Cedar Key isn't huge and so there aren't too many places to "beach" but this is the only one I…read morespotted. I found easy parking (no shade) that was close enough that I could plug my Sprinter van into one of the chargers for some free electricity to power up the house battery. I managed to get here early enough to have one of the "first come, first served" pavilions that had a working power outlet. Sitting here for a couple of hours with my laptop while watching the people coming and going and with the beach right over there, it was perfection. There's even a public restroom and they have BBQ grills. This is a wonderful spot. Enjoy and don't forget to support local vendors and restaurants. Prickly Palm is great for coffee! [Review 372 of 2025 - 2022 in Florida - 23934 overall]

Little shark park's ...a ....great place to park. And enjoy a small, clean, netted beach as I saw…read moreso many happy families doing. There's bathrooms and pavilions, places to enjoy a picnic or barbeque. It's within walking distance of all things fun Cedar Key. Enjoyable. Fun.

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!

Do not go tubing. The experience was dangerous and life threatening. You go in sign a wavier that…read morebasically "signs your life away" and that the park is not responsible for your safety if anything happens like all waivers do these days. I went with my group and it was a horrifying experience. The tubes are only adult sized and if you bring little kids your kids will not fit. I got stuck multiple times along the shallow vegetation, luckily had a swimmer help me on my side. The workers said it would only be 2 hrs. I ended up getting heat exhaustion due to being out stuck tubing in the river out in the sun for 4-5 hours. Fell asleep basically out in the sun and I got sunburned to a crisp, I did apply sunscreen and still burned. The heat and exhaustion to being exposed for far too long got me to pass out. All of the people in my group had burns as well, even if you applied a tremendous amount of sunscreen. Someone could get seriously hurt or even killed by participating in this activity. I ran into some wildlife along the way such as alligators. Yes it is normal in Florida but the lack of safety is my main concern. No lifeguards or people stationed anywhere along the river to actually Help you if you are going to be drowning. Heck, the whistle attached to my own life jacket that was offered at the beginning was actually broken when I actively tried to use it. These people probably don't get paid enough to be concerned about our actual safety. If you do end up wanting to go down the river try going kayaking along the trail instead. It is much faster and you won't get stuck since you can the paddle to go forward. Even then its better to be safe than sorry, do not go on this experience.

My wife and I, along with a few others, booked our campsites online. The cost was $30 per night,…read morebut there are discounts for senior citizens and those with disabilities. Our campsite had running water and electric hookups, but the space was relatively small, accommodating two decent-sized tents, a trailer, and a vehicle. We weren't sure about overflow parking, but they didn't mind when I parked my truck near an unmarked site. There was a dump station on the other side for RVs. The bathhouse was centrally located and clean, stocked with hand soap and toilet paper, although it lacked shampoo in the showers. We observed a variety of wildlife, including deer, otters, turtles, a snake, and squirrels. A raccoon, which I affectionately named "Gangster," rummaged through our belongings at night, even opening a cooler without a latch - amusing yet slightly concerning. A nice walking path leads to the boat dock, and there's a boat ramp for kayaks and canoes, but remember it's a walking path, not accessible by vehicle. The spring itself was spacious and not overly crowded, much better than Ginnie Springs, though there was a noticeable amount of algae on the surface. The store nearby offered snacks, food, and ice cream at reasonable prices, which the kids loved. We saw many dog owners, and it seemed dogs were prohibited only in or near the spring, although some were swimming near the boat ramp. Overall, it's a pleasant campsite, but there are a few drawbacks: numerous ticks and horseflies were present, and the area is very dark at night. There are no trash cans at the sites, so you'll need to bring your own container and take your trash to the dumpster. Lastly, the check-in process was slow due to limited staff.

I am so sick of places saying they are dog friendly when they aren't. We came here specifically…read morebecause they said this park was dog friendly and we don't want to have to leave our dog behind ever. It cost us $6 to drive in and find that, while you can take your dog on the grassy "park" area, dogs are not allowed on any of the boardwalk walkways or in or even near the water. I can take my dog to much nicer parks for free. My husband and I tried taking turns sitting with the dog while the other went looking for manatees or wildlife. All we saw was dirty water crowded with people. We did not see a single animal besides a squirrel. Then, while I was waiting for my husband to do one of the longer boardwalks, my dog started yelping and jolting from side to side. I looked does to see she was being absolutely swarmed by mosquitoes. I took her back to the car immediately and she had at least 8 visible bites and was shaken. I noticed later that I had three bites on my legs as well and I had made sure to put on sunscreen and bug spray. A majority of the people I personally encountered were definitely tourists, and those that seemed like locals were mostly sitting on their phones while their kids were swimming. We did not have a good experience here and I wouldn't recommend it unless you fall into one of those two groups and think you'll enjoy it. There are so many other great ways to spend a day in this area.

Florida scrub is becoming a rare sight these days. There is very little scrub this size left in the…read morestate. We saw scrub jays, gopher tortoises, a bald eagle and deer during our visit. Wow! It looked as though there was some restoration going on but the scrub was beautiful!

Coming from Fl 24, there is a signage on the side leading to this hidden park which to be honest…read morefeels like a privately owned park because no one is there. What is interesting is that it is a Florida scrub reserve meaning the ecosystem is different as it is arid and landscape is completely different than other parks around Florida. Plants are mostly oaks and shrubs as may be due to low nutrients of the sandy soil and usually dry. Since we are the only ones around, we felt a bit afraid to go past the corner of the trail. This place is deserted but at least there is a bathroom that is generally clean and accessible.

