Manatee Springs State Park
Drive an hour west of Gainesville, Florida, and 2 1/2 hours north of Tampa and you will find yourself in the heart of Floridian wilderness at Manatee Springs State Park. For $20 a night plus admission fees, you get the opportunity to explore the grounds of this beautiful park. The park offers open water, cavern and cave scuba diving as well as snorkeling and swimming in the swift springs. Plus, if you travel here between the months of November and April, you stand a chance to see one of the slow moving marine mammals for which the springs are named. Enjoying the peace and quiet of 8.5 miles of nature trails won't be difficult as satellite and cell phone service are not available in this area.
11650 N.W. 115th St.
Chiefland, Florida 32626
(352) 493-6072
floridastateparks.org
St. Andrews State Park
What is Florida known for if not beaches? St. Andrews State Park offers just that: 2 1/2 miles of pristine white sand meeting emerald green water. For $28.00 per night plus price of admission, you can spend your time at St. Andrews snorkeling or scuba diving along the extensive shores and rock jetties, which are sure to offer plenty of beautiful marine life to fulfill your Floridian dreams. During the spring and summer seasons, the park offers boat tours of the pristine, uninhabited Shell Island, home to one of the world's highest concentrations of bottle-nosed dolphins and just a couple thousand feet off the mainland. But if you're feeling truly adventurous, you can travel three miles to spring break destination Panama City.
4607 State Park Lane
Panama City, Florida 32408
(850) 233-5140
floridastateparks.net
Big Cypress National Preserve
One of the first national preserves in the U.S. National Parks System, Big Cypress National Park, about 45 miles west of Miami, is adjacent to the famous Everglades National Park. In addition to being home to manatees, alligators and endangered species of cranes, Big Cypress is also an Indian Reservation for the Miccosukee and Seminole people. The Midway Campground located in Big Cypress offers year-round RV campsites for $16.00 a night. For your money you get some of the most beautiful wading and walking found in cypress strands and prairies in the park. However, be on the alert, because the alligators here are numerous and large.
33100 Tamiami Trail East
Ochopee, Florida 34141
(239) 695-1201
nps.gov
