De Leon Springs State Park

[Thewens]

Has anyone been here it looks really good but would like to know if anyone has been and what they thought:grin: Just thinking it would be something different.

[netty]

we are going there in october- to make pancakes..! it looks like a nice afternoon out. hope you have fun there

[trev]

we were there about 10 days ago! We made pancakes! It is really nice we were there because our son was doing a diving course and the instructors were using this as a venue. we travelled up with him and then left him to it. We swam in the spring (be warned it is VERY refreshing!!!) you can hire those tyre things for £5 dollars for the day. There are benches to sit on round the swimming area and a large grassy area also. There is a small play park for younger kids. There are boat trips and walks to go on and the pancakes are lovely. They bring you two jugs of different types of batter and you will not finish it all - if you do they bring more as it is all you can eat.

[jdybnsn]

We went in February.....its very pretty, and the pancakes are definitely worth trying :tounge:...though if you are going at a weekend, you are best reserving a table at The Old Sugar Mill, before you go.

We did the lake tour which was very informative ...and we managed to see some alligators !...the kids swam in the spring...don't worry, no alligators in there !! (its VERY cold though.... but our kids didn't mind). We even saw a mantatee at very close hand, basking in the water, near the pier.

You can also hire boats/ canoes etc.

Another tip... make sure you plan your route so it doesn't go through the middle of all the towns enroute - we didn't have a very good map with us (we'd just come off a Disney cruise at Port Canaveral, and decided to do it on impusle)...it took forever to get there (or so it seemed) due to traffic lights every half mile !!...but on the way back we managed to get on a route that by-passed the towns and we were soon back in Orlando.

It made a really pleasant and peaceful change, to the hurly-burly of the parks !!!:thumbs-up

[BEC]

Sounds interesting anyone got a link please?

[jdybnsn]

Yes, here you are;

http://www.floridastateparks.org/deleonsprings/default.cfm

but FL-Girl gave me loads of really useful information on the Springs in Florida around the Orlando area - she's the one to ask !!:)

[jdybnsn]

Oh and here's another ....

http://www.planetdeland.com/sugarmill/index.htm

[BEC]

Thanks very much I will go and have a look!

[Suzie&Stuart]

Another great idea for next year, thanks for that.

Stuart

[jdybnsn]

Mmmmmm...pancakes (& blueberries) !!! :tounge:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/jdybnsn/florida2008439.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/jdybnsn/florida2008444.jpg

Useful tip : Take your own lemon !! ...Americans don't do lemon & pancakes !!!!

[jdybnsn]

And a few shots of the park.......
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/jdybnsn/florida2008425.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/jdybnsn/florida2008463.jpg

on the boat tour ...
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/jdybnsn/florida2008449.jpg

Water's a bit chilly !!!!....
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/jdybnsn/florida2008432.jpg


..but definitely no swimming here !!!!!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/jdybnsn/florida2008446.jpg

[FLGirl-UKNow]

I'm glad that several of you are heading up to the springs. Both DeLeon Springs and Blue Springs are great options. I always suggest to do DeLeon Springs in the morning and then head over to Blue Springs in the afternoon to make the 1:00 boat tour (2 hour boat tour). It makes for a great combination and the parks are just 20-30 minutes from each other depending on traffic.

The advantage of going to Blue Springs is that during the winter months (earliest is late November) you can see the manatees. You can't swim with them but this is one of the places that has the most manatees all season. I've been there when there has been over 160 in the lagoon.

I must say that February is a great month for the tour because it is typically cool enough that the alligators are out and the birds and manatees are everywhere.

[netty]

I'm glad that several of you are heading up to the springs. Both DeLeon Springs and Blue Springs are great options. I always suggest to do DeLeon Springs in the morning and then head over to Blue Springs in the afternoon to make the 1:00 boat tour (2 hour boat tour). It makes for a great combination and the parks are just 20-30 minutes from each other depending on traffic.

The advantage of going to Blue Springs is that during the winter months (earliest is late November) you can see the manatees. You can't swim with them but this is one of the places that has the most manatees all season. I've been there when there has been over 160 in the lagoon.

I must say that February is a great month for the tour because it is typically cool enough that the alligators are out and the birds and manatees are everywhere.

thanks so much for the info, we were talking about it last night and i said that we need to find other places to go to and see while up that way rather than just go to Deleon springs, are there any other places to go to that you can recommend? thanks!

[FLGirl-UKNow]

If you do both of those parks it will be a pretty full day. You would be very close to the Daytona area if you wanted to go over there. Otherwise you could come home via I-4 and stop in Sanford and do some shopping at Seminole Town Centre. It is a good mall and will be less crowded than Florida Mall.

Winter Park is another great area to explore. They have a great museum if you like Tiffany Glass, a boat tour and there are some great places to eat and little shops to explore. I just posted a new thread about a The Wine Room that is a great option if you are a wine lover.

[netty]

If you do both of those parks it will be a pretty full day. You would be very close to the Daytona area if you wanted to go over there. Otherwise you could come home via I-4 and stop in Sanford and do some shopping at Seminole Town Centre. It is a good mall and will be less crowded than Florida Mall.

Winter Park is another great area to explore. They have a great museum if you like Tiffany Glass, a boat tour and there are some great places to eat and little shops to explore. I just posted a new thread about a The Wine Room that is a great option if you are a wine lover.

Thanks! :smile:

[AngelaG]

HI,They all sound great,will be going in December for Christmas.We have been to rock springs,that is great.Totally unspoilt.Great for a relaxing day out.Good for kids to,can swim and go down the springs in huge rubber ringsTake a packed lunch though not much of a cafe there.We were the only Brits there.

[islabonita]

We will have to try it. Thanks for the info.