Nature Walks and Day Trips....Places To See...: Ponce De Leon Springs State Park in Florida

Isn't this place beautiful?

Just a 20 minute drive from where we live at..... is Ponce De Leon Springs State Park in the Northwest Florida Panhandle......and this is where we decided to spend our Friday afternoon.....

It's February...... wintertime in Florida, but today temperatures are in the 70's and it feels like perfect weather for a nature walk......

This is wonderful.....we have the whole place to ourselves. The only other people here today, is the Park Ranger and people who take care of the State Park.......

It's so peaceful and quiet .......I can definitely tell that it's wintertime here....

Ponce De Leon Springs was acquired in the 1970's to provide public outdoor recreation and has been used for social gatherings of all sorts since the mid- 1920's. The two limestone vents produce approximately 14 million gallons of crystal clear 68 degree water daily. The refreshing feel of the waters likely led Native Americans and early settlers to feel younger as they entered the water on sultry summer days. The temperature of the water stays 68 degrees year round.

This is a great place for a picnic.....

This is the swimming area......

the water is so clear .....

To your right is the swimming area and keep walking and to your left is the creek that the spring spills over into......

So shallow and clear.....

I love the sound of the water as it goes over the rocks.....

It's fun to roll up our pants legs.....and walk in the shallow creek....there's a stairway we can go down.....the water feels so refreshing.......

I feel younger already...what about you?

I love the different colors of river rock pebbles that are in the water....

let's head back and go on the nature walk....through the woods.....

across a boardwalk bridge....

I think we'll take the Spring Run Trail....it's a tranquil walk along the clear spring water beneath shady, moss-draped cypress trees....it's about a 30 minute walk...