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 ;)

Beautiful area. So much shade. A great pond. Relaxed area. Events and more…read more Glad I found this place.

Very beautiful serene place. I felt very much in peace walking thru the area. The fountain water…read moresprouts had me mesmerized. Simply beautiful overall landscape.

Small park with a kids playground and a decent enough walking path around a lake. Not the best,but…read morenot the worst that I have even been to.

Get in touch with the community!…read more As I've said in other reviews, Port Orange is a pretty close-knit place. As such, you may find yourself hopping over to the city center and checking out what is happening at the local community center. The good: Base of operations: Really this community center is like the base for any special event going on in the city. Going on a fund raising walk? Enjoying the 4th of July festivities? Generally this place will be your first stop for registration, schedules, etc. The Bad: *yawn*: You would think they would have more on the schedule then just the usual chamber of commerce meetings. I mean no individual special events? No nifty club meetings? Nada? Come on Port Orange, you can do this! The community center is very nice, but it's pretty sad that there's just nothing of substance really going on. So Sad. Overall 4.1= You've probably never been here.

Riverwalk Park in Port Orange, Florida is located right on Ridgewood Avenue, yet it is a great…read morelittle park to escape the rigors and stress living in the modern world. If you have children, there is a great splash park on the property and you can also rent Kayaks to go into the Halifax River. It also has a pretty good view of the Halifax. The property is spaced nicely and it is an attractive and peaceful place they come and spend some time. There is plenty of parking and the property is well-maintained. I would definitely recommend a visit here. I also have to give it five stars (). If you find yourself in Port Orange, come by and check it out.

Love this park. It's right on the Halifax River. Has a splash pad, jungle gym stuff for the kids…read more Covered picnick tables with grills at each one and a huge open field to play in, fly a kite or whatever your heart desires

Love this park to take my dog. They have balls for the dogs and poop bags and trash bins. They keep…read moreup w the park!

Brought the kids here (12 - 8). They loved it. A little bit of everything including a water splash…read morepad to help cool off!

It's a great park, safe parking. Bathrooms, outdoor shower to wash off sand. Seating. Cross the…read moreroad for immediate beach access. Came a month after hurricane Nicole hit. Everything looks very different here now. Be careful for debris in water.

Beautifully kept spot (less crowded and ppl pick up after themselves), family oriented. Free…read moreparking, clean bathrooms , outside showers to wash the sand off. Great place! Parking lot is TIGHT since Hurricane a ton of parking spots are being taken up by construction machinery. So if you want a free spot, get here EARLY!

To say this company's customer service is lacking is the biggest understatement ever. My aunt and…read moreuncle were looking forward to attending Daytona and booked this campground way in advance. However, we suffered a huge loss in our family and my aunt and uncle had to cancel their trip. Again, they booked the campground during daytona and this place is nearby. I'm 100% sure they were able to rebook it, no problem. However, the manager, Andrew, treated my uncle horribly and had zero empathy for the situation. He simply said he didn't care what their circumstances were and refused to provide any type of refund (even partial). That means they got double for this camp site and profited off a family's grief. Absolutely despicable and I cannot say enough that I hope no one chooses to give this place their money.

We stayed here during Biketoberfest. The park was pretty full. Our site was tight but we got in…read more The park is older and has some huge trees. They had a pet park which was nice. The sites are all grass, and ours had ants which came inside and were not appreciated. There were lots of permanent residents here and they don't help the look of the place. This park has some cabin type buildings and some tent camping area for folks that like that style of camping. It is pretty conveniently located to all kinds of grocery stores, restaurants, etc. The staff we dealt with when making our reservations were very nice and helpful. Check in at the park was no problem, but we wished they had guided us to our site, getting there was quite confusing.