The Best State Parks to Visit in Central Florida During the Summer

An Enjoyable Summer Can Be Found Where You Least Expect It

I love canoing at Wekiwa Springs; the rivers here are wide and stretch for miles into the deepest parts of Florida. You can enjoy beautiful scenery here whether you are canoing also or hiking, bicycling or even horse back riding on the miles of trails located all over the park.

Located at the head of the Wekiva River, it is hard to resist taking a dip in the cool spring that stays at a comfortable 72 degrees in the summer. You can also picnic along the river in the picnic huts near the water or on the open field area in front of the entrance to the spring. If you would rather go canoing or kayaking you can follow the river to Rock Springs Run. There are also thirteen miles of trails to hike or bicycle on here. You can also camp here in a full facility campground area or in a primitive setting.

The park is located at 1800 Wekiwa Circle, which is about 4 miles off Wekiva Springs Rd. in Apopka. For single occupant cars you will need to pay $3 and for cars with 2 to 8 people in them it is $5 for the whole car. The park is open 365 days a year (unless otherwise noted) and is open from 8AM to Sunset.

For more information call 1-407-884-2008

De Leon Springs State Park

De Leon Springs State Park is another really beautiful place that I enjoy visiting during the summer months. This one tends to stay less crowded then the other parks and has some really amazing views of nature and the wild life that live here. You can enjoy swimming, canoing, kayaking and paddle boating in De Leon Springs.

At the park you can enjoy an Eco/History boat tour on Spring Garden Lake that lasts about 45 minutes, or you can take the hour and a half boat trip on Lake Woodruff. On these trips you will see alligators, bald eagles and many different species of birds.

The springs stay at 72 degrees in the summer months, and you are free to bring inner tubes to float in the springs with. And if you enjoy hiking you will want to 5 mile long Wild Persimmon Trail, which will take you deep into the Florida woods and abandoned agricultural fields.

At this park though you can not camp out over night, but you can picnic here along the springs or in the shady wooded areas.

Located at 601 Ponce DeLeon Blvd. in DeLeon Springs, Florida, the park is open from 8AM to sundown 365 days a year (unless otherwise noted) and costs $5 for all day admission to the park. There is also the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant on site that is open from 9AM to 5PM during the week and 8AM to 5 PM on weekends.