02-24-2017, 08:27 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Florida State Park Quest
I am always looking for new roads to ride.
Here in Florida, I have half a dozen loops, 50 to 200 miles, that I ride regularly...on auto pilot. Sometimes clockwise, and other times counter clockwise. It's surprising how different a road can look riding the "other" way. But having ridden the same roads for 50+ years....it gets old. I recently discovered that Florida offers an annual State Park Pass, similar to the one offered by the National Park System. State Park admission is from $4 to $10 per vehicle, depending on the park...it used to be free.... in my younger days... So for $60 US for a single pass, or $120 for a family pass, you have unlimited admission to any of the State Parks for one year. That's a bargain if you regularly use the park system. https://www.floridastateparks.org/ Here's the pass, and a passport to collect stamps from each park: There are 174 Florida State Parks in the Passport. I doubt that I will get to more than a fraction of them. But it gives me a destination to aim for. So far I have been to the 14 nearest to me. I don't think anyone wants to see all the park signs, but I will post a few as I travel. I have been to this one a few times for lunch. They have a cafe that makes pretty good cheeseburgers. Homosassa is known for the springs that is home to a manatee population. A slightly enlarged manatee... Highlands Hammock SP is near Sebring: And is home to one of the CCC museums (Civilian Conservation Corps). I hadn't realized that the CCC was active in Florida (during the "Great Depression" in the US). Coincidentally, my cabin in North Carolina is in a former CCC camp, where the workers lived while building many of the TVA dams. Crystal River has a museum and archaeological site where native indian mounds have been excavated: I went a short way down a side road but quickly returned when I was swarmed by mosquitoes: As the parks become farther away, the "other bike" is more often the choice: I learned not to always trust the GPS. This was down an unmarked dirt (sand) road to what was supposed to be Lake June-in-Winter State Park in Lake Placid, FL. But it wasn't. This is the real Lake June-in-Winter, but it was getting late, and I never did find the State Park. Dade Battlefield State Park was where, in 1835, Major Dade and his 108 American Army troops were massacred by the Seminole Indians (only 3 survivors). I will post more as time permits. Perhaps you can visit some of your state's State Parks. jb
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02-24-2017, 08:48 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Deerfield Beach FL
Posts: 1,410
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Very cool!
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02-24-2017, 10:41 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Redmond, WA.
Posts: 534
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That's awesome. Here's to making them all! I'm hitting up ORV Park tomorrow. We have our state parks pass also called the Discover Pass.
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02-24-2017, 10:41 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Oh!
One more thing. It is a good idea to be careful where you go swimming......... jb
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02-24-2017, 11:03 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
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I'm glad I learned not to swim with alligators
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02-24-2017, 11:58 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Where in FL are you located?
jb
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02-25-2017, 04:58 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: FL
Posts: 95
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Central. In Polk Co, just east of Lakeland.
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02-25-2017, 10:37 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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You should be able to get to the parks that I have ridden to without any problem.
I'm just west of Lakeland, but spend a lot of riding time in Polk Co., south of Mulberry and Bartow, cruising around the phosphate mines, orange groves, and cattle ranches. jb
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02-25-2017, 10:53 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
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Quote:
I doubt I'll get to all the state parks. Some are on islands, and John Pennecamp, in the keys, is underwater. And I also try to stay away from major population centers. For example, a week ago, I was headed for Weeki Wachee Springs on the Florida west coast....to see the mermaids. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Weeki-Wachee I became stuck in 6 lanes of bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic, and quickly changed destination. If I have to ride in that kind of traffic, I would rather stay home. jb
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