A fave for sure! Although lately we've been wanting to get there right at opening (9am) and have…read morehad to wait an hour due to them doing maintenance. We thought it was the same day weekly but it was not. Other than that, it's a great springs to visit. We have littles and it's perfect for them as there's a spot with a beach like area to ease into the water and has a shallow area. When the tide is low and no boats around, it's absolutely clear and gorgeous but once that changes, the murky water can come in quick. There are a few areas to jump which is also nice. And you can float down to where the Santa Fe feeds in. Watch out for gators though. We've seen our fair share. Overall, I highly recommend this spring!

Hart springs is a beautiful park that has a glorious swimming area, a tall jump into the deeper…read morearea of the spring. The park offers many tables and walk ways to truly explore the property and get a great look at this little arm of the Suwanee River. Come out and experience old Florida

I came across this park by chance. It's smaller compared to other well-known springs, but the water…read morewas beautifully clear. Alcohol is not allowed, and neither are diving, dogs, fishing, bicycles, or smoking. Parking costs $6 per vehicle. It was a quiet, peaceful spring where you can really enjoy nature.

Rangers and staff super friendly and knowledgeable…read more kayaking experience beautiful. Manatees amazing; just be patient and let them come to you.

This was a fun walk around a garden that must have seen better days - or today was a dry day. We…read morehad fun, it was an old quarry where the owner envisioned and created a cool upper and lower path around and filled with some water, waterfalls, koi fish, swans, ducks, turtles, and oodles of plants: some unique some local- and even a Japanese stile garden with Tori gate et all. Today we didn't see the center fountain many admired, and sadly the water levels must have been low as the cascades were thin (at best). Nonetheless- we had a good time walking about and spotting an old bonsai tree, some Japanese-style bridges, and even a slithering water snake! How exciting!! In all it was a fun stop that broke our long drive from Tallahassee to Fort Lauderdale, so we had a good time. Entrance fee was a bit steep at $ 12 (for what was offered imho) and there is a veteran/military discounted admission ($6)but make sure you have your DD214 or Retired ID to show or else you will Not qualify. Enjoy!

My friend and I went last weekend and had a nice visit. We arrived early, so dirt parking was…read moreeasy, and the park wasn't too crowded. Parking was free but you pay to enter the park. Once you've paid, they hand you a map and recommend you go in numerical order, because that will take you all around the park, combining both upper and lower levels. We mostly saw azaleas in bloom, with the occasional ginger flower. Later in the season they will also have roses, and a wider variety of flowers. There were lots of cool man-made water features like waterfalls, and a big fountain at the center of the property. There is a large turtle, penned in, but other than the cows we saw near the entrance, that's the only animal. All in all it's a nice park, although it seems like it's more for just walking a full lap around rather than hanging out and spending the day.

Though it was closed when i came by, the outside and lands are beautiful. I cant wait to come back…read moreand visit.

The state park is a great little gem on Cedar Key. We…read moreenjoyed checking out the history of Cedar Key in the building with the various displays showing the native American history and how prosperous it became when the railroad was built for the logging community. The trails to the water were great as it wasn't a far walk to get see tons of itry bitty crabs scurrying around. So cute! No one was in the building when we visited but a ranger was sitting on the porch of the building across from it. He was sitting there prohibiting people from going into it as it was being rehabbed- I think windows were being replaced. Looking forward to going back to check it all out.

Such beautiful grounds hiding within Gainesville! We had a wonderful time taking advantage of the…read moretrails and stairs to the bottom of the sinkhole! It's a great spot for those who - Want a nice, but non strenuous walk (about a mile around in circle. The stairs are a bit more but there are stops between levels) Wonderful shading with a sweet bird filled environment. Non busy area out of the hustle of life

Awesome for what it is. Devil's Millhopper makes for a lovely, quick walk and neat views from…read morewithin a huge sinkhole. The park features a maintained trail and great boardwalk steps into the sinkhole. It also has excellent informational signs throughout the park. The trail wasn't very long, so if you're looking for longer treks I do not recommend Devil's Millhopper. Although I wouldn't classify it as a "must see", it's great for what it is. It's a state park, so expect to pay a few bucks for parking.

Small beach but a nice place to take a dip! Very pretty area - birding area galore! Worth the trip…read more Again not a big beach but good enough!

Took multi generation family "to the beach" during a visit to Florida in April. Fort Island Trail…read moreBeach seemed like a good start for us and we enjoyed our visit. Arrived around 11 on a weekday and had a choice of parking spaces. Beach was recently smoothed, keeping in mind the area had suffered during a hurricane 6 months earlier, we found facilities were adequate. Row of porta-potties were available. Boat launch and fishing piers were still closed but we wanted beach that day. There are two rock breakwaters at the far edges of beach and several people were climbing and exploring while tide was out. Rocks were covered towards high tide. Line of markers indicated outer edge of swim area. No lifeguards (we knew that in advance) Plenty of room to set up towels, chairs and toys and room to next group. Kids were originally disappointed no crashing waves (they're use to Atlantic Ocean) but quickly decided the Gulf was better as they weren't getting knocked over. We brought our lunch: be aware, lots of birds trying (and some succeeding) to steal food.