Parking was nice, I saw a sheriff come through and check on stuff via jet ski which was nice, it…read moredidnt seem too crowded and it's right by the Upper Deck which is crazy good and convenient. You can swim (or wade) right across.

great place to paddle board kayak and enjoy the day . make sure you have your life vest on your…read morewater craft and whistle they check other than that get there early parking fills fast by 8 am no parking during the weekend

the splash pad is great but fences should be put up kids can run in parking lot, also the park…read morefence gates are broke in safe for little ones! instead of mulch in playground why don't u put nice padding, needs alot of work that park!!!

How do you bribe your kids to ride with you for forty-minutes to get coffee? With pop tarts and a…read moretrip to the park. This trip to get coffee in Brooksville led my kids and I to Tom Varn Park. Tom Varn Park is about a mile from downtown Brooksville. The structures are largely made from wood, which gives it such a cool aesthetic. The park includes two sections inside a fenced in area. One works better for older kids and one for younger. The play areas include numerous slides and some climbing poles with passageways up, down, over and around them. There are some balancing areas and strength objects as well. In the older area of the park, there is also a series of half buried tires. These large tires provide a great challenge for your older kids (climb over them) as well as fun for the younger ones (tunnel through them). The park includes swings that are designed for younger kids (my three year old could enjoy them but he was getting close to being too large). I don't remember seeing swings that are designed for older kids (one of the knocks on the park). In the little kid area, there is a boat that sways back and forth with your movements as well as some additional slides and climbing areas. Outside of the fenced in area there is a large grassy section where kids could throw footballs, kick around soccer balls, or sit under a tree to picnic. There was a pavilion full of picnic tables that could be sat at as well as bathrooms. This area seemed to be in slightly poorer condition than the rest of the park. The bathrooms and picnic area also weren't as nice as other parks I've visited in the Tampa/Pasco region. To the right of the pavilion area was an area that included some electronic games (lights, dancing, shapes). There is a similar machine at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. My kids and I didn't go into that section so I can't really speak about what shape the machine was in and how much fun it offered. Tom Varn Park has a lot to offer anyone who has kids that are into being active, playing and being outside. It seems to offer a lot of shade which would be beneficial during the hot Florida summer. If you find yourself in Brooksville with a couple kids in tow, try it out!

From Tampa, it took an hour and 30 minutes to get to the river. We first wanted to take a swim in…read morethe swimming area so we went there first before it got really crazy. The area is a bit small and there isn't really a lot of sun spots for you to chill at. It is cool to experience once but I think if you tube, you still will be able to get a swim in because parts of the river are pretty deep. After the swim area, we headed to the tubing section. It is a 15 minute drive from the main park entrance. The fee was 54 for two people that had an annual pass. Highly recommend bringing a small cooler with snacks and drinks and an extra tube for it. It took us about 2 hours to float back to our car and the river is very calm and relaxing. I've floated a river in San Antonio but wasn't as nice as Rainbow springs. Very clean and the water is sooo clear. Overall, really enjoyed our day visit to this state park!

I almost lost my life at Rainbow River, and I feel like I need to share this for anyone considering…read moretubing there. I came expecting a peaceful, relaxing experience because that's what you see in the pictures and reviews. Instead, I ended up in one of the scariest moments of my life. I fell out of my tube and got stuck in deep mud. My water shoe was literally sucked into the mud, and I couldn't push myself up from the bottom. I couldn't get back on my tube because my legs were stuck, and I had already gone underwater and was coughing. What made it even worse was that my daughter, who cannot swim, had drifted away and I couldn't see her. I truly thought I might drown and that something could happen to my daughter. I was panicking, crying, and shaking. By the grace of God, I saw the only boat nearby and flagged them down. They went back and picked up me and my daughter too. I will never forget the people who helped us. I truly believe they prevented a tragedy that day. Another important thing to mention is that this happened toward the evening on a weekday, and there were almost no people left on the river. We were some of the last people out there. I got incredibly lucky that there happened to be a boat nearby because otherwise, I don't know what would have happened to me or my daughter. What upsets me the most is that there was no real safety briefing or warning about the risks. We were given tubes and sent off. No one explained the currents, deep areas, muddy bottoms, or what to do in an emergency. No one recommended life jackets to us, even though not everyone in our group could swim. Please understand that there are no lifeguards. Depending on the time of day, you may find yourself with very few people around to help in an emergency. If I hadn't been able to flag down that boat, this story could have ended very differently. I later learned that other people have had similar frightening experiences here, and I understand why. Please, if you decide to go: * Wear a life jacket, especially if you are not a strong swimmer. * Do not assume the water is shallow because it's a spring. * Do not bring children or adults who cannot swim without extra precautions. * Understand that there are no lifeguards and you are responsible for your own safety. This experience was so traumatic for me that I still have flashbacks and cannot imagine ever returning. A beautiful place can still be dangerous, and I wish I had known that before I went. Please stay safe.

I really love this park!…read more I saw the signs for it & just decided to check it out as I love to visit the Nature parks. This park is exceptionally beautiful. It has an old vintage Florida feel with gorgeous old moss covered trees, kids play areas, an old vintage railroad, tons of biking & walking/hiking trails & a giant Lilly covered pond/lake. I had such a great time the first time I went. There was wildlife everywhere & I got to video some very friendly birds. I went back again & it was even more beautiful the second time, than the first time as it had just rained & all the flowers were blooming. They have a little garden there. It's just so precious. This place is so very beautiful. I keep finding all these different trails, they are obviously working on it & making it bigger with more trails. It's a very peaceful place, Like a forgotten tropical wilderness stuck in time. I have not seen more than 5 people here at once. I love all the Nature Parks for hiking but I have to admit. This one is very special & very unique. I can't wait to return. Highly recommended.

Crews Lake Wilderness Park has beautiful and well maintained grounds. No fee to enter like some…read moreother wilderness parks. I attended a wedding here and it was a peaceful and serene experience. There is a boardwalk and pavilions for events. The restrooms were also nice and clean. Actually better than some restaurants.

Great place to enjoy in family, different opinions, horse riding, hiking, biking or just walkingread more

Beautiful area for camping, fishing, hiking, and enjoying outdoors. Has plenty of tent sites w…read morequick access to water for fishing or trails for hiking.

The park is still undergoing repairs from the hurricanes & storms. Great place for fishing,…read morebeautiful views & sunsets. Outhouses available.

This park has great parking - 2 large docks, shaded picnic tables and is just relaxing to watch the…read moreboats come and go. Lots of people fishing here.

Very basic with several areas "under construction " including the tower. Quick stop the. We were…read moreback in the car.

Kids playground area is dirty, as well as right next to porta-potties that you can smell from the…read morepark. Worst is the back walk area has been closed and under construction for what 5 years now. Clearly they've given up on this park.

What a beautiful garden. My son and his boys visit, frequently. Yesterday I brought for of the…read morekids for lunch, and a scavenger hunt. So peaceful. So beautiful. And free!! Wow. I love that there are various "little gardens" (Asian, desert, organ donor, patriotic, rose, native, etc) all inside one.

This a great spot to spend some time. They open early making it a nice quiet morning enjoying the…read moregreenery. The botanical gardens are larger than they look and have many different paths to meander along. They are pet friendly. My pup and I strolled along the paths and took breaks at a couple of the many benches placed about to stop and enjoy the views. They have a nursery with some wonderful looking plants you can buy. There were a couple I wanted but wouldn't make the rest of my road trip. Parking and the park is free. They do accept donations and they also have volunteer opportunities. This was a great spot to spend the morning.