Blue Springs State Park: Orange City, Florida

One of the top items on my Florida bucket list was to see a manatee in the wild. Ask any of my friends and they will tell you JUST HOW EXCITED manatees make me haha. But really, manatees are one of my favorite animals now after moving to Florida. Just look at their little noses!!! They are so majestic!


One of the locations you can have a chance of seeing wild manatees in Florida is at Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, Florida; located about 45 minutes from Orlando. Your highest chance of spotting some manatees is usually in the winter months between November and March when the manatees migrate to the inland warmer rivers and springs. I went in May and I still saw 3 manatees; 2 adults and a baby.

Also be aware of alligators at all times when swimming and just hanging around near the water. This is Florida and this is their territory.

There are very fine guidelines when swimming or snorkeling with manatees to be aware of. When I was at Blue Springs, the park rangers were continuously yelling at people to get out of the water and out of the manatees way and to not go near them. I have heard at some other state parks you are allowed to swim with them closer but I have not personally been to any of those yet.




Along with swimming and snorkeling, there are also opportunities to rent tubes and tube down the spring to the beginning of it. The spring gets deeper the further down you swim. At the end there is a large crevice where scuba divers,snorkelers and tubers alike can explore and enjoy.

If dry land is more your thing, just a short walk down a boardwalk through the trees there are boat,kayak and canoe rentals to go out on the St. John's River. The change in water clarity as you get closer to the river is a very interesting thing as well. The closer to the river you get the more opaque the water gets and as you work your way back to the spring, the clearer. There are also multiple viewing areas along the pathway to spot wildlife such as manatees,turtles,fish or alligators.

Cocoa Beach Highlights

Cocoa Beach, only about a 50 minute drive from nearby Walt Disney World and Orlando, is a great day trip to get away from the busy theme parks. There are some tolls along the way so be prepared and have quarters or a Sunpass ready!

Once you arrive, there are many different areas you could park. There is street parking with meters, the Cocoa Beach Pier with meters or pay cash to park in a lot, or there are a few hidden free spots including Ron John Surf Shop or Lori Wilson Park; any of these have quick beach access.

The Atlantic Ocean is quite a contrast to the warmer Gulf Coast beaches in that it offers both colder water and bigger waves for surfing and other water sports. The nearby pier includes a restaurant, stores,fishing and restrooms, while the beach right outside has volleyball courts, chair and umbrella rentals and many photo opportunities!

Another spot I recommend checking out is Lori Wilson Park. This park hosts many varieties of flora and fauna. During my time there I spotted a turtle and a raccoon. There is a nice boardwalk nature walkway through the trees that leads up to a nice overlook of the ocean. Lori Wilson Park also is also a well known pop culture stop for those “I dream of Jeannie” fans. This show, set in and around Cocoa Beach has its on roadway in Lori Wilson Park named after it: I Dream of Jeannie Lane. So stop by for a quick photo op!

Whether you prefer water sports or just lounging on the beach with toes in the sand. Cocoa Beach has it all for a quick trip away from the city!

Wekiwa Springs State Park: Apopka,Florida

Ever since moving to Florida I have been dying to explore the outdoor attractions that we just don’t have in Pennsylvania. One of those being the natural springs around this area. I have been to Blue Springs State Park in the past where I saw some manatees but for this post I want to talk about my experience at Wekiwa Springs State Park.

First some stats!

Location: Apopka, Florida

Distance from Disney World (Magic Kingdom): 38 miles (about 45 minutes)

Price: 

Admission: $4 single occupancy vehicle, $6 2-8 people per vehicle

Tolls (to and from): $7 (make sure you have quarters for change only tolls!)

Also account for gas prices

What to do: Wekiwa Springs offers many activities! While I was here I snorkeled in the crystal clear water and explored a nearby boardwalk pathway. They also offer kayaking, canoeing,a nature center, camping and numerous trails to explore. Some amenities include nearby restrooms and a concessions stand!

Time Spent: About 2 hours (left early due to rain)

My day started around 11am when I started off on my way to Wekiwa Springs. The roads were not too busy, just make sure you have quarters for those tricky change only tolls! Luckily I had some to spare! I am not looking forward to the day I unexpectedly come across one with no quarters in sight. What a mess that will be! Anyway, it was a nice easy drive. When I arrived I quickly found a parking spot, gathered my towel and bags and headed down to the spring. I set up a nice spot on the hill where I could watch everyone snorkeling and swimming. It was a nice view of the beautiful spring while I ate my picnic lunch.

After lunch I snorkeled a bit in the refreshing 72 degree water. There were a few little fishes and a nice sandy bottom to look at. I heard some teenagers exclaiming how they had spotted a bigger fish, so they are there as well!

When I tired of snorkeling I took a nice stroll around the outside of the spring where I spotted a nearby raccoon. I hurried away from it in case it got any closer and soon found myself at a nice wooded deck walking trail. I followed it for a while until the sky started becoming a bit dark. So I turned around, passing the Kayak and Canoe rental area on my way out. By the time I got back to my towel and other belongings, there was a rumble of thunder in the distance and rain had started to fall. I gathered my stuff and began trekking up to hill back to my car. I made a quick stop at the nature center to admire the turtles and passed another trail head where I read a warning sign about black bears. Next time I will be sure to bring a friend before heading out on that trail! Can never be too careful!

Overall, it was a great day trip and I will definitely be returning to either rent a kayak or head out on the trails!

Check out this video I made of my day!

Day Trip Idea: Horseback riding/Trail Ride

A great idea for a day trip would be to go horseback riding. A trail ride is a great way to enjoy the outdoors! Its different then being in a ring and it is great for all skill sets! Many barns have guides that will be with you every step of the way. They tailor the trail ride for each of the riders abilities. You may walk most of the way, or go faster and maybe even jump! This is a different activity to do during the summer, or for any month at that matter! I know a barn near me even has overnight trips where you camp out overnight with the horses on your trail ride. Make it into a weekend event with an overnight trip!