Adventures in Florida #16: Rainbow Springs State Park
Join me in exploring this true Old Florida attraction
The crystal clear waters of this spring have been attracting visitors from far and wide for quite some time. Before the days of Disney World and all the huge theme parks currently scattered around the Sunshine State, freshwater springs like this were one of the main attractions in Florida.
Rainbow Springs is the 4th largest freshwater spring in the state and it's always packed with people enjoying the year-round 72 degree water.
While archaeological evidence suggests people have been visiting this spring for over 10,000 years it wasn't until the 1930s that it became a privately owned attraction. They had a small zoo on the grounds, a gondola-type ride and even a unique boat that allowed visitors to view the springs underwater.
images from Florida Memory Project
Alright, enough with the history lesson....let's get back to exploring the park! Rainbow Springs is now a state park but you can still find evidence of the once great attraction that thrived from the 1930s to the 1970s. As you make your way around the spring towards the trails this stunning waterfall is the first thing to catch your eye.
This is one of two man-made waterfalls in the park. As you can see from the sign above, they were built in 1937 as part of the original attraction. The next waterfall down the trail is much more dramatic, kind of made me feel like I was in Hawaii or something.
Continuing on the loop trail I eventually came back around to the spring area where a boardwalk leads you to an overlook of the spring from the other side.
Several small creeks converge under the boardwalk and the water is SO CLEAR it made this bluegill look like he was just floating there!
While a dip in the headsprings here is sure to cool you off on a hot and humid Summer Florida day, one of the best ways to cool off and the perfect way to conclude your visit to Rainbow Springs State Park is to spend a couple hours tubing down the crystal clear Rainbow River! Here you can see our show host enjoying the cool water with his son for the segment we shot for TV today.
I also jumped in the water from my kayak and shot some underwaters with my GoPro. Take a look at how clear it is...I was surprised to find some largemouth bass and other panfish that didn't seem to mind my presence in their environment too much.
all photos captured with Canon 80D/18-135mm
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Thanks for joining me on this adventure!
Please upvote & resteem if you enjoyed this post.
Adventures in Florida #15: Wading for BIG Redfish in Tampa Bay
follow me @liberty-minded
This seems like a great getaway. We live above Tampa so it would be a nice, close trip. Honey! Get my sandals and camera, we're going to Rainbow Springs.
Hello fellow Floridian, followed! Definitely worth the 1-1.5 hour drive to Dunellon if you've never been. Thanks for stopping by hope you enjoy when you visit!
Looks Like a great place to be man! If I ever go to Disney I know where I'm stopping along the way! That looks like so much fun!
thanks @teotwawkiman! Much better than the typical tourist destinations!
Looks like it to me brother! :)
Adventures is Florida #15: Wading for BIG Redfish in Tampa Bay
Adventures is Florida #14: Wild Florida Alligator and Wildlife Park
Adventures is Florida #13: Gopher Tortoises at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
Adventures is Florida #12: Rescued Raptors at Largo Bird of Prey Center
Adventures is Florida #11: Flounder Fishing on the St. John's River
Adventures is Florida #10: Exploring Downtown Jacksonville
Adventures is Florida #9: Boneyard Beach on Big Talbot Island
Adventures is Florida #8: Offshore Snapper Fishing
Adventures is Florida #7: Tiger Creek Preserve on the Lake Wales Ridge
Adventures is Florida #6: Orlando Wetlands Park
Adventures is Florida #5: Rod & Reel Pier - Anna Maria Island
Adventures is Florida #4: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Adventures is Florida #3: Sloths at Exotic Animal Experience
Adventures is Florida #2: Honey Harvesting
Adventures is Florida #1: Culpepper Bend on the Econlockhatchee River
What a beautiful place @liberty-minded. 72 degrees year round sounds like paradise to me. That water is amazing. Can it be any clearer? The diversity of flora and fauna surrounding is equally gorgeous, the perfect compliment. Great captures, enjoyed the tour.
Appreciate it @bloomview!
This is an amazing post! Beautifully done
Thanks for stopping by @ladyrednails, really appreciate your kind words!
Great place and great photography ....👌
Thanks for sharing ...It will encourage me...@saan💐
appreciated @saan!
Awesome pics and video! Love that footer gif too!! 8)
many thanks @doggedfi!
looks like a great place to check out some day , very far from me though , thanks for bringing it to those of us that would otherwise never see it ! Steem on my friend ! Upped and resteemed !👍👍👍📷📷📷
wow, thanks @karenmckersie! It's a must visit while in Florida!
Your welcome ! 👍✌
Very nice. Looks like a great place to visit and a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing.
many thanks @beccadeals!
Nice post! I take it the gondola doesn't operate anymore... Pity. Sounds like it would be a great place to cool off in the hot summer.
Unfortunatey it's from a bygone era, but would be nice if they brought it back.....doubt the state will ever fund that.
Too bad they can't team up with Disney (They own Lucasfilm now, right?) and put in a high-speed version like that part in Return of the Jedi...
Lol, that would be awesome!