The Real Florida℠ Connection – June

A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR With Memorial Day behind us and Independence Day on the horizon, I’m happy to report that our state parks have never been more popular. Our beaches – two of which were recently named among the 10 best in America by beach guru Dr. Beach – and our springs have attracted a record number of visitors, and we expect that trend to continue in the weeks and months ahead. Not only that, but our campsites are filling up too as more people discover the joys of camping and RVing. As it turns out, now is a great time to plan an overnight stay. June is National Camping Month, and the Florida Park Service has just launched a new reservation system that provides our visitors with quicker, easier access to their favorite parks. The new system shows clearly which parks and sites are available for camping and provides online users with a streamlined process for making reservations. Additionally, campers can now reserve same-day accommodations, which is something that we’ve been wanting to implement for a long time. The changes will also be apparent at each park’s ranger station, as we’ve updated our point-of-sale system to be more modernized and, most importantly, faster. That means less time at the park gates and more time inside the park. You might also notice welcome additions such as the ability to be notified when a site becomes available. And, in the future, we’ll be looking to add expanded reservation capabilities for Florida residents. When thinking about your favorite parks, you might remember an unforgettable paddling adventure or boat tour. But take a moment to consider the park operations needed to offer our visitors the best experiences possible. Food sales, camp stores, kayak rentals, ferries and trams are services that we could not provide if not for a specially selected group of businesses – many of them owned locally. These companies and their employees are a part of our park community, and they’re just as committed as regular park staff to making your visit safe and enjoyable. The business that helps us with reservations is just one of our partners that help make 800,000 acres, 30 springs and 100 miles of beaches special places to visit.      Best, Eric Draper FEATURED STORIES  STATE PARK BEACHES MAKE NATIONAL TOP 10 Two beaches at Florida State Parks have been included in Dr. Beach’s ranking of the top 10 beaches in America! 6 UNIQUE PLACES TO CAMP IN FLORIDA STATE PARKS Whether you love pitching a tent or prefer the comfort of a cabin, our park campgrounds offer a variety of sites and amenities to suit your needs. CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PRESCRIBED FIRE Fifty years after the first prescribed fire at a Florida state park, Eric Draper and a group of veteran burners gathered to commemorate the milestone. BASS FISHING IN FLORIDA STATE PARKS June is Great Outdoors Month, which means it’s a great time take a friend or family member fishing and enjoy Florida’s beautiful waterways. SPOTLIGHT Vote for Jonathan Dickinson State Park in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers Choice Awards The campground at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound has been nominated in USA TODAY's 2021 10Best Readers' Choice travel awards! In a newly launched poll, USA Today's panel selected Jonathan Dickinson State Park's campground as a contender for Best State Park for RVers. The contest gives voters four weeks to vote for the candidate of their choice. A person can vote once a day for the run of the contest. Voting ends Monday, July 19. and the winners will be announced on USA TODAY 10Best on Friday, July 30 at noon EDT.     You are currently subscribed to the Real Florida Connection.

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