This weekend (July 3-5) admission will be free to state parks in the area in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
Yeah, it’s hot, and yeah, it might rain, but the weekend offers a great time to observe wildlife and wildflowers in bloom and to simply get outdoors on your own or with friends and family,
Just remember to come early and bring water and wear comfortable clothes and you’ll be fine.
This part of Florida offers a variety of state park experiences and natural habitats to explore.
Here is a summary.
Lake Kissimmee State Park on Camp Mack Road east of Lake Wales is the oldest state park in Polk County, opening in 1977, a year after America’s Bicentennial. It offers miles of hiking trails, a boat ramp, picnicking facilities and a 19th century cow camp. Its staff also administers Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek State Park off Firetower Road near Poinciana. It offers a network of hiking trails–some of them quite challenging–and a good opportunity to see unusual wildlife such as Florida scrub jays
Highlands Hammock State Park inn Sebring is one of Florida’s oldest state parks It was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression in the 1930s. It offers a scenic boardwalk, hiking trails and picnic facilities.
Colt Creek State Park on State Road 471 north of Lakeland offers a variety of trails for nature observation and photography picnic areas and fishing pier and canoe/kayak launch on a reclaimed rock pit.
Lake Louisa State Park off U.S. 27 south of Clermont offers hiking and nature photography on a section of the Lake Wales Ridge.
Payne Creek Historic State Park outside of Bowling Green in northern Hardee County offers hiking trails, historic exhibits and canoeing, kayaking and fishing along a tributary of the Peace River, though water levels may be a little low for navigation at the moment because of the drought.
If you would like to travel farther afield to explore Florida’s award-winning state park system, go to https://www.floridastateparks.org/ to plan your adventure.