Have you ever just wanted to get away for the day? Maybe work has you scheduled to the max or there is little to no money to plan a trip with the holidays coming up. Regardless of the reason why you can’t, are you still feeling that wanderlust angst? Well, if you live in the South, where the temperatures are still mild, it is an ideal time to go outside for some sunshine and fresh air. We took a day and went State Park Hopping to three of the most beautiful parks close to home. Here is what we discovered on our road trip adventure!
Nature has a way of allowing us to slow down and sort out our thoughts.
First Hop: Blackwater River State Park
My husband and I got an early start at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning. We had packed a cooler with drinks, a few snacks, and some marinated chicken to grill for lunch. We had a general game plan which we chose to follow loosely just so we could investigate whatever path caught our eye. With coffee in hand, we drove out of the driveway and headed westward towards our first destination. Blackwater River State Park is located about a two-hour drive from us in Holt, Florida. We couldn’t have asked for better weather to take our road trip on. It was sunny, slightly breezy at a cool 52 degrees as we started out. The temperatures were forecasted to warm up into the mid-70s. Perfect!
Blackwater River State Park boasts of being “One of the Purest Sandbottom Rivers in the World,” on its brochure. It is “America’s First Three-Time Winner” of the National Gold Medal, an award given for excellence among conservations and recreational parks. It did not disappoint. The park hosts thirty campsites, two nature trails to hike, plenty of wildlife to scope out, and an absolutely gorgeous river to swim, canoe, or tube down. We made a mental note to bring the family back to go tubing in the near future. Hiking the nature trails would have been wonderful to do but we decided to pace ourselves, reserving some energy for our next park hop.
Second Hop: Ponce De Leon Springs State Park
As soon as you pull in to park you are immediately awed by the beauty of the springs. The water is just so incredibly gorgeous! Ponce De Leon Springs State Park was named after the Spanish explorer who searched for “The Fountain of Youth” when he traveled around Florida in the early 1500s. Though he never found the Fountain of Youth, I am sure he admired the landscape God created for us to enjoy.
These aquamarine clear waters are fed by two underground springs that converge here. The water temperature stays at 68 degrees year-round. Depending on what season you go into the water you might consider it refreshingly cold or delightfully warm. It is the main attraction of the park located here in Ponce De Leon, Florida. There are two nature trails, a volleyball court, and a picnic area to grill and eat at. Unfortunately, no campsites are available. We loved the scenery so much that we decided to relax and do lunch here and take it all in.
Third and Final Park Hop: Falling Waters State Park
Falling Waters State Park is located in Chipley, Florida, and has been a place we have taken our family for many years. Though the possibility is present, no one has ever seen an alligator on any of our visits. I thought I’d just toss this sign in for kicks and to see if you are paying attention! Our kids have grown up camping at any of the 24 campsites available while swimming and fishing right here in this lake. We all learned a few historical facts here too. Hiking along the Wiregrass nature trail you learn of an oil well that was drilled in 1919 in a failed attempt to find oil. The capped-off site can be seen from the trail while hiking to see the waterfall. Watch the water from Florida’s tallest waterfall plummet 73-feet down, from a deck overlooking the 100-foot deep sinkhole that it runs into.
My husband and I hiked the trails and it brought back so many wonderful memories that we had made here. It is never a mistake to take time out with your family and enjoy God’s beauty around you. We decided to end the day with a quick swim in the lake since the day had warmed up considerably and we had hiked and was sweaty. It was refreshing to go for a dip in the lake before heading back home. The day was just what we needed to lay down the compiling stressors of 2020.
The Cost vs. The Benefit
To top off my tank in gas cost $18.00. We packed a cooler from home with water, iced tea, grapes, potato salad, chips, cookies, and some marinating chicken. My husband brought enough charcoal with us to grill. There was an entrance fee at each park. The first two park hop entrance fees were $4.00 each and the final park hop entrance fee was $5.00. The total money spent in entrance fees and gas to enjoy these awesomely beautiful places came to $31.00. I didn’t include the cost of the food that we used from the house. Packing whatever you can raid from your pantry will help keep the cost down. If you have a little more cash to play around with then you can stop and eat at a restaurant in any of the towns along the way.
The benefits far outweigh the cost across several aspects in my opinion. Just the stress relief alone was worth it to me. We came back feeling rejuvenated and happy. Being outdoors lowers blood pressure and releases naturally good-feeling endorphins. Who couldn’t use some of that! Being active and moving is a beneficial exercise to keep your heart healthy. Taking a break from the mental and emotional stress in your life is a wise move so you can reset and focus anew. Your mood will be uplifted while new memories are made. Finally, you will sleep oh so much better after a day of state park hopping! Trust me, we did!
For updated Florida State Park information on entrance fees, campsite availability, closures and COVID19 requirements click on this link: https://www.floridastateparks.org/.
Beauty pictures! We will need to try to go to these places.