State parks in Florida to offer free admission Sunday

By VISIT FLORIDA
Published: July 10, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — July is a month of barbecues, fireworks and outdoor activities, making it a great time to celebrate National Recreation and Parks Month. Visitors and residents of Florida can pack up the family with a picnic lunch or some camping gear and head to one of Florida’s 161 state parks for a month-long celebration of special activities and events.

As a special summertime treat, the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Recreation and Parks will offer free admission to all state parks in Florida on Sunday, July 13.

Park-goers seeking information about which of the many state parks to visit should check out VISIT FLORIDA’s “Outdoor and Nature Expert” blog, written by Kevin Mims, at www.VISITFLORIDA.com. Mims is an avid outdoorsman and one of the newest members of the VISIT FLORIDA team. His page features his “Expert Picks” and a Q&A section where visitors can pose specific questions for him to answer. Currently featured on Mims’ list of state park top picks are Indian Key Historic State Park in Islamorada, St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, and Myakka River State Park near Sarasota.

“Florida’s state parks are an invaluable asset that should not be missed by visitors and residents,” said Mims. “National Recreation and Parks Month is the perfect opportunity to get out and explore our state parks.”

For more information about Recreation and Parks Month, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.