Travel1,650 Acres of Quiet Retreat on Florida’s Hontoon IslandTo reach this island, visitors need to paddle across the river or board a private boat.SavePrintHontoon Island State Park sits right on the St. Johns River in Volusia County in Florida on Jan. 31, 2024. Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/TNSTribune News Service2/15/2024|Updated: 2/19/20240:00X 1By Patrick Connolly From Orlando SentinelORLANDO, Fla.—If Hontoon Island’s tall pines and broad oaks could speak, they would have stories to tell of homesteaders and explorers who ventured to the island and made their homes along the St. Johns River centuries ago.We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.Share this articleLeave a commentTribune News ServiceAuthorAuthor’s Selected ArticlesLongevity Travel Is the Next Big Travel Trend: Here’s What It InvolvesOct 24, 2025This 3-Course Vegan Meal Is Great for Vegetarian Awareness MonthOct 23, 20257 Guilt-Free Ways to Spend Your Retirement CashOct 23, 2025Teriyaki Glazed Pork With Chinese NoodlesOct 22, 2025Related TopicsislandHontoon