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Expect the Unexpected While Camping in Florida
from:Camping in Florida is a year-around activity in a state blessed with warm, humid summers and mild, dry winters. The state’s subtropical coastal, uplands, marine and freshwater ecosystems offer unique opportunities for camping, fishing, boating, hiking and wildlife viewing. Many federal and state parks in Florida also include heritage and cultural resources. Whether you prefer a summer tent or a well-ventilated 3-season tent, the rich biodiversity of the state’s national forests, parks and seashores will bring you into close contact with plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world.
State Parks
The state Division of Recreation and Parks (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/default.htm) administers 723,000 acres in 159 parks, many of which offer sites for great camping in Florida. Swim and scuba dive at the nation’s first underwater park, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef, north of Key Largo. Explore wooded trails at the Alafia River State Park southeast of Tampa. Swim or search for wildlife in 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 offer 1.2 million acres of longleaf, slash, sand and loblolly pine forests mixed with savannahs, swamps and bogs. Some of the developed campgrounds require reservations while most are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want a camping in Florida experience marked by a back-to-basics solitude, you can pitch your tent almost anywhere within national forest boundaries except during the hunting seasons. Online information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/
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
* Biscayne National Park, Key Biscayne
* Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville
* Dry Tortugas National Park, Key West
* Everglades National Park, Miami
* Gulf Islands National Seashore, Gulf Breeze
* Timucuan Preserve, Jacksonville
When you go camping in Florida, expect the unusual from hiking to habitats and recreation to wildlife. Look for Manatees, American Crocodiles and the Florida Panther in the Everglades National Park, the nation’s largest subtropical wilderness area. The adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve offers more hiking, camping and wildlife. If you have yet to explore coral reefs, take a seaplane or boat to the islands of the Dry Tortugas National Park. At Gulf Islands National Seashore, go swimming, snorkelling, fishing, and boating and then explore the old coastal fortifications of Fort Barrancas, Fort Pickens, Fort McRee, the batteries, and the advanced redoubt. After camping at the Canaveral National Seashore, take a tour of the facilities at the Kennedy Space Center.
While you may experience a sudden shower in the “Sunshine State,” bring your sunglasses, sunscreen, bathing suit, swim fins and mask along with your camping equipment. But most of all, bring your imagination.
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Hiking Camping News
Lockport scout dies after falling in ravine during camping trip - Morris Daily Herald
 ABC7Chicago.com | Lockport scout dies after falling in ravine during camping trip Morris Daily Herald By Carlos Sadovi — Chicago Tribune (MCT) — A 9-year-old Cub Scout from Lockport was killed over the weekend when he fell about 15 feet into a ravine in Kankakee County as he was hiking with other scouts, police said. The accident happened at about 4 ... Homer Township boy dies as result of fall |
Dogs enjoy hikes too | Buckley Veterinary Hospital - Bonney Lake and Sumner Courier-Herald
Dogs enjoy hikes too | Buckley Veterinary Hospital Bonney Lake and Sumner Courier-Herald Once you've selected a location, you want to consider the length of the hike and what to bring to keep your pet healthy. Make sure you are packing enough food and water if it's a longer hike or involves overnight camping. Use your own thirst as a guide ... |
Take Care in the Summer Heat - Tucson Citizen
Take Care in the Summer Heat Tucson Citizen 22, 2012, under Uncategorized Whether you're biking, hiking, camping or simply exploring the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, please remember to stay safe out there. Heat exhaustion, which could lead to heatstroke, is something everyone should be aware of ... |
National Park's Camping Reminders for Buffalo National River Area - KARK
National Park's Camping Reminders for Buffalo National River Area KARK It's that time of year when camping, hiking, fishing, and floating are in full swing along the Buffalo. Officials with the Buffalo National River advise visitors to take the time to plan their visit and activities in advance in order to have the best ... |
Camping gear available to rent at Pa. state parks - The Herald-Mail
Camping gear available to rent at Pa. state parks The Herald-Mail “You can't beat this offer as far as the cost (and) the opportunity to enjoy many other activities at our state parks such as hiking and fishing. A park staffer will even help you set up camp,” DCNR Secretary Richard Allan said in the release. |