Palatka

A Florida State Park 13 miles south of Palatka, on US 17 between Pomona Park and Satsuma. The park's natural communities include sandhills, covered with longleaf pines and wiregrass, and sand pine scrub. These communities protect several endangered and threatened species, such as the gopher tortoise, as well as a variety of other native animals. A picnic and hiking area is located on US-17, north of Pomona Park. The mile-and-a-half hiking and bicycling trail takes visitors to the pristine waters of Blue Pond.

A 59-acre Florida State Park, it was constructed by the Works Progress Administration, with cypress buildings, rock gardens and fieldstone terraces. Near the park entrance is The Court of States and a 64-foot obelisk dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Recreational activities include viewing the thousands of plants and shrubs, picnicking, jogging, hiking and biking. Amenities include interpretive exhibits, picnic areas, gardens, hiking trails, a 1.8-mile paved perimeter loop road, and a parcours trail. Visitors can rent a large covered pavilion, auditorium, and meeting rooms. The park is part of the annual Azalea Festival the first weekend in March, when the nearly 100,000 plants that the WPA planted decades ago bloom.

Designed by Donald J. Ross, ASGCA, the course, situated alongside the Ravine Gardens State Park, is a wonderful mix of beautiful scenery coupled with challenging game play. Ross was considered one of the most influential golf course designers in the history of the sport.

With a unique variety of lakes, rivers, creeks, springs and wetlands the Palatka area is a canoeing and kayaking paradise. Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost and Resort offers cabin, canoe, and kayak rentals. Lake Ocklawaha is southwest of the city off of SR 19.

A Pursuit Start sailboat race on St. Johns River. The world's largest river race, boaters start at the Memorial Bridge in Palatka and end at the Buckman Bridge in Jacksonville.