World’s Largest and Deepest Freshwater Spring, Wakulla Springs, FL
FIRST, an announcement that Linda B. is the winner of our latest giveaway, a copy of Walt Disney World Extreme Vacation Guide for Kids by Kathleen Reilly. CONGRATS!!
This morning, the outdoor thermometer read a whopping 2° F. That’s why I especially enjoy this month’s guest post about a warm, sunny place. My friend Rebecca Roberts lives in Tallahassee, FL, which is close to Wakulla Springs, the world’s largest and deepest freshwater spring. We met way back in elementary school, when we both lived in the Middle East. She still lives in a warm climate, while I’m stuck in this frozen tundra.
I lived in Tallahassee for three years, just out of college, and unemployed. My parents graciously opened their home to me, then charged me rent! (Something about a valuable life lesson, blah blah.) So, I’ve been to Wakulla Springs myself, and even got to ride on the glass-bottom boat, which isn’t always running, depending on the weather and water quality.
GOR. GEOUS.
What left the biggest impression on me? The signs warning that alligators are attracted to pets and small children. Yikes.
But Becca the Brave didn’t let the threat of harm prevent her from providing this report from the field:
Where we went, and who was coerced into going:
Becca and her boys!
This August for our last “field trip” before the start of school, I took my sons, Will (8) and Sam (5) to Wakulla Springs.
WHY did you go there, exactly?
We had all been there before as a family and on a kindergarten field trip, but it is one of those day trip destinations from Tallahassee that we try to do at least once a year.
Okay, what was so cool about it?
We went to the springs to go on the 45 minute boat tour and take a dip in the freezing cold spring. The water is 70 degrees year round and on a 98 degree day in August it will take your breath away. Wakulla Springs is very unique to the area and a cool trip for the day. We packed a picnic lunch, our swimsuits and made a day of it. The boat tour is a must-do. On every visit we have had a tour guide that is both entertaining and knowledgeable about the surroundings. The boat winds down the river, which is lined with Cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss. We saw various birds, alligators, turtles, snakes (ugh!), fish, and we even saw two manatees on this trip.
I leave the death-defying reporting to my guest bloggers.
A little background info about the place:
Wakulla Springs is located on the Florida Panhandle near Tallahassee. On average, more than 250 million gallons of water flow from Wakulla Springs forming a nine mile river that reaches the Gulf of Mexico. If the water is clear you can see the fossilized remains of a mastodon resting on the bottom in about 80 feet of water. There are miles of caves and tunnels under the water.
And, this is where I would start worrying about that alligator warning sign…
Wakulla Springs is a state park, so it is available to anyone that would like to visit, and it is open 365 days a year. The springs also has a lodge and restaurant that has been open since 1937, and it still appears as it did back then.
FUN FACT…… Scenes from the movies ”The Creature From The Black Lagoon” and “Tarzan” were filmed at Wakulla Springs!
How it rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = snoozefest, 10 = add to your bucket list): [rating=9]
9. Wakulla Spring is a must-do if visiting the “Big Bend” area, and we typically bring visitors from out of state because it is so unique.
Hey YOU! Go BIG!:
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Friends of Wakulla Springs
550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, FL 32327. (850) 926-0700
Sunbathing sounds really good right about now.
Traci, You put this together so nicely! It really looks great.
I had a lot of fun working on it and my boys will be so
excited to see themselves!
Rebecca, I couldn’t get through the part about seeing the manatees without snickering and thinking about Lisa B.’s manatee philosophy! This place looks so cool – will you take us when we come and visit?
I live a short three hours from here and I had no idea it was the world’s largest…we have never been and after reading this will definitely have to remedy that! I think a trip over there is in order!
It’s a great place, from what I remember! Bring your swimsuits!
I love Wakulla Springs. Sadly the water clarity is rarely good enough to allow for Glass Bottom boat trips anymore…
Hate to rain on the parade but Weekie Wachee Spring in Hernano County is the deepest spring in the U.S. 423 feet and counting. Check Google and you will find plety of conformation
Aw, this was a really nice post. Spending some time and actual effort to generate a great article… but what can I say… I hesitate
a whole lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.
Wikipedia says giant springs montana flows 338 million gallons a day