Celebrate spring with a trip to the springs!

Spring is in the air (minus this weird cold front we’re supposed to get hit with this weekend). What better way to celebrate the incoming season than to check out Florida’s natural wonders? You could absolutely head to the beaches or try hiking in one of our beautiful parks or preserves… but you could also head to the springs (no pun intended). Here are Toyota of Orlando’s top picks for the best springs in Central Florida to visit this season – pack up the car and take a daylong road trip!

De Leon Springs State Park: Head to De Leon Springs to swim – the water is 72 degrees year-round and it’s one of Florida’s TOP recreation spots. You can rent canoes or paddleboats and make your way through the park to explore lakes, creeks, and marshes. With 22,000 acres to trek through, you can definitely make a day of it. And when you’re done and have worked up an appetite, head to the Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant nearby to make your own pancakes on a tableside griddle.

Rock Springs Run: Drive over to Apopka to visit Rock Springs Run if you’re in the mood for crystal clear water and a relaxing ride down the river. You can launch a canoe, kayak, or even a tube from King’s Landing and enjoy 8 miles of nature as you make your way downstream at a steady rate of 3-4 miles per hour.

Three Sisters Springs: Crystal River is famous for its beautiful springs and with good reason. The water is pretty much pristine and at Three Sisters Springs, you can swim with West Indian manatees. There are five natural springs, Lake Crystal, and a vibrant wetland to explore in the vicinity. If you’re not in the mood to swim, you can board a trolley that will take you to a boardwalk that’s a prime viewing spot for the famed manatees, and you can also take a guided water tour.

Weeki Wachee Springs: Who hasn’t heard of the famed mermaids at Weeki Wachi? This neighboring state park is world-famous and has 538 acres for you to explore in a variety of ways, including kayaking, canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and river cruises. There’s also a water park called Buccaneer Bay complete with water slides.

Blue Springs State Park: Blue Spring State Park is the largest spring on the St. John’s River in Florida and spans 2,600 acres. Swimming is not allowed during manatee season (November to March), but the springs stay a comfortable 73 degrees all year long. You can kayak and paddle, as well as take a narrated boat tour while you’re there.

Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area: Head into Salt Springs in the Ocala National Forest. You can swim, snorkel, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and more in the beautiful blue-green waters as well as see a mix of saltwater and freshwater fish. This area additionally boasts incredible archaeological landmarks – there are middens. or large mounds that are designated sacred spots in the Native American culture.

From our Orlando Toyota family to yours, have the best weekend AND the best spring!

 

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