Rum Island Springs County Park is located in the Fort White/High Springs area of North Central…read moreFlorida, 28-miles from Gainesville. It's $5 entry per vehicle and hours are 8am - 7pm daily. Rum Island is a tucked away natural springs pool that's catered towards younger crowds (imo) with mostly shallow waters. There's a row of buoys separating the springs from the Santa Fe River. Visits here can be real quick, under an hour unless you're launching kayaks or barbecuing with family for the day. The white sands of the springs are crystal-clear most times throughout the day and the waters showcase vibrant aquamarine colors when the sun breaks from the clouds. There's even a turquoise limestone cavity that pumps out the pool's 72-degree spring waters. There are some opportunistic moments for worthwhile picture takings and recordings, but...Rum Island is so small and shallow that it feels like standing in the center of the kiddie springs at a waterpark. As much as I enjoyed the views, I felt out of place. It wasn't my favorite Florida springs park to visit, but I still respect it for its scenic surroundings. Finally, there are plenty of kayakers and paddle boarders floating past the springs. Visitors can leave their belongings anywhere on the grass. Overall, I'm glad I got a glimpse into what Rum Island Springs Park is about, which has me motivated to visit the local gold standard benchmarks...Ichetucknee Springs, Ginnie Springs and Gilchrist Blue Springs.

Although the spring is nice, parking is horrible. The park has no one enforcing proper parking and…read morepeople will block you in, block the road. It is a nightmare. Definitely need some regulation here.

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.

​A rare Florida waterfall beauty!…read more Falling Creek Falls is a stunning little park. The trail is a quick 0.6-mile loop that is mostly a beautifully maintained, elevated wooden boardwalk, making it highly accessible. You can hear the roar of the falls before you even see them! The water drops over a limestone ledge into a ravine, creating a beautiful contrast with the surrounding cypress and magnolia trees. ​Tip: The water volume depends heavily on recent rainfall, so it's especially impressive after a good storm! There's also a great playground and clean picnic areas at the trailhead. Just note that dogs aren't allowed on this trail.

It's very nice waterfall when there's enough water to actually fall. A cute little park for the…read morekids to play picnic area for parties and a nice walk in the woods to the fall.

Fantastic river experience. River guide Chloe was very knowledgeable about the plants, animals, and…read morehistory of the area. The two springs and the river between them are breathtakingly beautiful.

There are so many springs in Florida I've been wanting to visit. I finally made the time to check…read moreout Ichetucknee in Fort White, FL. This spring was one hour 45 minutes from Jacksonville. My friend and I traveled to Alachua Friday after work and stayed in a new Hampton Inn. I didn't want to get up early Saturday to drive nearly two hours and Alachua was roughly 20 minutes from the park. Lake City, the same distance as Alachua, had higher priced hotels. No thanks! I reserved our tubes and paid for the tram ride online a few days prior. We arrived at the park about 8:45 AM, with a 9 AM reservation for the tubes. There was a bit of a wait to enter the park. I suggest having $6 cash (park entry fee) ready as this will shorten your wait time. They do accept credit cards too. Parking was open so we found a shaded spot. We checked in at the wooden canapy and were given wrist bands and a key tag and advised to get in line to drop off my car key (they will hold for $3). You don't want to lose your key in the river;) We were also given a paper to pick up our tubes. Be sure to pick up a water proof pouch for your phone prior to arrival. I found one at Walmart for $5. And bring a metal cup if you want water while floating down the river or checking out any of the springs as they DO NOT allow plastic water bottles. Lastly we picked up our tubes which was pretty quick. Then we followed the path to the river entry. There was a park employee there checking bags including our water proof phone pouch (we had to show both sides). Check the website for items you are not permitted to take on the river. The tube ride was roughly 45 minutes to an hour. We saw birds, turtles and fish. Thankfully we saw no snakes or alligators, but they are around as it's a 2,000 acre park. The ride was relaxing as well as nature's sounds! Highly recommend! Once at the end, we hopped off our tubes and walked to the tram pickup spot. If you don't want to pay for the tram there is a walking trail leading back to the parking lot. No thanks lol! You can ride as many times as you want. We only did it once as we wanted to check out the Blue Hole. We had to leave the south entrance of the park and drive 10 minutes to the north entrance. One park entry fee allows you to access both park entrances. We walked a 10 minute shaded trail back to the Blue Hole. I slowly entered the 72 degree water via metal stairs. I swam for a short period as it was cold lol. But gorgeous blue water with a strong current due to the underwater caves. I suggest bringing snorkeling gear so you can see the caves below. There was also a bigger area of springs you could relax and swim a short walk from the parking lot. It was a fabulous day at the springs. I look forward to going back again!

