Find Outdoor Adventures and Family Fun at Florida's State Parks This Holiday Season

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection?s Florida State Parks and the Get Outdoors Florida! coalition encourage Floridians and visitors to spend time outdoors in Florida?s 160 state parks this holiday season. Numerous recreational activities, a host of special events and cool weather make this a perfect time of year for outdoor adventure.

?After turkey, desserts and football on television, Florida?s state parks are a perfect venue for friends and families to spend time together in the great outdoors,? said DEP?s Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. ?Most state parks are open 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving, and offer many activities for entertaining guests while connecting with nature and burning off holiday calories.?

As partners of the Get Outdoors Florida! coalition, DEP and Florida State Parks are emphasizing the importance of healthy, outdoor activities year round, and especially during the holiday season. Spending time in nature and releasing endorphins through physical activity will help relieve stress and maintain a healthy balance. With 160 state parks throughout the state, there are endless activities to engage friends and families of all ages and abilities.

?Get Outdoors Florida! is about helping children and families learn to be happier, healthier and smarter, and sustaining Florida?s natural resources,? said Bob Wattendorf, Chairman of the Coalition. ?But the beauty of it is that by simply visiting a state park and having fun with your family engaging in any of the active nature-based forms of recreation that they feature you can reap those benefits.?

Ideas for outdoor recreation this holiday season include:

• Torreya State Park, Bristol: The Weeping Ridge Trail provides a healthy and pleasant walk to one of the park's deep ravines. A seven-mile loop hiking trail meanders through the park, exposing the hiker to virtually all the park's natural features. For more information, call (850) 643-2674.
• Big Shoals State Park, White Springs: The Suwannee River's average current of two to three miles per hour and white sandy beaches make the Shoals a popular spot for canoeing and kayaking. For more information, call (386) 397-4331.
• Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, Flagler Beach: On Saturday, December 5 at 8:00 a.m., Jack?s 25K, 50K trail race and two free children?s races will take place along the Joe Kenner Trail in the park. For more information, call (386) 986-8572.
• Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont: Offering 16 miles of designated equestrian trails, Lake Louisa offers equestrian camping facilities along with outstanding fishing opportunities in its six beautiful lakes. For more information, call (352) 394-3969.
• Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Sorrento: The park?s Turkey Burn event will take place on Saturday, November 28 from 4:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Canoes, paddles and life vests will be provided for the 12 hour race which involves paddling on the Wekiva River, biking and trekking through the natural beauty of the park. A four hour race is also available for interested participants. For more information, call (407) 884-2006.
• Alafia River State Park, Lithia: With unique topography that offers some of the most radical elevation changes in Florida, the Alafia off-road bicycling trails are the most challenging in the area. For more information, call (813) 672-5320.
• Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring: Burn some calories before your big meal on Thanksgiving morning and enjoy the fun with hundreds of other runners during the 17th Annual Turkey Trot 5K at the park beginning at 8:00 a.m. For more information, call (863) 385-4736.
• Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key: Bahia Honda has some of the best near-shore snorkeling in the Florida Keys, with a variety of sea life just a few hundred feet from the shore. Bring a wetsuit this time of year as the water gets cool. For more information, call (305) 872-2353.

The Get Outdoors Florida! coalition, formed in 2008, is a partnership of land managers, government agencies, children?s advocates, health care professionals, public interest groups and other individuals. The coalition is the product of a wide array of partners coming together to address societal needs including public well-being, health issues and natural resource conservation. The coalition envisions a healthy Florida community that is connected with nature and reflects social diversity exhibiting a conservation ethic ensuring a sustainable future and recreational opportunities.

Tips for outdoor activities, as well as a calendar featuring a wide variety of planned outdoor events for youth, families and mentors can be found on the Coalition?s Web site, www.getoutdoorsflorida.org.

In 2010, DEP?s Florida State Parks are celebrating 75 years of recreation and preservation. Florida?s 160 state parks offer white sandy beaches, vast open prairies, steep ravines, lush semi-tropical forests, cultural sites and crystal clear lakes, rivers and springs. State parks also offer countless locations to learn about Florida?s cultural history and serve as outdoor classrooms for students of all ages. Affordable, family-friendly activities, such as swimming, hiking, bicycling, paddling, diving, fishing, camping, horseback riding, birding, photography, events and ranger-led tours are just a few ways people enjoy our natural resources.

To learn about 75th Anniversary events, contests and discounts visit www.FloridaStateParks.org, and follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FLStateParks.