Wekiwa Springs State Park - Apopka

In our never ending quest to expose the shorites, and ourselves, to the natural wonders of our area we took a road trip to Wekiwa Springs State Park to have a swim in the cool, crystal clear waters that are Florida Springs. It was our first trip to Wekiwa (pronounced Wekiva) springs so we pulled up the trusty map quest and found that it was about two hours up I-4 from St. Petersburg so we loaded up the raft, towells and snorkeling gear and off we went.

It was very different driving there, and I couldn't for the life of me convince the kids we knew where we were going, as the last part of the drive through Altamonte Springs and Apopka were through residential and industrial areas. Very different than most of our springs experiences as they've been off in the woods and in very unpopulated areas.

When we arrived there was a common sigh of relief but a disappointed look as it appeared more like a park area than a natural preserve. There was a cement wall surrounding the headwaters of the spring and it followed along the entire swimming area. There were plenty of other kids there to play with though and we found other aspects of the park unbeatable so they got over it quickly.

The best thing from the shorties perspective, mine too, was that the headwaters were right next to the concrete embankment and there were large, shallow rock structures around the main boil. Not only could the little kids get to the main boil without me swimming the raft out there, but there was a place that they could stand to catch their breath. I think it was the first time for the younger two children to really feel the power of a magnitude one springs.

The kids took turns swimming down into the crevass, seeing who could get farther and what they could see until they had almost no energy left. We decided to take a break for awhile and have a look around the park. Down at the other end of the springs the headwaters form the beginning of the Wekiwa River where there were kayak rentals for about $20. We decided to skip the kayaks this time and walk the nature trail.

What a beautiful walk and what a variety of plant and animal life. The trail starts by the river's edge and works it's way up in elevation with until you're back at the parking area looking down on the springs. The neat thing were the changes in habitat as you worked your way up the trail. Connor assured me that he knew what it was like to live as a Timucuan Indian. I'm not too sure, though i'm certain that he believed it... and I definitely understand why they settled here.

If you happen to be in the Central Florida area and are looking for a quick, refreshing day trip.. Wekiwa Springs just may be a great place for you. Here's a link to more information on Wekiwa Springs State Park from FloridaStateParks.org.