Blue Springs, Orlando, Florida

This State Park is about 30 miles North of Orlando, just 2 miles West of Orange City along French Avenue. I have always found, without exception that Florida State Parks are always well organised for the visitor, well patrolled by wardens, and a really safe place to visit. This park is a designated manatee refuge, well known for its manatee migration during the winter months. Manatees are sometimes called Sea Cows, and resemble a mini submarine.

They are very sedate creatures, non-territorial, and they are herbivores, living on a wide variety of sea grasses, algae and other vegetation. Their normal lifespan is between 50 and 60 years. They swim from the ocean and up the St John's River to the park as soon as the cooler weather sets in, which lowers the sea water temperatures. The Manatees are very easy to see and to get close to in the shallow waters during cooler times of the year, but they seek deeper water during the hotter months. To provide a safe warm water refuge for manatees during the winter season, the spring and spring run in this park is closed to all water related activities including swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and boating from November 15 through March 1.

The park draws a year-round mix of families, nature lovers, picnickers, water enthusiasts, sun-worshippers and romantics. A single day can include a scenic river boat trip, a guided or solo canoe or kayak trip, bird or wildlife viewing, a picnic under the spreading Live Oaks, and a classic sunset over the historic St. Johns River. A large wooden house, the Thursby house, built in 1872, still stands in a prominent position in the park. There is also a store selling supplies and novelties. The park offers excellent camping facilities; a hiking trail and diving for certified scuba divers with a partner, but you must check-in first and register to scuba dive. A self-guided boardwalk guides visitors through a thickly wooded area to Blue Spring, where there is an excellent view looking down into the spring gently pouring out of the ground.

Blue Spring is the largest spring on the St. Johns River and the crystal clear waters remain at a constant 72 degrees. The spring originates from a large slit cave which drops down to 120 feet. A restriction at this point limits further exploration. At 60 feet, open water divers will encounter a sign warning them to not proceed any further. Cave divers may continue, but may be confronted with a strong flow that's known to blow the mask right off a diver. Visitors to the park can swim in the beautiful clear spring water, but swimming or diving with manatees is not permitted and is strictly enforced. The entrance fee into most State Parks is $5.00 per carload for up to eight people.

Action Tip: Go early in the day, as this park is very popular, and once the capacity is reached, the gates are closed until some people start to leave.

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This State Recreation area is just a few miles North of Blue Springs State Park on State road 17. This park covers 611 acres, built around a natural spring pouring out about 20 million gallons every day.The park is home to many wildlife animals and birds.

Divers can enjoy their sport, but it is mainly a park for the whole family to enjoy, with a very large circular swimming pool, a play area, canoe and boat hire, and a 5 mile hiking trail. Tube rentals are also available for use within the Spring Pool area.

There are lots of picnic areas with tables and grills, an enclosed swimming area, pavilions, a playground, fishing pier, boat ramp and boat dock and an old Spanish sugar mill with huge paddle wheel converted into a visitor center, grill and griddle house which serves a mixture to make your own pancakes on a hot griddle which is recessed into the center of every table.

A boat tour offers trips up the St. John River along the Spring Run to Lake Woodruff Wildlife Reserve.

You will need to be fit and healthy to get the most from your vacation. Maybe you are carrying too much weight around, or know someone who is, and maybe you can recommend they take a look at the JOOB Weight Loss Plan.

READ ABOUT LOTS OF OTHER GREAT DAYS OUT IN ORLANDO

While staying as a snowbird in Orlando Florida for 2 months recently, we really caught up with all the special deals which are new for 2009.

One deal in particular we used most often was to print out discount coupons for use at shops, restaurants, steakhouses, golf, spas, and even cruises.

There’s a site which covers all of these, as well as selling discount tickets for the parks, offering 2 free days with the purchase of 4 day tickets, and for Sea World they not only offer discounted admission, they also give you a free ticket for a second visit. They back this up with a guarantee to meet or beat any Orlando theme park ticket price. This applies to all Orlando Florida theme park and attraction tickets.

Among other offers are rental cars which are claimed to be the cheapest in Florida, Daily $33.00 - Weekly $140.00 and Hotels Starting at $45.00.

Check the site out now and save BIG BUCKS. (and remember that price guarantee)

If you enjoyed this hub, you may like to visit

http://hubpages.com/_lilli/hub/Dora-Canal-Orlando-Florida  after watching my own video on the right.

Florida Vacations, Travel & Adventures @ RealAdventures