Florida Parks and Recreation Areas with Interpretive Programs

More than 80 percent of Gulf Islands National Seashore is under water, but the barrier islands are the most outstanding features to those who visit. The Seashore stretches 160 miles from Cat Island in Mississippi to the eastern tip of Santa Rosa Island in Florida. There are snowy-white beaches, sparkling blue waters, fertile coastal marshes, and dense maritime forests. read more...

Phone: 850-934-2600   Price Range: $3 - $100   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Gulf Breeze   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Boating and Watercraft, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting and Shooting, Kayaking, Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Gulf Islands National Seashore

The 46,000 acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve was established to protect one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast, and to preserve historic and prehistoric sites within the area. The estuarine ecosystem includes salt marsh, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks, all rich in native vegetation and animal life. read more...

Phone: (904) 641-7155   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Jacksonville   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: N/A   Activities: Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

The Castillo de San Marcos, built 1672-1695, served primarily as an outpost of the Spanish Empire, guarding St. Augustine, the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States, and also protecting the sea route for treasure ships returning to Spain. read more...

Phone: 904-829-6506   Price Range: $6 - $15   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: St. Augustine   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Monument   Activities: Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Castillo de San Marcos

On a sweltering day in May of 1539, Hernando de Soto and an army of over 600 soldiers splashed ashore in the Tampa Bay area. They arrived in nine ships laden with supplies: two hundred and twenty horses, a herd of pigs, a pack of vicious war dogs, cannon, matchlock muskets, armor, tools and rations. read more...

Phone: (941) 792-0458   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Bradenton   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: De Soto National Memoria

Spanning the southern tip of the Florida peninsula and most of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. It contains both temperate and tropical plant communities, including sawgrass prairies, mangrove and cypress swamps, pinelands, and hardwood hammocks, as well as marine and estuarine environments. read more...

Phone: 305-242-7700   Price Range: $2 - $25   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Homestead   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Boating and Watercraft, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Everglades National Park

Fort Caroline National Memorial was created to memorialize the Sixteenth Century French effort to establish a permanent colony in Florida. After initial exploration in 1562, the French established la Caroline in June 1564. Spanish forces arrived 15 months later. read more...

Phone: (904) 641-7155   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Jacksonville   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Hiking, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Fort Caroline National Memorial

Some days, Biscayne Bay's shallow waters are glassy smooth, a window on another world. Other times, the wind whistles and whips, creating white waves that bite like teeth at an angry sky. read more...

Phone: 305-230-1144   Price Range: $10 - $25   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Homestead   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Birding, Boating and Watercraft, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Biscayne

Throughout its history, the story of Fort Matanzas has been closely intertwined with that of the city of St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos. This Spanish outpost fort was built in 1740-1742 to guard the Matanzas Inlet and to warn St. Augustine of British or other enemies approaching from the south. Fort Matanzas now serves as a reminder of the early Spanish empire in the New World. read more...

Phone: 904-471-0116   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: St. Augustine   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Monument   Activities: Birding, Boating and Watercraft, Fishing, Kayaking, Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Fort Matanzas

The first National Preserve in the National Park System, Big Cypress has a mixture of pines, hardwoods, prairies, mangrove forests, cypress strands and domes. White-tailed deer, bear and Florida panther can be found here along with the more tropical liguus tree snail, royal palm and cigar orchid. read more...

Phone: 239-695-2000   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Ochopee   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Preserve   Activities: Backpacking, Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting and Shooting, Kayaking, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Big Cypress