In fact, it was the first underwater park in the United States when the state acquired it in 1959. Come in late winter or early spring for usually calm waters and a look at its famous underwater statue, Christ of the Deep. Smallest Dead Lakes State Recreation Area, in Wewahitchka, is just 65.5 acres. Despite its size, the park is home to deer, foxes, alligators, beavers, raccoons, opossums, turtles, skunks and many other animals. The floodplain area is said to have been created by natural sand bars that formed and blocked the Chipola River.
Visitors can walk trails, picnic, canoe or put in their boats, and enjoy fishing and camping.
One of the Oldest Fort Clinch State Park offers a living history museum complete with costumed re-enactors. On Amelia Island north of Jacksonville, the fort was occupied by Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War. The buildings are still standing, and you can see how the troops lived. If you're lucky, when you visit the park, uniformed re-enactors will demonstrate how the canons were fired and will be on hand to answer your questions and discuss the Civil War. If you're not into history, you can still enjoy the park's nature or bike trails, or the maritime hammock and estuarine tidal marsh plant communities.