Getaways to the authentic Florida
I’ve camped a few times at this Brevard County park in Titusville, enjoying its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. And I’ve used it as a base for exploring Cocoa Beach.
National parks in Florida go beyond the Everglades. From the gorgeous Gulf to a remote island, there are national parks you’ve probably never heard of. Here’s a guide to them, from the famous to the obscure.
The best beaches near Disney World are an hour away, and your options expand if you are willing to drive a few minutes more.
The pilot program may be extended to other crowded state parks if successful. You can purchase passes up to 60 days in advance.
Ocala National Forest covers more than 600 square miles of Central Florida, and all of it is open to dispersed, primitive camping.
With the free ferry recently reopened, it’s a good time to visit St. Augustine’s Fort Matanza,s is a small stone fort on a pristine island. You take a short ferry ride for a ranger-led tour and spectacular scenery — and it’s all free.