We stayed at this park on a Friday after work until Sunday morning. It was such an easy park to get to on 1/2 a tank of gas and less than an hour away. We got there before 6pm, and were set up in about 1/2 an hour. After we filled our bellies with a quick dinner brought from home, we ventured out before it became too dark to see. We went on a trail to see the springs, as this is always the highlight of our summer camping trips The problem was that we didn't make it before it became way too dark. It is a fairly good walk to the swimming area, far enough away, that the next two trips to the springs ~ we drove :) On our way back to the campsite - we got offered a ride in the back of a pick up truck by fellow campers, and jumped on the opportunity for the "How much further questions?? and "our there bears out right here" to end. Once back, kids were showered , movie time then bedtime for the little campers. We relaxed a little outside until the bugs took over our little nook underneath the awning.
REVIEW OF THE CAMPGROUND: This park and sites are very private. The other state parks that we have visited over the summer, typically have large fields around us, so the kids make friends quickly with their camp mates as well as have a place to burn off energy. These sites were covered with trees on all three sides, but you could see your neighbors through the brush. This was the biggest downfall of the campground. Due to the trees, we couldn't get very good reception to the antenna. Also, this site was a bit further from the bath houses than I would have liked for the kids, but it was the last site available to book online 2 weeks prior, so we had little choice. They were clean, didn't use the showers, but they were adequate. There is no sewer hookup - but a dump station that we had to navigate back into the campground to get to before exiting. We would come back here again, mainly due to the water activities as well as the proximity to our house. It is not my favorite location so far, but after we try the other FL State Parks next summer, we will probably visit again.
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| The old Mansion (kids on porch) |
We spent Saturday morning at the Springs ( the extremely cold springs) swimming, reading, walking to the old mansion,fish finding, and spotting the one lone manatee. It is a beautiful spring, but there is no area to stay around the spring to read/relax etc, unless you are going to be going in. You can't set up your chairs nearby. When the littlest was tired of swimming ~ we hoofed it back up to our stuffy, which was in a grassy field until the others were through. This is quite boring for a 5 year old. He did manage to wander over to the shower a few times to "cool off". We made it back to the camper, just before it started to rain heavily. We spent some nice time together, while the youngest napped, and all us curled up to watch a DVD and read.
After the rain slowed down, it was dinner time, and we chose to go to CiCi's down the road, which is a special treat to our kids. After we got back, we headed to the playground area ( had to drive to this one) Didn't want to get picked up hitch hiking again in the dark. Dad got a little fishing in, while Mom watched about a dozen gators all around the opening of the Spring. Due to this fact, mom's irrational fear stopped the ability of the kids to hit the springs the next day. Instead, we went for a walk and a drive around the campground before loading up to head home. It was so close, that we were home before lunch time, and had plenty of time to wash the piled up camping laundry LOL :)
To Visit this Park:
http://www.reserveamerica.com/
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