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Exploring Florida's Natural Springs This Season
Florida is home to more than 1,000 freshwater springs, giving the state one of the largest concentrations of these natural phenomena. Not only are these systems beautiful, but they're also a great place to visit, swim, and enjoy other recreational activities. Our real estate agents know the state well and recommend visiting the following natural springs.
Exploring Florida's Natural Springs This Season
Blue Spring State Park
Address: 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City, FL 32763
Swim in 72-degree crystal-clear waters at Blue Spring State Park, located along the St. Johns River and near central Florida homes for sale. The spring attracts manatees that rely on its constant temperatures, and if a significant number remain in the spring, its opening could be delayed. Although visitors aren't allowed to swim with the manatees, you might be able to see them from a boardwalk viewing platform. For more water fun, rent a tube and enter the water at the upper entry, swim to the spring boil, and then float down to the main swim dock for a journey of about an eighth of a mile.
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Address: 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712
Wekiwa Springs State Park is a popular setting for swimming in the spring, which is just over half an acre in size and has an average depth of four feet. If you have difficulty using the available steps, a swim lift is available to help you enjoy the water. Snorkeling is also allowed at the springs. And when you're ready to get out of the water, a series of trails lets you choose from a short 8/10-mile trek up to 13.5 miles for a serious hike.
Spring Park at Green Cove Springs
Address: 200 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Nestled along the western bank of the St. Johns River in Clay County, Spring Park at Green Cove Springs is a historic and family-friendly destination that has drawn visitors seeking its therapeutic waters since the 1800s. The park's natural spring flows at a constant 77 degrees and surges water directly into a large spring-fed municipal swimming pool, making it one of the most accessible and unique spring experiences in Northeast Florida. After a swim, the park also offers:
- A spring-fed swimming pool and free splash pad
- A kayak launch onto the St. Johns River
- Covered picnic shelters beneath old-growth Spanish moss-draped oaks
- A playground, gazebo, and pedestrian bridge over the spring run
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Address: 12087 SW U.S. Hwy. 27, Fort White, FL 32038
Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a 2,669-acre wildlife haven in North Florida and one of the most beloved spring destinations in the state. Eight major crystal-clear springs join to form the six-mile Ichetucknee River, which flows through shaded hammocks of cypress, maple, oak, and pine at a gentle one-mile-per-hour current. The park is best known for its tubing, but it offers far more than a float down the river. Designated as a National Natural Landmark, the park's upper spring run is considered one of the most pristine in Florida. Wildlife is abundant throughout, and it's common to spot:
- Turtles, river otters, and beavers along the banks
- Wild turkeys, wood ducks, and limpkins in the forest
- Manatees seeking warm spring water
Swimming and snorkeling are available year-round at the Ichetucknee Head Spring and Blue Hole Spring.
Rainbow Springs State Park
Address: 19158 SW 81st Place Rd., Dunnellon, FL 34432
Visit Rainbow Springs State Park to experience one of the state's largest springs that serves as the headwaters for the Rainbow River. The park is a popular destination for many fun water activities, including:
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
- Tubing
- Fishing
- Canoeing
For non-water activities, the park has beautiful, shady gardens that you can walk through, and you can pass three waterfalls. Along the way, you'll stroll past azaleas, oaks, and magnolias on trails that vary in length up to a half-mile.
Ready to Spring Into a New Home?
Contact us today if you'd like to see Jacksonville homes for sale or homes elsewhere in the state, and buy a home amid Florida's natural beauty. We help customers with their home-buying and selling needs throughout Florida and southeastern Georgia, and we look forward to helping you find your dream home!
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