Wekiwa Springs State Park
Wekiwa Springs State Park is the Orlando local’s answer to cooling off in the summer. While being the best place in the area for canoeing, Wekiwa offers visitors everything having to do with the outdoors including swimming, bicycling, hiking, kayaking, camping, and much more. One of the more popular activity is to canoe down the river and end at a very large beach-like swimming area where you’ll join other locals sunbathing, enjoying picnics, throwing frisbees, and cooling off in the freshwater swimming area.
It’s a great way to spend time in the Florida heat and because it’s a freshwater spring, the water is an average 72 to 75 degree temperature even in the summer. If you think it’s too cold, it’s not because you’re facing 88 degrees outside the water. Take the plunge quickly into the water and within seconds you’ll feel great! Best of all it’s only 20 minutes north of Orlando. You can also enjoy 13 miles of trails perfect for hiking, walking, or biking. Camping areas are also available where you can camp primitively but there are bathrooms and showers nearby for those who don’t want to live like the Timucuan Indians that once lived off the land here years ago. Canoe and kayak rentals are also extremely popular and you can call 407-884-4311 for more information. As always it’s a great place for kids, families, wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends and just your regular friends.
Hours:
Open Daily 8am-6pm
Admission:
$6 per vehicle, but there’s a limit of 2-8 people per vehicle, it’s only $4 for a single person in a vehicle, but you shouldn’t be going by yourself anyways so grab a friend, be good to the clean air environment and carpool. This will allow you to be good to mother nature and save a few bucks on the entry fee at the same time. Talk about your win-win situation.
Location:
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka, FL 32712
407-884-2008
Special Unlocked Tip:
For a great Orlando journey through the park, do what the locals do. Bring a cooler pack some lunch and some drinks. Rent a canoe or a kayak with you and your group, and then during or at the end of your journey, enjoy the swimming area, have a short picnic, lay out in the sun, swim in the freshwater for a little bit, and afterwards feel satisfied that you’ve just enjoyed one heck of a fun filled Orlando day in the sun. Get there earlier in the day because if its expected to be a crowded day and the park gets too full, well it’s a nonprofit state run park so they will turn you away at the gate.
