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The Florida Camping Scene
from: Maxx Adventure TravelWhat's great about camping in Florida is that it can be done year-around since this state is blessed with warm, humid summers and mild, dry winters. The subtropical coastal, uplands, marine and freshwater ecosystems provides many opportunities to participate in camping, fishing, boating, hiking and wildlife viewing. You'll also discover that many of the federal and state parks in Florida provide heritage and cultural resources as well.
Whether your preference are for a summer tent or a well-ventilated three-season tent, the richness of the state's national forests, parks and seashores will allow you close contact with plant and animal species unique to this area.
State Parks
The state Division of Recreation and Parks administers some 723,000 acres that includes 159 parks, with many offering great camping sites. You can participate in swiming and scuba diving at the nation's first underwater park, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef, north of Key Largo. Or you might decide to explore the wooded trails at the Alafia River State Park southeast of Tampa.
Another option is to go swimming or searching for wildlife at the pine flatwoods of Big Lagoon southwest of Pensacola or amongst the islands of Curry Hammock between Little Crawl Key and Long Key.
National Forests
The Apalachicola (Tallahassee), Osceola (Lake City), and Ocala (Silver Springs) National Forests provides 1.2 million acres of longleaf, slash, sand and loblolly pine forests mixed with savannahs, swamps and bogs. Some of the developed campgrounds will require that you book a reservation, but most are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If a Florida camping adventure is what you're looking for, you can pitch your tent just about anywhere within national forest boundaries except during the hunting seasons.
National Parks and Seashores
Camping in Florida is permitted at 7 units of the National Park System. The map and links at http://home.nps.gov/applications/parksearch/state.cfm?st=fl provide directions, operating hours, fee and permit details, and habitat and recreational information for the following:
* Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee
* Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville
* Gulf Islands National Seashore, Gulf Breeze
* Dry Tortugas National Park, Key West
* Biscayne National Park, Key Biscayne
* Everglades National Park, Miami
* Timucuan Preserve, Jacksonville
If you're planning a camping adventure in Florida, you can expect everything from hiking to habitats and recreation to wildlife. Be on the lookout for Manatees, American Crocodiles and the Florida Panther to be found in the Everglades National Park, which is the nation's largest subtropical wilderness area. The adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve provides hiking, camping and wildlife as well.
If you've never explored the coral reefs or taken a seaplane or boat to the islands of the Dry Tortugas National Park then you're in for a treat. Gulf Islands National Seashore is great for swimming, snorkelling, fishing, and boating as well as exploring the old coastal fortifications at Fort Barrancas, Fort Pickens, Fort McRee, the batteries, and the advanced redoubt. While camping at the Canaveral National Seashore, don't forget to tour the facilities at the Kennedy Space Center.
Thought sudden shower are going to be part of your Florida experience in the "Sunshine State," your main equipment is definitely going to be sunglasses, sunscreen, bathing suit, swim fins and mask in addition to your camping equipment.
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