Celebrate the Holiday Season with Florida State Parks

FLORIDA KEYS - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection?s (DEP) Florida State Parks invite Floridians and visitors to create a new holiday tradition this year by attending a state park special event. With festive decorations and activities, state parks are a great setting for friends and family to enjoy natural Florida while celebrating the season.

?There are few greater treasures than sharing the holiday season with family and friends and there is no better place to do so than in Florida?s state parks,? said DEP?s Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. ?From visits with Santa to displays of millions of lights, we hope all visitors will enjoy the festivities that park staff and volunteers work diligently to offer during this time of year.?

Following the holiday season, in 2010, DEP?s Florida State Parks will celebrate 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.

Special events for the holiday season in the Florida Keys include:

A Lignumvitae Key Christmas
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Islamorada
Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The historic Matheson House will be decorated for the holidays in an early 1900s ambiance of the Florida Keys. Visitors will sample homemade cookies, cakes and refreshments. Boats will leave Robbie?s Marina, located at Mile Marker 77.5, bayside, every hour on the hour. Tour boats will begin shuttling passengers to the island at 9:00 a.m. and stop at 3:00 p.m. Fees are $5.00 per person. Children 12 years and under are free. For more information, call (305) 664-2540.

Key Biscayne Winterfest Boat Parade
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne
Saturday, December 12, 6:00 p.m.
Inspired by a 46 year tradition, approximately 50 boats, decorated with holiday lights, will sail out of the Key Biscayne Yacht Club and sail around Biscayne Bay, making several passes through No-Name Harbor. Food, beverages and music will be available at the Boaters Grill. There will be a toy drive for children in need, and unwrapped gifts are welcomed. Entrance to the park is free beginning at 6:00 p.m. For more information, call the Key Biscayne Yacht Club at (305) 361-9171.

To learn more about Florida State Parks and the 75th Anniversary, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org, and follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FLStateParks.