(Photo: floridastateparks.org)
Floating down the lazy river in Florida
Summer is upon us and state parks are opening back up to the public, which means it’s time to get out into the great outdoors and soak up some much-needed sunlight.
Florida is home to lots of great hot spots, and the best thing is you don’t need a ticket to Disney World or Universal Studios to have lots of fun. For fans of water and nature, these 4 lazy rivers in Florida are the perfect day trip to go tubing and relaxing on a sunny summer’s day.
Rainbow Springs State Park
Known for its beautiful manmade waterfalls and historic footpaths that take visitors through lush Florida foliage, Rainbow Springs State Park is home to a two-hour tubing experience. Visitors take a shuttle upstream and float back down to the park area, enjoying the cool waters and natural wildlife along the way. The park is located at S.W. 180th Avenue Road, Dunnellon, FL 34432.
Blue Spring State Park
(Photo: knowyourcampground.com)
Take a detour from the main theme park attractions and head on over to this state park to enjoy tubing and swimming. Although the river is a little shorter (1/8 of a mile) Blue Spring State Park still offers a relaxing tubing experience along with other fun outdoor activities that are perfect for the hot summer day. Blue Spring State Park is located at 2100 W. French Avenue, Orange City, FL 32763.
Madison Blue Springs
Crystal-clear waters and a famous cave for diving are sure to entice you to Madison Blue Springs. Named the best swimming hole in the country in 2015 by USA Today, this state park offers scenic woodland when floating down the 82 feet wide, 25 feet deep, and a 150-foot spring. The spring merges with a river and even bubbles up into a limestone basin along the west bank of the Withlacoochee River. This park is located at 8300 NE State Road 6, Lee, FL 32059.
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
Two and a half hours from Orlando, this state park is home to another crystal-clear spring that is perfect for tubing. Running about a quarter of a mile into the Santa Fe River, Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is known for its water clarity and production of about 44 million gallons of water per day. Paddling, snorkeling, and swimming are also available at the park. The park is located at 7450 NE. 60th St., High Springs, FL.
By: Maytinee Kramer
