I have been coming here for 10 years, 3 different times. Each time has been better than the last…read more The facility is super rustic and authentic. Great bait and great rates on rental of various boats and fishing gear. Where can u rent a pontoon boat for under $150 for half a day fishing in a wildlife refuge full of fish and wildlife? We catch fish, see gators, birds and manatees amongst other native wildlife. Come fishing here, you will not regret it. They have a sweet bait and tackle shop, everything you need! Highly, highly recommended!! 5 star

The people who run the place are nice, friendly service. Got a tent site, comes with power hookup…read moreand water. Only negatives I'd say is at our site, the valve for the water was broken off, had to use the site next to us for water. The shower there could use a good cleaning. I understand it's a fish camp but you have guests and bathrooms, showers should be cleaned Atleast somewhat regularly. Other than that very nice park . There's a pond as well they stock for catch and release, which is nice for the family fishing experience.

The place is absolutely beautiful! It is tranquil and relaxing. Kerry from the office is a Gem!…read more The beds are very comfortable and I love that they have kept the Terrazzo flooring and the old Florida tile in the bathroom. The rooms were spotless. I was pleasantly surprised at how tranquil it is on the lake. You do hear a train from time to time in the background, just loud enough to actually be enjoyable to hear. I am looking forward to a return trip very soon!

Don't recommend this place to anyone. Customer service was…read morehorrible, when we returned the boat 12 mins late they didn't tell us there was a late fee and automatically charged us for it without explanation. We requested a boat for 12 people but we're given the smaller boat so we had to send half our party home. Very disappointed with this place. Will not be returning.

Booking this site online was a breeze using the KOA App, in this day and age it's nearly impossible…read moreto book a site on a holiday weekend especially with only a few days notice unless by happenstance you score one because of a cancellation. I decided to come here to celebrate the July 4th weekend first because of the availability, it's proximity of my home and certainly because of the beautiful riverside location. I've driven through this campground several times before booking to see the accommodations. I agree with other reviewers most of the sites are pretty close together this is especially true for a Class A MotorCoach. The site we reserved was a back-in site along the tree line so there was some partial shade and even though the sites were gravel they did offer a level and mostly compacted pad. The location of the utilities were somewhat close to the neighbors and the sewer connections were a little closer to the awning side of our RV than I would of liked but the connections were positive and I never detected any odors. The 50 amp electrical service was stable and the fresh water quality and pressure were good. The old saying is you can't pick your neighbors and although for the most part RVers are usually friendly and courteous but some can be a little less than ideal - some just don't understand common campground etiquette, one would hope this is simply out of ignorance and not intentional but either way this is when you hope the campground management team steps up without a request especially when it's a rules violation, anyway it wasn't a deal breaker, just annoying. The close proximity of the campsites probably escalates the frustration of these minor infractions which would otherwise go unnoticed, I somewhat expected some of this when I saw how close the sites were from each other. I was overall okay with the entire experience, the accommodations met our expectations, the on-site restaurant and bar were a positive, the campground was well maintained, the location next to the river makes up for a lot of mis-cues and since the agenda is to relax and enjoy most sins are forgiven. I definitely would come back but I'd try and request my site instead of being assigned a spot without input. I think the per day price is a little steep but not outrageous by any means...

We had 2 sites and 2 motorhomes (RV), each with trailer. We reserved 6 months in advance.....at…read morethat time I was told sites will be pull through for trailers and we will be camped side by side, as requested. Well, that didn't happen. We had to disconnect and park trailers in seperate area and our sites were not next to each other at all. We traveled 1400 miles so here we were. I understand possible miscommunication or whatever so let's just accept and work with it.... The absolute factor to reserve here was the website showing the pool with an ADA pool lift for handicapped people. This was absolutely necessary for me to use the pool as I use a wheelchair full time. And I also frequent water therapy. The office confirmed the pool lift availability at reservation time. Well. That pool lift turns out to be long time rusted and seized. Staff seemed ok with it and casually shrugged it off. I was desperate so I thought we would just help to get something done, timely. We got authorized to go buy batteries for it in town. Well It needed far more than just batteries. Was told it would be repaired. Dead silence followed until i further inquired near 2 weeks later. I was then told replacement part "on way" and no eta. NO ETA. Who believes that in FL pool lift parts would take that long to get? The owner literally turned his back on me. Lying to me no doubt. No pool for me. Family members physically assited me a couple times out of the pool but each time injuring myself so that had to stop. Zero compassion by owners here for me. I did request some sort of refund. I was offered zero by owner and accused of bullying. I was told to do whatever in terms of reviews or ADA violation report. No cares given. In retaliation we were then accused of not cleaning up behind our service dog. Another lie. Bottom line, do you feel lucky? Do not expect any courtesy here.

Many trailers on the property full time are run down. Very noisy as there is construction going on…read moreall the time and the night is filled with the sound of sirens. The pool is not heated but the hot tub is great. Prepaid for a stay of 3 weeks or would have found another location. We were looking forward to playing shuffleboard but the court is unusable, and games in the game room were broken. This community is more of a trailer house park, some RVs that stay for the winter, and campers coming and going daily, not a resort.

Staff is super helpful!! kudos Anthony appreciate you! Very accommodating! Park is quite and well…read moremaintained!

