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TALLAHASSEE – With gift-giving holidays upon us and last-minute-gift panic
mode setting in, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is
encouraging Floridians and visitors to stray from ordinary gifts and give the
green gift of nature instead. Bring holiday joy to loved ones and allow them to
experience Florida’s natural environment by giving a Florida State Parks Annual
Entrance Pass and Passport; planning a camping adventure in a state park cabin
or campsite; or finding a one-of-a-kind gift at one of the many gift shops at a
Florida state park.
“These nature-based gift ideas offer exciting affordable alternatives to the
ordinary holiday gift options and are sure to catch anyone by surprise,” said
DEP’s Florida State Parks Director Donald Forgione. “Gifts such as year-long
entry into Florida’s beautiful state parks, an overnight stay immersed in
nature’s wonders or a Florida souvenir remind us that inexpensive yet meaningful
gestures create unforgettable and lasting memories.”
Give a year of endless adventures with a Florida State Parks Annual Entrance
Pass, which grants entry to the 160 parks spanning 700,000 acres and 100 miles
of sandy white beach all year long. A great addition is the Florida State Parks
Passport, a journal for outdoor enthusiasts to plan park visits, record special
experiences and collect each park's individual stamp. From swimming in Florida’s
rivers and springs to birding and fishing or hiking and riding on natural scenic
trails, Florida’s state parks are perfect destinations for everyone.
The Florida
State Parks Annual Entrance Pass can be purchased for a family ($120) or for an
individual ($60) and the
Florida State Park Passport is a great addition to
track park experiences for only $9.95.
Capture the heart of outdoors enthusiasts and travel lovers by booking a stay
in a cabin or campsite at a Florida State Park. Gather a group for a fun outdoor
camping trip, take a loved one on a relaxing reprieve with nature, or surprise a
couple with an already-booked-and-ready-to-go romantic getaway. Absorb the
beauty and bliss of nature with a choice in a variety of settings near beaches,
rivers, lakes and wooded communities and engage in endless outdoor activities.
Reservations for full-facility campgrounds and cabins may be made up to 11
months in advance by calling ReserveAmerica at (800) 326-3521 or TDD (888)
433-0287 or online at www.ReserveAmerica.com.
Bring Florida to family and friends no matter where they are with a souvenir
from a Florida state park gift shop. The Craft Square and Gift Shop at
Stephen
Foster Folk Culture Center State Park is the place to visit for the most unique
and beautiful holiday gifts this season, including a large selection of
handmade, vibrant holiday ornaments and decorations made by local artists and
craftspeople. The gift shop at
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State
Park offers creative paintings for art enthusiasts and the Manatee Gift Shop at
Blue Spring State Park features manatee merchandise for animal lovers. The
Myakka Outpost at
Myakka River State Park sells t-shirts, hats and delicious
not-to-be-missed foods such as gator stew. The jam-packed-with-goodies State
Park Gift Shop at
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is another good spot to
find the perfect holiday gift.
About Florida State Parks
Created in 1935 by the Florida Legislature, Florida
State Parks has grown from eight to 160 parks over the last 75 years. Today, the
Florida Park Service manages more than 700,000 acres of Florida’s natural
environment, including 100 miles of beaches, eight National Historic Landmarks
and 39 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Florida State Parks
has been recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association as the
nation’s first and only two-time Gold Medal winner for the nation’s best park
service. For more information about Florida’s state parks, visit
www.FloridaStateParks.org.
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2012 State of Florida