This park is now the standard by which I will judge all other state parks. I haven't seen its equal anywhere in the US. I would give it ten stars if I could.

When I first pulled in, I saw a sign with a braggadocios statement along the lines of "Florida state parks: the best state parks in the country." This was my first night ever in Florida, so I thought to myself "yeah, well, we'll see about that." If all Florida's state parks are this good, though, that may not be hyperbole.

First off, the park is a destination in itself. It has excellent bike paths and walking trails, as well as a lovely beach within walking distance of the campground. There is also an abundance of small lizards and large tortoises, both very entertaining to watch.

The campground, however, is superb. It is cut out of the jungle, so every site has abundant shade and privacy. Some sites are better than others, of course, but I didn't see any that looked unattractive. Bathrooms are well sited, spacious, nicely designed, and clean. All in all, I couldn't find anything to complain about, which is rare.

That said, reserving your campsite in advance would be a good idea here. The only reason I was able to stay three nights was because someone else cancelled. In this case, however, the campground's popularity is well deserved. Well done, Florida.