The central and northern part of Florida holds great attractions for its visitors. Guess what it is? These top attractions are countless natural springs that will keep you spellbound every time you visit Florida. So, be sure to book cheap flights to Florida or else you will surely miss out on one of the many bounties that nature has brought to this beautiful state.
You may be surprised to learn that there are more than 600 springs in Florida. Some of the largest and most visited springs are owned and managed by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks. Whether you visit Florida in the winter or summer, during a cold snap or a hot snap, the spring water temperature remains a constant 70 to 73 degrees. These springs are enjoyed by people and tourists in both summer and winter. So, no matter if you buy your airline tickets for winter or summer travel, you’re guaranteed to have a blast visiting Florida’s many springs.
Blue Spring State Park, located near Orange City, is the most visited in Florida. This spring attracts 500,000 visitors each year. People visit here in both summer and winter. Blue Spring State Park is a designated manatee refuge, where people visit primarily in the winter. The gentle manatees swarm in the spring. The park’s spring waters are closed to swimming and other water sports-related activities from mid-November to March 15 each year to protect the manatees. During the summer, visiting Blue State Park is a lot of fun. A large number of visitors descend here during the summer to enjoy the cool waters and seek relief from the heat. You can also enjoy a host of other activities at Blue State Park, including hiking, picnicking, boating, canoeing, fishing, and swimming.
Apart from this, there are other popular ones in Florida that must be visited. Some of the most famous springs here include Alexander, Salt Springs, Juniper, Silver Glen, Peacock, Telford, and others.
Popular springs like Alexander, Salt, Juniper, and Silver Glen are managed by the Ocala National Forest, where they are located. Alexander is a spring of the first magnitude, and has a sandy beach. Salt Springs derives its name from its slightly salty flavor that comes from the sodium, magnesium, and potassium salts found in its waters, which rise through ancient salt beds. Juniper Springs has hundreds of tiny bubbling springs. The Civilian Conservation Corps developed Juniper Springs as a recreation area in the 1930s. Silver Glen is another first magnitude spring. Silver Glen has a route accessible to boats. This spring empties into Lake George, which is the second largest lake in Florida.
Peacock Springs and Telford are among the most popular natural springs in North Florida. The springs of North Florida are recognized around the world as prime sites for the dangerous sport of cave diving.
Whenever you visit Florida, don’t miss its many natural springs. It will be great fun for you and your family.