into Florida’s deep Indigenous past. *** 📍: Crystal River Archaeological State Park 📸: IG melissabyous_photography 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . @America250FL . #FLStateParks #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

Lake Kissimmee State Park is rooted in Florida’s cattle‑ranching past. During the Civil War, the land around the lakes supported herds that supplied war efforts and fueled early trade with Cuba. The park preserves the legacy of Florida’s early “cow hunters” with the 1876-era Cow Camp, a living‑history exhibit that shows how frontier cattlemen lived and worked as they moved herds across the state. This tradition reflects a cattle culture that predates even Texas, rooted in the wild cracker cattle descended from Spanish herds brought to Florida in the 1500s. *** Lake Kissimmee State Park Photo: Courtesy of Florida Memory, circa 1950 Plan your historic encounter at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . @FLStateParks

At Silver Springs State Park, bird‑watching is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the beauty of #TheRealFlorida. Visitors can often spot limpkin and a variety of wading birds along the river. In the park's upland habitats, you may also see wild turkey, bobwhite quail, hairy woodpeckers, American kestrels and seasonal migrating songbirds. *** 📍: Silver Springs State Park 📸: IG Captured.by.karl 💡: Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information. . . #FLStateParks #SilverSprings #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL

This Memorial Day, Florida State Parks honors the service members who gave their lives in defense of our nation. Across our parks, visitors can find quiet, beautiful spaces to reflect, remember and appreciate the sacrifices made to protect our nation and the natural spaces within. *** 📍: Fort Clinch State Park . . #FLStateParks #TheRealFlorida #LoveFL #America250FL