Wekiwa Springs State Park

So....Visiting Wekiwa Springs State Park had pretty much been on my "To-Do" list since moving to Orlando. And yet, for something so, so close to where I live... it just took me forever for getting around to going. I guess since it is close, I always picked going to other more 'exotic' locations rather than the one basically in my backyard and that's almost unfair to the Springs since it was surprisingly nice and we hit it on a not busy day. (The park is rather notorious for hitting capacity and nightmarish traffic as the Orlando Locals race off to the springs on any given warm day)

The park is centered around the Springs itself and the start of the Wekiva River as well as a few hiking trails in even camp sites. Most people seem to come here to swim... Us included.

In the main swim area there is a cavern that drops down 20 feet or so into the caves as well as a secondary cave entrance away from the main vent and while there are signs all over saying cave diving is prohibited... we saw more than a few people going down into the cavern and caves.

(A quick search on YouTube brings up countless videos that almost make me almost dizzy: Example)  

The Springs also move some 42 million gallons of water into the Wekiva River, daily, and you could really feel it moving you as you would swim over the main vent area. 

While Wekiwa is not terribly far from where I live, I'm still kinda surprised it took me some seven years to visit here. Hopefully this upcoming summer I'll make time to revisit.

So yeah...

 Wekiwa Springs State Park

 Once parking in the lot, you head down these little boardwalks that lead to stairs and other path ways

 into the woods and stuff...

(And don't worry, even past a gift shop!)

 And suddenly, the Springs come into view.

 The State Park contains the head water of the Wekiva River and the focal point is this swimming area, set aside where the springs vent/come out from underground.

 Since its a natural spring, the water temperature stays at 72*s, year round. In the winter it'll feel warm (based off the air temp) and in the summer, it'll feel cool... But we got used to it quick and had a wonderful time in the water.

After swimming around for a while and getting our fill, we headed over to one of the nature trails within the park.

 Woo, nature!

 !!!

I wanna be Bear Aware

(or just even see a bear!)

 No bears were seen here.. But the trail was nice (we did a shorter loop) and did see some animals

Like.....

 (I think) this... Peregrine Falcon

 And an adorable squirrel

 And... this Little Blue Heron?

 Oh, and there was this little nature center... thing.

 ...Where I ended up seeing a bear, kinda.

:3

Uh, woo?