Central Florida offers more than a bit of urban entertainment. With a slew of roller coasters, water parks and the ever-popular Walt Disney World, there’s plenty to keep a person busy on a Florida vacation.
Sometimes, though, vacation means doing almost nothing at all, and Florida vacations offer lots for those folks, too. Beach vacations are popular. Hotel prices, though, can drain a vacation budget faster than the sun’s rays can bake a snowbird’s skin.
So what is a person to do?
Central Florida's Ocala National Forest
Well, Florida camping provides an economical way for vacationers and locals to enjoy a break without breaking the bank, and Central Florida, featuring the Ocala National Forest and the St. Johns River, offers one of the state's most popular camping destinations.
Tucked along State Road 40 just five miles west of State Road 19, Juniper Springs Recreation Area is a favorite of many a camper. In fact, the park is a regular home for several families who pull into the park in their RVs late each fall with intentions of staying until spring.
Surrounded by the old-growth pine and scrub of the 500-square-mile Ocala National Forest and dozens and lakes and ponds, Juniper Springs takes visitors right out of the city and transplants them into a serene setting. Ocala National Forest earned its designation in 1908, when President Teddy Roosevelt made it the country's first national forest east of the Mississippi River.
Lounging around the campfire and backpacking through the woodlands, though, aren't the only ways to enjoy Juniper Springs. Rather, it's bustling with activity year-round. The fun begins with its swimming pool, which is fed by the crystal-clear waters of Juniper Creek. The pool, with limestone walls and a sandy bottom, varies in depth from 4-18 feet, the latter of which is enough to allow the daring to make various dives into the water, which maintains a 72-degree temperature year-round.
Each day, eight million gallons of water are dumped into the pool, which releases its flow a little at a time. Nearby picnic shelters provide space for gatherings, and small groups can dine on picnic lunches at tables placed just beyond the edge of the pool. A small grocery store provides supplies for campers and day visitors.
Camping Facilities at Juniper Springs
Those who choose to spend the night have a few options. The park features 79 campsites, which 19 designated as tent-only lots. Several pull-through sites allow larger RVs to maneuver the campground, which often fills with long-term campers during the fall and winter season.
According to the park rangers, the campground was built in 1930s. It features three loops, and many of the lots are nestled in shady spots under long-leaf pine and sabal palms. Public showers and restrooms are available, and the park has a waste station, too.
Of course, some tent campers have a second option. Rather than paying for one of the spots in the campground, some folks opt to hike out from Juniper Springs along the Florida National Scenic Trail, a 1,400-mile trail from the Florida Panhandle to South Florida, and camp for free in the forest. The trail runs through Juniper Springs and connects to the Juniper Wilderness area, where motorized vehicles are banned and few sounds can be heard to remind one of the busy world beyond the forest.
Juniper Springs is also popular among canoeists, who take advantage of a 7-mile run on Juniper Creek, which dumps into a larger lake. The park's staff operate a shuttle to move people and their canoes back to Juniper Springs. Canoes are available for rent at Juniper Springs.
At times, Juniper Springs is so busy that its campgrounds are sold out. In such cases, there are a few alternatives that offer nearly equivalent opportunities for camping and recreation. Among other top campgrounds in Central Floirda are Blue Spring State Park near Orange City, Wekiwa Springs State Park near Apopka, Alexander Springs near Altoona and Hontoon Island State Park near DeLand.
 |
