From the panhandle to the tip of the Keys, protected lands showcase stunning ecological and biological diversity. Here, mangroves provide kayak mazes, rockets launch over lagoons, and alligators and crocodiles coexist—Florida is the only place on Earth where the two reptilians share turf.
Whether you’re looking for a lazy day at a pristine beach, or perhaps a hike through a tranquil pine forest, these state and national parks in Florida deliver.
Getty - Bahia Honda State Park
Out on the Keys, Bahia Honda State Park is a pastoral stop on the way to Key West. The postcard-worthy park off Big Pine Key is anchored by Calusa Beach, whose turquoise-tinted waters beckon swimmers, snorkelers, and kayakers alike (snorkeling and kayaking equipment are available to rent).
Whether you’re looking for a lazy day at a pristine beach, or perhaps a hike through a tranquil pine forest, these state and national parks in Florida deliver.
Getty - Bahia Honda State Park
Out on the Keys, Bahia Honda State Park is a pastoral stop on the way to Key West. The postcard-worthy park off Big Pine Key is anchored by Calusa Beach, whose turquoise-tinted waters beckon swimmers, snorkelers, and kayakers alike (snorkeling and kayaking equipment are available to rent).
A photo-worthy moment here is atop the Bahia Honda Bridge, a historic structure erected in the early 1900s, as part of Henry Flagler’s woebegone Overseas Railroad to Key West that was never completed. There’s a short trail along part of the bridge that will take you to one of the highest points in the Keys, for sweeping views of the bay below. Speaking of photo-worthy, stick around for a sunset—and subsequent stargazing—you won’t soon forget.
Getty - Apalachicola National Forest
A stone’s throw from the state capital of Tallahassee, Apalachicola National Forest is a natural haven. The largest national forest in Florida, clocking in at a whopping 633,000 acres, the park is divided into two main sections: Bradwell Bay Wilderness and Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness. Between the two, visitors can paddle, swim, hike, fish, and go off-roading or horseback riding.
Getty - Apalachicola National Forest
A stone’s throw from the state capital of Tallahassee, Apalachicola National Forest is a natural haven. The largest national forest in Florida, clocking in at a whopping 633,000 acres, the park is divided into two main sections: Bradwell Bay Wilderness and Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness. Between the two, visitors can paddle, swim, hike, fish, and go off-roading or horseback riding.
The park also exhibits striking biological and ecological diversity, from longleaf pine sandhills and pine flatwoods to coastal plain hammocks, basin swamps, and floodplain forests. The area teems with wildlife, like woodpeckers, bobcats, gray foxes, and alligators. Drink in the diversity on a one-mile loop at the Camel Lake Trail, or by kayaking to Owl Creek from Hickory Landing, a two-mile route along the Apalachicola River that gets paddlers up close and personal with that classic Florida river swamp terrain. READ MORE
