Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park 4.6 (reviews)

Known as "the Amazon of North America", Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is an iconic part of Florida. It's almost taking you back to the original Florida from years and years ago! Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is a linear swamp forest, and at twenty miles long and five miles wide, there is a lot to explore!

You can take to the 2,000 ft boardwalk that meanders through the old growth cypress, and is a great way to really embrace the swamp's beauty. There are a number of other trails too you can explore.

Fishing is a popular activity within the park, and canoeing and kayaking are permitted too, but suited more for intermediate levels and higher.

Kids can learn all about the natural world as they learn how the park has been sculpted by the movement of water for thousands and thousands of years. Pretty cool!

The Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is home to a wide array of habitats and forest types. You can explore the wetter swamps and prairies, as well as the drier islands of tropical hardwood hammocks and pine rock lands. 

In fact, the groves of native royal palms are the most abundant in the entire state of Florida, and the ecosystem of the Fakahatchee Strand is the ONLY place in the world where bald cypress trees and royal palms share the forest canopy!

Keep an eye out for the amazing wildlife during your time in the park too. Florida panthers still pursue white-tailed deer from the uplands across the wetlands. Florida black bears and Eastern indigo snakes, Everglades minks and diamondback terrapins can still be found there too. 

An incredible and unique part of the country to spend your next family day out! Got that sense of adventure? Great, you're all set!