Florida Department of Environmental Protection Feb. 11, 2014 Newsletter Celebrate Valentine's Day at a State Park

Florida Department of Environmental Protection	Feb. 11, 2014 Newsletter
Celebrate Valentine's Day at a State Park ~Spend Valentine's Day with your sweetheart at Florida State Parks.~    Blue waters at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. Love is in the air at Florida's state parks. You and your significant other are invited to join us at any of our state parks for Valentine’s Day. Take a romantic hike with a ranger on Valentine’s Day from 9 to 11 am at Ravine Gardens State Park. Enjoy the beautiful ponds, plants and creatures throughout the park while enjoying your time with your love. Lovers Key State Park invites couples to the 5th Annual Valentine’s Day Vow Renewal Ceremony. Vow renewals will begin at 10 am or 3 pm on Friday, Feb. 14 and include a champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres, coffee, desserts, photos, and a special gifts. Your $75 non-refundable donation will benefit the Friends of Lovers Key, Inc. Contact Judy Greenwood at (708) 359-0466 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (708) 359-0466 GRATIS  end_of_the_skype_highlighting to register. Take your sweetheart on a romantic moonlight paddle at Manatee Springs State Park. The two-hour tours are available on both Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 and begin at 6:30 pm. Love birds are able to take a full moon beach stroll at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach on Valentine’s Day. Join a ranger underneath the light of a full moon at 5:30 pm and learn about some interesting moon facts. The Valentine’s Day Sunset Cruise at Crystal River Preserve State Park sets sail at 5:30 pm on Thursday, Feb. 13, Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15. Valentine’s Day games and prizes will entertain you as you witness a spectacular sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is offering a Sweethearts Forever evening cruise on Saturday, Feb. 15. The cruise begins at  5:15 p.m. At the conclusion of the river tour, a buffet featuring all types of delicious foods will be provided along with the beautiful sounds of the Dorian Q Jazz Quartet. $25 per person. If you are getting married, why not fall in love with a Florida State Park wedding? Whether simple and intimate or more elaborate, state parks offer beautiful natural scenery and breath-taking vistas at affordable prices. NEW Florida State Parks wedding rental flyers present information in an easy format to make your search for the perfect venue easier than ever. Visit our website and use the “Weddings” activity icon to find the park that’s right for your special event.
Experience History of the 34th Annual Reenactment of the Civil War Battle at Olustee ~2014 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War battle.~ Living historians reenact the Battle of Olustee. Join us for the 38th Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Olustee. Fought on Feb. 20, 1864, Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is commemorating the 150-year anniversary of the Battle of Olustee. Full-scale artillery, mounted cavalry and three African American regiments took part in the battle that ended with 2,807 casualties and a Confederate victory. As Florida’s first state park, Olustee Battlefield prides itself in the reenactment. Throughout the weekend, more than 2,000 demonstrators will present living history impressions of military and civilian life at the time of Florida’s largest Civil War battle. The reenactment of a Civil War battle will take place on Saturday at 3:30 pm, whereas the Battle of Olustee Reenactment will begin at 1:30 pm on Sunday. Period music concerts, crafts, lectures, battlefield surgical practice and the lives of black and white civilians during the war will be portrayed. The event reenactment will take place on Friday, Feb. 14, Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16 from 8 am to 5 pm.

Looking Ahead to March 2014

• Feb. 16-21 – Paddle Florida's Wild, Wonderful Withlacoochee, a 60-mile paddle
• Mar. 1 – An Evening With Clyde Butcher at Myakka River State Park
• Mar. 1 – 37th Reenactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge at Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park
• Mar. 1 – 18th Annual Azalea Days at Ravine Gardens State Park
• Mar. 1 -2 – 7th Annual Stone Age and Primative Arts Festival at Ochlockonee River State Park

Upcoming Special Events

• View List of Events in the Northwest Region
• View List of Events in the Northeast Region
• View List of Events in the Central Region
• View List of Events in the Southwest Region
• View List of Events in the Southeast Region

Other Important News

Mobile App for Smartphones Plan your state park adventures using the new Pocket Ranger® app for your smartphone.The FREE Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® mobile app is available now on iTunes, Android Market and PocketRanger.com.

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