Was recommended by some friends to go here when camping at Otter Springs and while it felt like we…read morewere headed to no mans land we were pleasantly surprised to find a welcoming entrance of tiki poles and a small bridge leading into "Bobs place." First they ONLY TAKE CASH! And I can guarantee a bank is very very far away from this place! But it is very reasonable for what kind of fun you're about to have. $35 for four people, $25 for three people six or more it's six dollars a person. The lady at the entrance was very nice and you sign a short waiver. Basically you are on your own if you get hurt. Pretty standard for most places. There is tons of shaded trees and lots and lots of picnic tables with barbecue grills next to almost every table. So pack a cooler full of nonalcoholic drinks and food because they don't sell anything here. And alcohol is extremely prohibited! You get caught with alcohol you might as well kiss your afternoon goodbye. It's a family fun place. Bob is an old dude that sits at the edge of the water with the microphone and his hand and anyone who looks like they don't know what they're doing he is sure to give you some quick direction. The things they have at this place are so much fun if you're into getting your exercise through natural fun play. They have water volleyball, a variety of rope swings at different heights for different comfort levels and abilities and several other fun things. All in all a fun place to cool off during the Florida heat for an ACTIVE outdoorsy family.

Went to Bob's today and it was amazing. The rope swings are so fun…read more This place is just a classic, and very fun "waterpark." It was pretty crowded today, but the waits weren't long at all. The rope swings give you a great rush, it felt great. Bob drives around on his golf cart, and he is very nice. Talks to anyone there about the place, and it's really amazing about how it all came about. Parking is $25, and I definitely think it's worth it. There is plenty of parking and grills, so you can cook your own food. There are slides, rope swings, volleyball nets in/out of the water, and a ton more to do. Definitely a great place to go with a lot of friends to just have a good time!

Great place to go for a walk and experience nature. Plenty of bird watching opportunities, can see…read moreturtles and other wildlife, but they call it Alligator Lake for a reason so be weary of gators along the water

Beautiful lake with a small pier for fishing or whatever. I saw a small gator luckily it kept its…read moredistance. I'd like to go back for a picnic.

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.

Great hidden place for locals off the main road. Great for families. Sliding rock, jump off rock,…read moreand small pool for swimming.

Wow!! Small park. Big Fun!! If you are in the White Springs area you have to check this place out…read more About an hour and a half west and north of Jacksonville. Just a 1.5 mile trail. 3 miles in all. The scenery is amazing. Beautiful views of the historic Suwannee River all along the trail. Hike ends at the majestic Big Shoals. Your experience will depend on the water level of the river, but ours was pretty impressive. Park is pristine. Trails are well maintained and easily accessible. We went in the middle of the week and were the only people there. It's really hot in the summer,so make sure you have water available. Don't miss the bat house at the very beginning of the trail. If the bats hear your voice they will start moving around and making noise. Great old Florida experience.

Beautiful state park with access to florida springs for swimming, diving relaxing & might hiking in…read morethe area. Pets not allowed. It's nicer to enjoy when it's sunny as the water looks more beautiful & clear. On my visit it was cloudy, rainy, but we still got to enjoy the water. We saw many fish & turtles.

Wonderful and very deep spring. Just watch the steamship remains in the clear river bed going into…read morethe Suwannee River. Wonderful history as this ship supplied all of the pioneers along the riverside.

One of our top 5 favorite springs to visit, perfect for the family and great spot to visit when you…read moretrying to cool down from the sun. You can rent kayaks here and go down the Santa Fe. Lots of parking but sometimes can reach capacity on the weekends. No inflatable floats in the spring is kind of lame but you can bring noodles.

This is a small and very accessible park that has one swimming hole open currently. It was quite…read morewarm the day we were there and don't was pretty crowded. Water is a bit chilly but you get used to it. The blue hole (spring source) is about 20-25 feet down - a pretty easy snorkel. Not a lot of current. Shallow areas are good for kids and there is kayak/canoe rentals to paddle downstream to the Santa Fe River. Bathrooms were a bit disgusting. Smelled of raw sewage. A good place to spend a few hours.