Floridian Getaways 2008 - (Page 40) From left to right: Scuba diving in Blue Spring State Park. Photo by Ray Ecclecston, courtesy of Florida State Parks. Salt Springs Recreation Area. stone tools left by the area’s first inhabitants. These items are part of the preserve and protected by law. Another great place to tube, paddle and swim is Ichetucknee Springs State Park, which is one of the state’s most popular summertime escapes. This short, springfed river is located 35 miles northwest of Gainesville. Despite its popularity, this river remains crystal clear because park operators allow only a limited number of people on the river each day. On a summer weekend, the park can fill up quickly. Go early, and if possible, go on a weekday. No food or drink is allowed on the river, and there are no camping facilities. The Ocala area has plenty of swimming holes. About 25 miles northeast of Ocala, Salt Springs Recreation Area is one of three Swimming is springs in Ocala National Forest. Day-use allowed at Blue activities include picnicking, canoeing, Spring in an hiking and swimming. about halfway between Pensacola and Tallahassee. Wekiwa Springs, located near Apopka, is another favorite for locals hoping to beat the heat. The spring, with 72-degree water, is surrounded by a natural park area that is ideal for spreading out a blanket and enjoying a picnic lunch. This state park is located at the headwaters of the Wekiva River, which hasn’t changed much since Timucuan Indians fished it and hunted in the surrounding forests. The river, one of the most pristine in Florida, is popular with canoeists and kayakers, who can also paddle nearby Rock Springs Run. Manatee Springs, about six miles west of Chiefland, is a first-magnitude spring (the term refers to water volume) that pumps more than 100 million gallons of water daily. It gets its name from the endangered sea cows that swim up the river in cooler weather to spend the night in the warm waters of the headspring. This state park welcomes scuba divers and paddlers. An isolated patch of paradise, it is a perfect place to get away from civilization, even if just for a day. Troy Spring, a 70-foot-deep, first-magnitude spring, is another great place to swim, snorkel and scuba dive. This state park, located near Branford, northwest of Gainesville, contains the wreckage of the Civil War-era steamboat Madison, which was scuttled in the spring run in 1863 to keep it from being captured by Union troops. Recently acquired by the Florida State Park system, Troy Spring now has restrooms, picnic tables and a riverside access area for paddlers and boaters on the Suwannee River. area separated by buoys from the manatee refuge zone. Alexander Springs Recreation Area is about 30 miles southeast of Ocala and offers swimming, canoeing and good scuba diving. Juniper Springs Recreation Area is one of the oldest and better-known recreation areas in the forest. It’s about 25 miles east of Ocala and great for swimming and snorkeling. If you head east, you’ll come across Blue Spring, near Orlando, which spews 104 million gallons of pure, fresh water every day. Swimming is allowed in a designated area separated by buoys from the manatee refuge zone. For more adventurous souls, scuba diving is allowed in the spring. Blue Spring State Park is roughly a 2½-hour drive from the Tampa Bay area. A dip in Ponce de Leon Springs, named for the Spanish explorer who came to Florida in search of the legendary “Fountain of Youth,” might just add a few years to your life. The main spring, a constant 68 degrees year round, pumps out 14 million gallons of water each day. After a swim, take a leisurely hike along two nature trails that meander through a lush, hardwood forest. Picnic tables, grills and restrooms are also available. In the northwest part of the state, Ponce de Leon State Park is Florida State Parks at www.floridastateparks.org Terry Tomalin is outdoors editor of the St. Petersburg Times. He travels with his children Kai, 6, and Nia, 4, and wife Kanika. 40 Floridians.VISITFLORIDA.com http://www.floridastateparks.org http://Floridians.VISITFLORIDA.com
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