Florida Real Estate Blog

Use SmartPhone App to Explore Florida's State Parks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Feb. 13, 2013 – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service has developed a free smartphone app – the Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® app – available for download today. It includes information on the state’s 171 parks, trails and historic sites, with details about campgrounds, amenities, facility maps, directions and more.

In honor of the new app, Florida’s state parks will also offer free entry to state parks on Monday, Feb. 18, to any visitor who shows the app download on his or her smartphone. (Exception: Skyway Fishing Pier State Park in St. Petersburg.)

The app allows visitors to plan an outdoor trip by searching for a park by GPS location.

Once inside the state park, GPS and GIS mapping technology allow visitors to track and record trails, mark waypoints and locate friends within the park. An option to cache GPS maps in advance allows navigation in areas without mobile reception.

App features

• Educational information, amenities, maps and directions.
• Real-time calendar of events.
• News, advisories and weather alerts.
• Social networking and photo sharing.
• Potentially life-saving alert feature.
• Advanced GPS mapping features.
• Record trail distance and time elapsed.
• Recall, post or share saved data.
• Friend finder.
• Built-in compass.

New features such as GeoChallenge games and a photo share option will be added in coming months.

The new app works in iPhones and Android devices. For more information, visit the Pocket Ranger website.

© 2013 Florida Realtors®

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

Wilderness Areas You Can Enjoy In and Around Zephyrhills, Florida

When we think of wilderness areas, we often imagine mountains, gorges, white water rapids, deserts, etc. We don't have those in Florida, but we do have wilderness areas that are unique to our part of the country. You won't find alligators basking in the sun in Michigan or huge sandhill cranes searching for food in Alaska.

So take time to explore the wild areas that we have here in central Florida in and around Pasco County. Some possibilities are the following:

Hillsborough River State Park - 15402 US 301 North, Thonotosassa, FL - 813-987-6771 

Wildlife Viewing

Camping

Hiking

Pavilions

Restrooms

Swimming

Picnic Area

Lettuce Lake Regional Park - 6920 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL - 813-987-6204

Playground

Hiking

Restrooms

Dead River Wilderness Park - 15098 Dead River Rd, Thonotosassa, FL - 813-987-6210

Biking

Equine Trails

Hiking

Equine Trails

Picnic Area

Restrooms

Flatwood Wilderness Park = 14302 Morris Bridge Rd, Thonotosassa, FL

Biking

Picnic Area

Restrooms

John B. Sargeant Park - 12702 US 301, Thonotosassa, FL

Boat Ramp

Fishing

Hiking

Picnic Area

Restrooms

Withlacoochee River Park - 12449 Withlacoochee Blvd, Dade City, FL - 352-521-4104

• Canoeing
• Fishing
• Camping
• Hiking
• Pavilions
• Restrooms

Crews Lake Wilderness Park - 16739 Crews Lake Dr, Spring Hill, FL - 727-861-3038

• Playground
• Camping
• Pavilions
• Restrooms
• Biking
• Boat Ramp

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park - 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd, New Port Richey, FL

Biking

Equine Trails

Pavilions

Camping

Playground

Restrooms

Frances Avenue Park - 5580 Frances Avenue, New Port Richey, FL

Canoeing

Playground

Restrooms

Odessa Community Park - 1627 Chesapeake Dr, Odessa, FL - 813-926-1141

Pavilions

Playground

Hiking Trails

Restrooms

Anclote River Park - 1119 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday, FL - 727-938-2598

Boat Ramp

Playground

Canoeing

Pavilions

Swimming

Restrooms

Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve - 2469 Patrinostro Rd, Plant City, FL

Picnic Tables

Hiking Trails

Morris Bridge Park - 13330 Morris Bridge Rd, Thonotosassa, FL - 813-987-6209

Boat Ramp

Biking

Canoeing

Pavilions

Fishing

Restrooms

Wildlife Viewing

Hiking Trails

Pets

Trout Creek Park - 12550 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa, FL - 813-987-6200

Boat Ramp

Biking

Canoeing

Pavilions

Fishing

Restrooms

Wildlife Viewing

Hiking

Pets

Weekiwachee Preserve - 2345 Osowaw Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL

Hiking Trails

Biking

Boat Ramp

Picnic Tables

Fishing

Restrooms

Myakka River State Park (Prairie Tract) - 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL

Wildlife Viewing

Hiking

Equine Trails

Biking

You can also check out parks all around the State of Florida by stopping by their parks website at: http://www.floridastateparks.org/ It's a big state and I have no doubt you will find many ways in which to enjoy the great outdoors in the Sunshine State!

If you decide to make Florida your home or your vacation home hangout, give me a call: JOHN ELWELL - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. 813-783-4444. Licensed in Florida.