There are 15 State Parks to visit from Miami on the State Parks *One Tank Adventures" programme.
How to choose with limited time? Well, I would plump for the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park" first.
This park is set between the intra coastal waterways and the Atlantic Ocean. It once was the home of Hugh Taylor Birch in the 1940s and it is now the location of the visitor center. Try to visit on a friday and you can take part in a ranger led tour ; these start at 10. 30 and take in the coastal hammock. There is a tunnel under the AIA that leads you to the beach for a refreshing swim at the end of your visit.
Next for a traditional natural State Park called Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. A variety of different communities can be viewed while driving down the 11 miles of Janes Scenic Drive and it has earned the soubriquet of " The Amazon of Florida" This park encompasses some 20 miles by 5 miles of linear swamp and you can see the evidence of the old logging railway lines. The Parks department are putting a lot of effort into restoring the dmage done by the logging industry.
It is always nice to go to a park that is situated on a river and Oleta River State Park is one such. It is the largest urban park in Florida and you can fish, swim and walk here. However, it is mainly famous for its bike trails and you can hire a cycle from the concession owner to do just that. There are 10 miles of trails in all; roughly divide into 7 that are easier and the aother 3 for the experienced (and fitter)
The Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is situated in Islamorada. Best times to visit are from thursday to monday when you can join a ranger led tour which takes roughly one and a half hours (twice a day) The island was once the simple retreat of a well off chemist who was called William J Matheson. It was he who had the home built along with a windmill to provide electricity. His home is now the visitor center and this where to find out all about the man and his island. What makes this island extra special is that it is only accessed by boat; this service is provided by the parks concession holder.
How to choose with limited time? Well, I would plump for the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park" first.
This park is set between the intra coastal waterways and the Atlantic Ocean. It once was the home of Hugh Taylor Birch in the 1940s and it is now the location of the visitor center. Try to visit on a friday and you can take part in a ranger led tour ; these start at 10. 30 and take in the coastal hammock. There is a tunnel under the AIA that leads you to the beach for a refreshing swim at the end of your visit.
Next for a traditional natural State Park called Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. A variety of different communities can be viewed while driving down the 11 miles of Janes Scenic Drive and it has earned the soubriquet of " The Amazon of Florida" This park encompasses some 20 miles by 5 miles of linear swamp and you can see the evidence of the old logging railway lines. The Parks department are putting a lot of effort into restoring the dmage done by the logging industry.
It is always nice to go to a park that is situated on a river and Oleta River State Park is one such. It is the largest urban park in Florida and you can fish, swim and walk here. However, it is mainly famous for its bike trails and you can hire a cycle from the concession owner to do just that. There are 10 miles of trails in all; roughly divide into 7 that are easier and the aother 3 for the experienced (and fitter)
The Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is situated in Islamorada. Best times to visit are from thursday to monday when you can join a ranger led tour which takes roughly one and a half hours (twice a day) The island was once the simple retreat of a well off chemist who was called William J Matheson. It was he who had the home built along with a windmill to provide electricity. His home is now the visitor center and this where to find out all about the man and his island. What makes this island extra special is that it is only accessed by boat; this service is provided by the parks concession holder.