Nine miles of undeveloped beach, a pristine shoreline, majestic dunes and a bay forest,
sandy coves, salt marshes and emerald waters provide the perfect setting in St. George Island State Park.
Some of the most picturesque scenic areas along North Florida's Gulf Coast can be
found at
Bald Point State Park. Bald Point offers coastal marshes, pine flatwoods
and oak thickets that foster a diversity of biological communities, making the park
a popular destination for birding and wildlife viewing.
From Ochlockonee River State Park's boat ramp it is a four-mile
run to the Ochlockonee Bay and an additional five miles to the Gulf. If you
enjoy birding, you may
have a good chance of seeing the red-cockaded woodpecker.
The many different flags welcoming visitors to San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
demonstrate the colorful history of this site, from the first Spanish explorers
to the present day. Located in St. Marks, Wakulla Springs State Park is a short
drive from SummerCamp Beach. Be sure to visit the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and
state parks at Bald Point and Ochlockonee River.
Encompassing over 246,000 acres in Apalachicola Bay, Apalachicola National Estuarine
Research Reserve is the second largest estuarine research reserve in the nation.
The nine-mile-long Cape St. George State Reserve is one of three barrier islands
that separate Apalachicola Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. The reserve's remoteness
and wilderness provide an opportunity to explore and enjoy a remnant of
Florida's original natural landscape.
The
Apalachicola National Forest, comprising 564,961 acres on gently
rolling flat terrain, is the largest national forest in Florida. Located southwest
of Tallahassee, it was established in 1936 on land that was in poor condition due
to bad timber and turpentine-producing practices. The Apalachicola National Forest
is now a healthy, diverse, productive forest with the largest red-cockaded woodpecker
population in the world.
Located on the east bank of the Apalachicola River, Fort Gadsden Historic Site is
about 45 minutes north of Eastpoint. The site interprets the role of Native and
African Americans during the early 1800s. In Franklin County just northwest of the
fishing town of Carrabelle, Tate's Hell State Forest offers a variety
of recreational activities for the outdoor enthusiast. There are 35 miles of rivers,
streams and creeks available for canoeing, boating and fishing.
The 14,366-acre
Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve acts as a nursery
for the Gulf Coast, serving as a breeding ground for grouper, shrimp, blue crabs,
flounder, trout, mullet, snapper, cobia, tarpon, redfish and many other species.
Wildlife watching, recreational opportunities and sight fishing in these waters
can be rewarding and challenging.