- April 26, 2024
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Janet Frank makes photo album books for all of her travels. Her visit to Florida's state parks generated eight of these. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Janet Frank has visited Washington Oaks Gardens State Park several times. Courtesy photo
Janet Frank at De Leon Springs State Park. Courtesy photo
Janet Frank at Caladesi Island State Park. Courtesy photo
Janet Frank and Lois Hughes hold up their Real Florida Passports. Courtesy photo
Janet Frank poses with a park ranger at her last state park: Egmont Key State Park in St. Petersburg. Courtesy photo
Janet Frank at her last park: Egmont Key State Park in St. Petersburg. Courtesy photo
Ormond Beach resident Janet Frank made a goal when she moved to Florida in 2017: to get to know the “real” Florida.
What better way than to visit all 175 state parks?
Frank, 75, achieved her goal on April 21 with her visit to Egmont Key State Park in St. Petersburg.
“It went super,” Frank said. “When COVID hit, I didn’t think I was going to be able to finish, but after things started opening again, I was even more determined to finish.”
She and her husband, Carl, who moved to Ormond from South Carolina, started with Fort Clinch in Amelia Island in December 2018. The next year, the Franks were joined by Lois Hughes and her husband, but after he died, it became a girls-only venture.
Janet Frank didn’t see many parks in 2020 during the pandemic, but she and Hughes renewed their efforts in 2021, acquiring stamp after stamp for their Real Florida Passports, created by the Florida State Parks system. Visitors who receive all 175 stamps and submit it a form receive a free family annual entrance pass, valid for up to eight people.
Frank, a retired teacher and an avid photographer and traveler, makes photo album books of the places she visits. She has filled eight books with memories of her visits to Florida’s state parks. Seeing them in person, she said, has given her an educational appreciation for the parks.
“I think people that don’t see any or many of these are missing the boat, especially if you’re a Floridian,” she said. “I think you should see these things. ... I know everybody can’t do them all, but I think they should see some of those aspects of past Florida life. I know you can read about them in a book, but it’s not the same.”
As someone who loves history, Frank said her favorite parks all had a historical aspect. Silver Springs State Park in Ocala was a memorable one for her because she and Hughes visited it on a day its Cracker Village, a replica of a 19th century pioneer settlement, was open.
“Before I moved to Florida, I had never heard of a Cracker,” she said. “So that was very interesting, plus we did the glass bottom boat ride.”
Other favorites included the De Leon Springs State Park, with its pancake house; Manatee Springs State Park — where she and Hughes swam — and Fanning Springs State Park.
She and Hughes stayed in a cabin to better explore the latter.
When asked how it feels to have completed all 175 state parks, Frank said it’s wonderful.
“I’m a goal-oriented person, and so that was just part of it,” Frank said.
