Who knew that ecology and history would make a good mix? But Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve is exactly that sort of paradise where the past and the present are both treasured. Spanning over 46,000 acres, the preserve is divided into various individual park areas, all of which showcase a unique aspect of Florida’s history. All of this takes place in the beautifully unspoiled salt marshes and coastal dunes that are characteristic of Florida’s northern territory. Very few people are aware of Timucuan, and its status as a National Park.

In addition, it stands out from the other national parks due to its focus on the heritage of past peoples and their affinity with nature. The preserve is in fact named for the Timucuan Indians who were indigenous settlers of the region before the first European colonizers discovered America. Sadly, the tribe had all but disappeared by 1800, and thus the preserve is an ode to what has been lost. Other events that remain a memory are recorded in areas such as the Fort Caroline National Memorial or the Kingsley Plantation, where you can catch a sighting of egrets and old slave cabins. It’s a wonderfully immersive experience that will resurrect the past right before your eyes.