Outdoors & Nature Insider

Celebrate 75 years of Florida State Parks. Credit: www.floridastateparks.org

One-hundred and sixty beautiful parks; 100 miles of the world's finest beaches; 700,000 acres of natural lands.

It's no wonder that the Florida Park Service is the nation's only two-time Gold Medal winner, and over the course of the past 75 years has given countless smiles to individuals and families as they recreate in some of the Sunshine State's most historic and treasured natural places. Just about every outdoor adventure you can imagine can be enjoyed in a Florida state park -- hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, camping -- the list is endless.

These adventures won't break the bank, either. Most parks are just a few dollars per visitor, making a Florida state park one of the most affordable destinations you can visit. There's no experience that comes close to a summer splashdown in a cool freshwater spring, and the majority of these natural wonders can be found in Florida state parks. Dry underground caves, ancient Native American burial and temple mounds, and Second Seminole Indian War sites are just a few of the places that have been preserved for future generations to visit. 

In celebration of this milestone, the Florida Park Service has launched a special 75th anniversary website showcasing the history and development of the system at www.floridastateparks.org/history. The section features the timeline and a scrapbook of Florida state parks over the years and also includes a list of special events that will be held at parks around the state.

I encourage everyone to visit as many Florida state parks as they can in 2010! Also make sure you follow Florida State Parks on Twitter (@FlStateParks). For more information, and to find a park near you, visit www.floridastateparks.org.