Salt Springs Recreation Area 7.29-8.01.10 Site 27

Ok, so this trip included 7 of us. As 6 wasn't enough, we invited a friend for our daughter, so she wouldn't be the only girl again :) So off we went, after work on Friday, on the journey off I-40 towards Ocala. After a trip to McDonalds for Happy Meals for the kids, the drive was about an hour and a half. After backing into the easy paved site, the kids explored in the big open fields all around the site. The bathroom was very convenient to this site, which is always a plus.  After spending about an hour getting set up, we heading to get cooled down at the springs. We opted to drive, as we were too tired to walk :)  The springs were freezing, ut quite refreshing in the 100 degree weather. After a while, we heard the hungry kid whine starting, so back to the site to start our hot dog meal :O)  The rain, of course, joined up on this trip as well...so a DVD was in order before bed.  The girls got to sleep on the dining room table bed, and fell asleep after DS chatting :)

In the morning, quiet time ended at 8am... we were off for an adventure hike. And boy, was this an adventure. Through the woods, and hundreds of spider webs to navigate around, we finally made it through Bear Swamp trail. (about an hour hike - but to the kids, it was all morning long, and they were parched :) So off to the springs we went to cool down before lunch. Grilled cheese and apples was the lunch menu and then stayed at the site with squirt guns, while the littlest napped and Mom and Dad got to read a book :) 

The night activity was a fashion show. This entailed the kids getting a stack of newspaper each, along with tape and scissors (which one pair between the 5 of them was NOT enough!!!) and had to design something to wear that was age/sex appropriate. Karate gear for the boys, and fashion for the ladies...

After dinner was a marshmallow roast. In the morning, we headed back to the springs for our last swim where Dad lost his diving mask... After lunch, we were packed up and heading out before the 1pm checkout (with 5 miutes to spare) We didn't get a chance to stop at the gift store, as the kids had pleaded for us too, so they were treated to a ice cream sundae from Mickey D's before taking our guest back home!!! All in all, a great campground, with awesome sites, and a great swimming area for the kids!!! This will be a regular stop for our family in the months ahead!