Technorati: state parks,california state parks

Darren Smith, author of Parks Directory of the United States contacted the directors of each of the 50 state parks systems and posed the following question:

If you were trying to showcase your state park system, what would be your recommendation to visitors for 2-3 "must see" parks and why?

I must say, this is a difficult task for any park director, it's like a parent being asked to play favorites. Well, trust Darren to persuade them to share their list of top favorites, so here they are. Some of the park directors stretched it a bit and gave 4 or 5 parks. Darren let it slide.

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Agua Caliente Hot Springs is a 910-acre San Diego County Park, complete with a picnic area and a large campground with shady trees at some sites. It is located near the south end of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southern California. There are 2 hot spring pools here. One is a large outdoor pool that is kept at a natural 90 degrees (Fahrenheit). The other pool (102 degrees F) is protected inside a glass-walled building and - ready for this? - equipped with whirlpool jets.

Because this is one of San Diego County's most popular parks, don’t expect to Continue reading…

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Technorati tags: florida state parks, winter camping florida, winter campgrounds
In Florida, camping doesn't stop in winter. "What winter?" you may ask. Being a New Englander myself, I totally agree with you. Winter camping in Florida is actually preferred by some campers to avoid the annoying ever-present flies in the hot, humid summer months.

Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key

Bahia Honda is one of the best beaches in South Florida. It is located along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Popular activities include swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. Camping, cabins, 2 exceptional boat ramps, a certified "Clean Marina," and a concession and gift store make Bahia Honda an outstanding recreational destination. Click here for the park photos.

Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin

Originally called Hog Island, it became Honeymoon Isle in 1939 when a New York developer built 50 palm - thatched bungalows for honeymooners. Today, visitors can drive across Dunedin Causeway to enjoy the sun - Continue reading…

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Technorati Tags: winter camping, winter state parks, winter campgrounds

Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and other winter sports combined with a temperate winter keep California’s state parks system busy through winter. The three parks that were iselected here offer unique opportunities in addition to the common winter sports found in other parks.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park , San Diego

Winter Attraction: Desert wildflowers – they start blooming in late February or early March. For a special wildflower recorded message, call (760) 767-4684. Or mail a self-addressed stamped postcard in an envelope to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. The kind Anza-Borrego folks will mail the card back at just the right time.

Ano Nuevo State Reserve, San Mateo

Winter Attraction: This is the site of the world’s largest mainland breeding colony for the northern elephant seal. Every winter, visitors come to observe the males battle for mates Continue reading…

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As mentioned in State Parks - Best of the Best, here are the top California State Parks:

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State park
Huntington State Beach
Prairie Creek Redwoods State park
Leo Carillo State Park (I added this one, don't know why it didn't make the director's list, it's a wonderful camping beach park).

To reserve any California State Park, call 1-800-444-PARK (7275) or click here

California - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five-hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the Colorado Desert. The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish name borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.

For more information, check out the official website of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
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California - Big Basin Redwoods State Park

 

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Big Basin is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902. Home to the largest continuous stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of Old Growth and recovering Redwood Forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats.

Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops. The park has over 80 miles of trails. Be sure and pick up a map at park headquarters before your hike to find the most popular trails, but more importantly so you don't get lost!

For more information, check out the official website of: Big Basin Redwoods State Park

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Huntington State Beach

 

Huntington State Beach is the site of a nesting sanctuary for the California least tern, a rare and endangered species. The beach is also sanctuary for the threatened snowy plover. The park also features a bicycle trail. Surfing, skating and surf fishing are also popular. The park has fire rings for bonfires.

This popular beach extends two miles from Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach south to the Santa Ana River on the Newport Beach boundary.

For reservations, directions and more information, check out the state's official web site of Huntington State Beach.

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Prairie Creek Redwoods State park

 

Set aside in the early 1920’s by the forethought of the people of California and the generosity of the Save-the-Redwoods League, Prairie Creek is a sanctuary of old growth coast redwood.

Prairie Creek offers hiking, nature study, wildlife viewing, beach combing, picnicking, a visitor center with exhibits and a nature store.

For reservations, directions and more information, check out the official web site of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

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Leo Carillo State Park

The park has 1.5 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing. The beach also has tide pools, coastal caves and reefs for exploring. Giant sycamores shade the main campgrounds. The park also features back-country hiking. 

Nature walks and campfire programs are offered and a small visitor center has interpretive displays. During the summer, children's programs are available

Read one family's experience at Leo Carillo SP.

For reservations, directions and more information, check out the official web site of Leo Carillo State Park.

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Reason #10. You have tried everything else to peel the kids (or the hubby?) away from the TV and Xbox. One thing I learn as a parent, when I yell, "Turn that TV off!" I need to provide an alternative. Kids can't substitute TV for vacuum. Gotta give them something to occupy their active minds like Surviving in the Wilderness.

Reason #9. You can't remember the last time you gazed at the stars. It's time to see the Big Dipper beyond the printed page.

Reason # 8. The only bird chirping you have ever woken up to is the cuckoo clock in the living room.

Reason # 7. Ten years from now, when your kids lament to their therapists that you were absent in their lives, you can show videos and pictures of your family camping experience.

Reason # 6. Food tastes better outdoors. I'll tell you about the Baby Weber Grill at another time.

Reason # 5. Its affordable. You can buy very nice camping gear with the equivalent of a couple nights hotel stay. And you get to keep the gear. (Its like owning your own home instead of renting).

Reason # 4. Enjoy the inheritance that was saved for you. In 1916, your grandparents and mine made a commitment to preserve, protect and share the natural beauty of this land through the National Park Service. When was the last time your eyes feasted on the natural beauty of our [tag/]national parks[/tag]?

Reason # 3. Camping is so easy today. Down-filled sleeping bags, 10-minute-set-up tents, instant fire starters, and yes, that Baby Weber Grill. Today's camping equipment is easy enough for the beginner campers.

Reason # 2. There are many ways to camp, so you can choose what suits you best. There's rustic cabin camping, car camping, luxury camping such as at the Adirondacks, RV camping and backpacking. Start with something you are comfortable with. Chances are, you'll explore other more adventurous camping with time.

Reason # 1. You have never gone camping before. Well, then you absolutely have to go camping this year. Do it before you are set in your ways. Do it before you take yourselves too seriously. Do it before the kids leave the nest. Do it before you can't do it. In other words, just do it.

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