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    Eugene Martin Park

    4.0 (1 review)

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    Rainbow Springs State Park - Rainbow Cafe!

    Rainbow Springs State Park

    4.2(201 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    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!

    Our tubing trip down the river was pretty, but it was quite boring. It took us two hours to float…read morefrom the entrance to exit, and it was extremely slow. We kept getting stuck in trees and bushes. The fun part was getting to swim in the clear water and passing off our tubes to a floating friend to hold onto. We also saw an otter. The lady at the rental station was very generous and let us borrow multiple pairs of goggles and masks. There were a bunch of motorboats passing by and blasting their music. They disturbed us with their waves and noise. It was around $27 per person in addition to $5 for one vehicle, and we paid all the fees upon entrance to the parking lot. They take you on a safari-like tram to get to the tubing entrance. I strongly recommend water shoes because my friends were suffering while barefoot on the hot ground. The walk was unexpectedly long and painful for my barefoot friends. They don't have showers or any sort of water spout/hose, so it was kind of gross to not be able to rinse the river gunk off then drive hours back to a major city. They have restrooms, but they were already closed when we walked from the river exit back to the tube station, even though the actual park wasn't closed yet, and there were still employees there. This was very inconvenient, and I wish they had at least told us in advance because we didn't have a place to change. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the restrooms to stay open while the park is open. Also, they have you sign a waiver that says you must wear a lifejacket at all times. They didn't even offer us one, so I was baffled why they made us sign a waiver that said that. Can't they get into legal trouble if they don't actually provide lifejackets? I was troubled by the fact that we had to sign something that wasn't in the slightest bit enforced.

    Photos
    Rainbow Springs State Park - Absolute Beauty~

    Absolute Beauty~

    Rainbow Springs State Park - The beautiful spring.

    The beautiful spring.

    Rainbow Springs State Park - Gift Shop Items!

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    Gift Shop Items!

    KP Hole - Entrance

    KP Hole

    3.8(70 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    We arrived right when they opened and rented kayaks at the KP Hole so we could travel up river to…read morethe Indian Creek and then we floated back down and exited at Blue Run. There should be more signage along the river telling you how many minutes it is until you reach Blue Run. It took us longer than four hours from the KP Hole to Blue Run and we were paddling for part of the way. If you're floating on tubes, I'd give yourself a minimum of five hours. Make sure you bring non disposable goods! We brought a lunchbox with Tervis water bottles instead of plastic water bottles and Stasher silicone bags instead of Ziploc bags. Would highly recommend doing it on a weekday instead of weekend/holiday to avoid crowds.

    Great adventure!…read more Was invited to visit with some friends. We purchased VIP parking (world recommend as it gets packed pretty quick) Never been to a springs before so wasn't really sure what to expect. KP Hole & Rainbow River is a beautiful springs. They do check bags to make sure food is stored in Tupperware and bottles for any alcohol as it is not permitted. We rented kayaks it was around $50 for the whole day and included a shuttle to bring the Kayak back & a life jacket. They also have tubing & lockers you can rent as well. Beautiful scenery. Saw fish & a baby alligator and a few beautiful birds. It was a hot day but was made up with the cool water. Really great experience to do with friends & family. Staff was really great in directing where to go & helping with any questions we had.

    Photos
    KP Hole - SUP PUP

    SUP PUP

    KP Hole - Docks

    Docks

    KP Hole - All smiles at the launch

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    All smiles at the launch

    Sholom Park - The land

    Sholom Park

    4.8(57 reviews)
    13.6 mi

    Wow! WoW! Wow! I think this park is profoundly under the radar and simply not well known enough…read more This isn't just some playground with a path. In fact, there is no playground equipment at all. What it does offer, though, is everything one could want in a natural setting. You can walk for a little while or lose yourself in it for much longer. The paths are easy, accessible, and thoughtfully laid out, with enough variation to keep things interesting from start to finish. It never feels repetitive, which is rare. The labyrinth was genuinely enjoyable, with multiple points of interest throughout. Subtle shifts in sound and visual texture keep you engaged, yet everything remains grounded in simple nature, shaped by the hands of men.. nothing artificial or forced, just an intentional design that draws you in. The crowning glory moment for me was the Zen garden. I cannot remember the last time I felt that level of calm and stillness. It has a way of centering you almost immediately. I would have stayed longer, but I needed a restroom, which unfortunately was closed at the time. This is a place I will return to without hesitation. My mother has yet to see it, and I already know she is going to love it.

    What an astoundingly beautiful park near On top of the world in Ocala…read more The long, winding drive to the parking area is absolutely beautiful. And the parking area is the hub. Theres a gated park that has a fountain, walking thru that, you get to walk the labyrinth in contemplation. It truly is a spiritually refreshing walk. The Zen garden is simply a work of art. They maintain it as a meditation garden, so its a quiet zone. There is a large open space, perfect for gatherings and picnics. Theres a great big walking trail with shady benches ever 20 feet or so. The pomd with the koi is nice, the fish are large, but the water is stagnant and smells bad. Those fish are HUGE! I LOVE THIS PARK

    Photos
    Sholom Park - Raking Garden

    Raking Garden

    Sholom Park
    Sholom Park

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    Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - Front Entrance To The Park

    Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

    4.6(244 reviews)
    18.1 mi

    Even though Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is still recovering from the…read moreimpacts of Hurricane Helene, our visit was outstanding and absolutely worth the stop. The staff and volunteers clearly care deeply about the park and its mission, and their dedication really shows. While a few areas are still in the process of being repaired, the park remains beautiful and full of life. The wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent, and the park does a wonderful job showcasing Florida's native species in a natural and respectful setting. Seeing the manatees up close was a highlight, and the underwater observatory provides a truly unique perspective you won't find in many places. What impressed us most was how well the park is being maintained despite the storm damage. Paths are clean, signage is clear, and the staff members we encountered were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. It's obvious that a lot of hard work is going into restoring everything while still making sure visitors have a great experience. If anything, visiting during this recovery period gives you an even greater appreciation for the park and the people who take care of it. Their resilience and commitment to conservation are inspiring. If you're traveling through the Homosassa area, this park is absolutely worth your time. It's a special place that celebrates Florida's wildlife and natural beauty, and we're already looking forward to coming back once the final restoration work is complete.

    Originally, we road-tripped north almost 2 hours to experience a rare opportunity to swim amongst…read moremanatees in a natural setting. When we arrived we found out that the manatees had migrated away from the springs about 2.5 weeks ago. Disappointed we drove about 6 miles south and happened upon Homosassa Springs State Park, where they have 3 resident manatees that live in the springs year round. This small state park, was devastated by the hurricane several years ago. They have photos showing how high the waters were and many buildings are still closed. We had to wait for the tram to take us across the way to the park, they also have a boat to get there in a unique way. However, the water was too low to enjoy the boat ride. The park has about 3-4 manatees during the off season and you just have to look for them as they live in a natural setting. Eventually we found them a bit down river from the springs. Once in a while you'd see their nose pop up for air. They are such beautiful creatures. There is also a small zoo with a black bear, flamingoes, a white tailed deer, reptile case, an array of birds, and a variety of wild cats. They used to have a hippo but she died about 10 months ago. Definitely worth the $13 entry fee. It's a cute and well maintained park that is about at 75% of its operating capacity due to closed buildings that have not yet been renovated following Hurricane Milton. Although, we were disappointed to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience to *actually* swim amongst manatees, being able to see them in their natural habitat was truly special.

    Photos
    Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - Vertical Gator

    Vertical Gator

    Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

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    Eugene Martin Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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