Florida State Parks
Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins
The Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park is a 6-acre Florida state park in Old Homosassa containing the partial remains of a 5,000-acre antebellum plantation. Owned by David Levy Yulee, Florida’s first U.S. Senator, the steam-driven mill used slave labor to supply sugar and molasses to Confederate troops during the Civil War. It is the second smallest Florida state park.
Wild Horses in Florida? You Bet!
Do you want a good chance to view wild horses (and bison!)? Just visit Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Micanopy, just outside Gainesville! What a sight!
Blue Spring Manatees
There is one bright spot to the frigid cold that has engulfed Central Florida during the winter of 2026. Hundreds of manatees can be viewed at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City!
Big Talbot Island State Park
We finally made it to Big Talbot Island State Park and wandered around Boneyard Beach. As you can see, it’s a fascinating place – highly recommended!
Fort Zachary Taylor
We rode bikes to one of our favorite Key West spots, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Normally we just relax on the beach, snorkel and swim to the rocks. However, this time I decided to take a self-guided tour of the actual fort itself. Very rewarding!
Bahia Honda State Park
After years of driving past Bahia Honda State Park on the way to Key West, we finally budgeted some time to stop for an hour or so and wander around. It’s a very cool place, especially if you have any interest in Florida history. For example, the highlight of our visit was standing atop the Bahia Honda Rail Bridge (a remnant of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway) for a magnificent view of the entire state park and surrounding waters. It also seems like an ideal spot for camping, swimming, picnicking or just relaxing on the beach. We’ll definitely be back soon!
Lovers Key State Park
Last Saturday we enjoyed the opportunity to explore scenic Lovers Key State Park (full name: Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Park), which lies just south of Fort Myers Beach. The 1,616-acre Lovers Key State Park encompasses the barrier islands of Lovers Key, Inner Key, Black Island and Long Key. Highlights of Lovers Key State Park include 2.5 miles of white sandy beaches with some of the best shelling Southwest Florida, as well as hiking and biking trails, kayaking and canoeing opportunities, a boat ramp, saltwater fishing, wildlife viewing (we saw two gopher tortoises) and a beachside concession stand. A free tram service runs from the first parking area to the south beach. We’ll definitely be back soon!
Colt Creek State Park
Encompassing more than 5,000 acres, Colt Creek State Park within the Green Swamp just north of Lakeland features “large strands of vulnerable longleaf flatwoods, lakes and winding creeks, thick cypress domes and open vistas.” It is home to an abundance of wildlife such as white-tailed deer, American alligators, otters, gopher tortoises, Sherman’s fox squirrels, bobcats, bald eagles and wading birds. Florida black bears have been spotted here as well. Highlights of Colt Creek State Park include 15 miles of multiuse trails and the short but scenic 0.25-mile Mac Lake Nature Trail, as well as pavilions, picnic tables, a 75-foot dock, canoe and kayak rentals, and campsites for tent/RV, primitive and group camping. A relatively new addition to the Florida State Park System, Colt Creek State Park first opened in 2007.
