Friday Finds: Hontoon Island State Park, FL

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Today's featured "Find" is another unique Florida State Park:
Hontoon Island S.P.  
It's north of Orlando and West of Highway 17.  If you were driving to Disney World and were interested in stopping a couple nights to stay in a cabin, picnic or hike, it would make a pretty stop-over & admission is free!
My purpose for these State Park features is to acquaint myself with my own state's many State Parks. I peruse the road atlas and randomly pick one out. Since so many people travel to Disney World, I thought I'd look at what's close to Orlando. So that's how Hontoon Island came to be chosen!

Hontoon Island State Park as seen from the ferry dock:


Hontoon Island State Park is a 1650 acre island on the St. Johns River.  In the 1500's, Spanish Conquistadors built a series of missions throughout Florida and one was reputed to have been on this island. The property was acquired by a soldier after the 2nd Seminole War, who homesteaded there.

Park Ferry

Getting there:
Take the Park Ferry or you own boat. The Park has no admission fees, so it's free to visit, picnic or hike!




Camping/Lodging Facilities: 
Tent Camping: 12 primitive sites, each with a picnic table, a water spigot & a ground grill. No electricity.
Cabin
Rustic Cabins: that means just basics: bunks, one ceiling light, one ceiling fan, one electric outlet, a screened-in porch, picnic table & ground grill  cook on. Showers & restrooms are in a separate building central to all cabins. It would be sort of like camping in a cabin. 
Cheap rate, though. Two nights minimum stay. 

Activities & Special Features: 
* A 3 mile self-guided nature hiking trail
* A Museum of local history & the park
* A brand new playground facility for kids
* Fishing
* Picnicking
* Pets on leashes are welcome
*All Florida State parks have a photo contest  opportunity for shutter-bugs!

 A pretty view of the day-use Picnic area:
Day Use Picnic Area

That's it for today! Since Monday is Memorial Day, next post will be Garden Pic Wednesday! Remember to pray for our troops!

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