When you think “Florida,” most people think of sandy beaches, the hopping streets of Miami or theme parks and Micky Mouse, but there’s actually so much more to this giant state than just these things. Florida is home to amazingly scenic ecosystems and pristine beauty. While we’re in the midst of this global pandemic, we’ve decided to reevaluate our lives and take advantage of these beautiful hidden Florida gems we have right at our fingertips.
On the west coast of Florida, just outside of Central Florida, is Weeki Wachee Spring State Park, built around a natural spring that pushes into the gorgeous and winding, Weeki Wachee River. The river flows 12 miles westwards from Weeki Wachee to the Gulf of Mexico. The name “Weeki Wachee” is derived from the name given to it by the Seminole Indians and is taken to mean “Small Spring,” named either from the spring that the river surfaces from or the name of the neighboring town, Spring Hill. Weeki Wachee Spring is the deepest naturally occurring spring in the United States and is the surfacing point of an underground river. In addition to the spring, is the popular attraction that that was built on the premises in 1947.
Weeki Wachee Spring introduced the underwater show featuring “mermaids” using hoses to transport oxygen to the swimmers so they can stay underwater longer. The technique is largely the same that is still used today. In 1982, Buccaneer Bay was opened with water slides, a lazy river, and a white sand beach for visitors to enjoy alongside the theater with the mermaid shows.
Currently, the park is owned by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and is a member of the Florida State Park System. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.
We rented a house on the Weeki Wachee River for the weekend which was a beautiful little spot off one of the canals closer to the estuary the river spills out into. We were super happy we picked this house because it was much quieter than one of the houses right on the Weeki Wachee River. When we weren’t exploring the river we had a blast hanging out outside and enjoying the gorgeous afternoon on the water. The house we stayed at was The Weeki Wachee River Flip Flop Cottage that we found on Air BnB, we loved it so much we’re contemplating another trip here!
I bring my own iRocker Stand Up Paddle Board. It only takes about 20 minutes to inflate and its extremely light and portable. I couldn’t be happier with this purchase it’s incredibly durable and is easy to deflate and pop in the trunk when you’re done. It comes with the pump, paddle, skags, leash and a carrying backpack and for the price, its a great quality inflatable SUP!
I was amazed at how clear the water was. As we journeyed down the river, we saw fish and even a manatee! Someone in our group dropped their sunglasses and I was able to see them all the way down! The water was cool, clear, clean and so refreshing after paddling a few miles down the river. Everyone was super friendly on the river, we even made some new friends!
The house had paddle boards and kayaks already (we brought our own as well), so we got in the water from the house and made our way down the river. We recommend starting your day on the river early, because it gets crowded in the afternoon. We started around 9am and we had it entirely to ourselves. It was so peaceful and an overall serene experience.
Although we didn’t get to see the mermaids or historic park, we had a great time exploring the Weeki Wachee River and spending the weekend at our beautiful Air BNB. Maybe on the next visit we can see the historic mermaid show!
When visiting Weeki Wachee please remember to clean up after yourselves. If you see trash please do your part and take it with you so visitors to come can enjoy this beautiful place. Always make sure to watch out for wildlife and the manatees that sometimes venture into the river. Manatees are protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act (§379.2431(2), Florida Statutes) and are federally protected by both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Remember to appreciate them from a distance so we can continue to keep these beautiful animals safely visiting Weeki Wachee!
This page has affiliate links and if you purchase something from this page I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Have you been to Weeki Wachee? What did you think? What are some other beautiful natural places you like to explore in Florida? Drop a line in the comments and let me know what you think!