Such a beautiful place to spend a day with endless activities! You can walk the boardwalk, swim,…read moresnorkel, scuba, tube, kayak, or paddleboard down the spring. Fishing is permitted from the fishing dock on the St. Johns River. There is also camping, cabins for rent, hiking, and manatee viewing. You can even rent an all-terrain tracked wheelchair for accesible hiking! You can find a gift shop and a concession stand inside the park. Follow the Blue Spring State Park Facebook page to stay up to date on fun activities and events like Manatee Bingo, Meditate & Move with the Manatees, guided moonlight hikes, and the Junior Ranger Program. My favorite event of the year is Firefly Nights from around mid March to mid April. You get to walk the boardwalk after the park closes to see thousands of Florida fireflies! It is absolutely magical, and a little surreal. Weekdays are less crowded, but honestly if you can only go on a weekend it's worth braving the crowd. It's a separately-ticketed event, and it does sell out some nights so make sure to get your tickets in advance!

The Baseline: For a park/monument the site must be informative, have great attraction, and have a…read morepark rangers that are knowledgeable of one of the park we are visiting. Park: This was one of the cleanest and best organized state parks I have ever visited. The parking was easy and the access to the main attraction was easy to get to. The walkway trail along the spring was well taken care of and safe. There is no graffiti or vandalized buildings in the park. Thank you State of Florida and California you should take notes. Attraction: The Springs are the main attraction with options to swim, tube, snorkel, and scuba dive in the spring in the summer. When we visited that was all restricted because the manatees were here to nest in the winter. This was awesome and it was great to see these amazing creatures in their winter respite. This is a must if you are visiting the Orlando area in the winter. Cost: Six dollars to come into the park with up to 8 people in the vehicle. Great price for an unforgettable experience.

We hiked and it was an adventure We saw a lot of woodland…read morewildlife. The weather was perfect. Low humidity with pleasant temperatures. The ferry operator was informative and the ride was smooth from the parking lot dock to the island. If you want to experience the real Florida I highly recommend Hontoon Island. Make sure you don't miss the museum and gift shop.

This is a very unique Florida State Park located in Deland. The park is a small island right off…read morethe St.Johns River.You have to take a free ferry to get to the park.There is a playground, grills, restrooms and scenic waterfront views. The island is pet friendly-so we brought our dog.I absolutely loved the giant trees, green grass, beautiful plant life and picturesque water views.It is FREE.

I didn't come here to check-in and park my MotorCoach this time, I stopped in out of curiosity and…read moreto see what this place is about while in the area. Yes RVer's do their due diligence when possible prior to booking a site. Luna Sands was once I believe a Smith Family KOA but now part of Travel Resorts of America from what I can tell. They seem to continue to invest and upgrade the park with newer sites in place and can easily accommodate big rigs in the premium sites. I spent a few minutes talking with Anthony in the office, he was very friendly and explained the rates and sites, he also marked up a park map prior to letting me explore the park on my own. I did look at the very nice premium sites along Pine Lane directly behind the office, shady but less low hanging branches with beautiful concrete sites with full hookups definitely the ones that interest me. Although in close proximity to everything in the surrounding areas of Orange City and Deland it's still secluded enough to give you that disconnect most campers are looking for with adequate ammenties. This RV Park is definitely trending in the right direction...

My wife and I stayed three nights at Luna Sands in our 34' travel trailer. I booked a gravel site,…read morefull hook-up 50/30 amp, concrete patio pad, and wifi. Sixty percent of the property is full-time RV living. The RV lots with full-time renters were clean, fenced in for pets, and had plants and foliage. People were friendly to us. I would agree, Luna Sands is trying to portray it as a Nature resort. The cost to rent the site was $90 a night + tax. The gravel site was very unlevel. It took three layers of connecting leveling blocks on the door side of the trailer to come close to leveling the trailer. The patio pad was cracked.. When plugged into the 50amp, running the A/C and another appliance caused the surge protector I own to stop the flow of electricity for 2.5 minutes. The GoTango wifi was not available in the back half of the resort. And the Luna Sands' "free wifi" would not connect. The following day, I met with a woman working in the office. I voiced my concern about the $90 nightly rate and the site's condition and issues. She offered to move to a site with a concrete RV pad at the bottom of the hill. Same price. I declined because we were fully set up outside and with a cooking grill. It would have been too much work to move to another site for just two more days to stay. She did not mention lowering the price per night for our incontinence. If you book a site at Luna Sands Resort, consider paying an extra $10 to $20 per night for the concrete RV pad with 50/30 amp. Do not book a gravel site. If this is not within your budget, stay at another RV location in the area. I will not recommend this location to my friends or to other RV travelers we meet in our travels.

Lake Colby Park is beautiful! If you've never been, you need to go. The energy around here is…read moreamazing. It's just quiet and peaceful. It's definitely a place that you come when you want some respite.

We checked this spot out for fishing with the kids (beware of gators and snakes) and it was…read morepeaceful and secluded. We got to see a variety of bugs and tons of beautiful deer! There's a little walking path hidden off to the side when you're exiting to circle so don't miss it! Cute little walking paved path we did with the kids and got to see deer, turtles and so many butterflies. If you go out here take a lunch as they have many picnic tables to sit at.

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for…read moreswimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;)

Over four years ago, I left an amazing recommendation for Horseshoe Park and Fairy Trail. My review…read morestill stands! I returned, like I said, 4+ years later with a different son, who equally enjoyed it just as much as my last son. I have to say I equally enjoyed it myself. It has changed a little bit since the last time I had been there. I think that is what made it all the more interesting to look around! The same would be boring! I love the horseshoe Park and Fairy Trail. That little girl inside of me always comes out when I go there. So thank you for that.

Cool park kinda cool and creepy lots of gnomes and fairy's butterfly's all randomly placed in a…read moreartful type of way