DeLeon Springs State Park

This was a completely wonderful surprise!  Located just off US17, six miles north of Deland, this is a jewel of a park, and the webpage does not do it Justice, http://www.floridastateparks.org/deleonsprings/ .  Admission is only $6.00 per car load, up to six people and then an additional $2.00 for each person after 6.   The grounds were amazingly well kept and there is plenty of parking. 

There are five covered pavilions, four of which that can be rented out for private parties.  There were plenty of picnic tables scatted around the swimming hole and plenty of areas to just throw down a blanket and sunbath.  There is also a welcome center that is rather small, but showcases various periods of history of the Springs, from Native American fishing ground to 1950's amusement park.

There is a restaurant on site that serves all you can eat pancakes for $4.50 along with burgers and various sandwiches and salads, all at a reasonable price.  There was quite a long line (45 minute wait) for the Pancake House, so we passed it on this trip.

There are several nice nature trails showcasing natural Florida.  We took the short ¼ mile paved trail.  It was a breeze with the stroller, and we saw lots of butterflies and various flora.  I would suggest bringing bug spray, as there were lots of mosquitoes on the trail.  My oldest enjoyed walking the trail and pointing out various sights, while my youngest napped.

After our walk, it was time to cool off in the spring.  The water is a crisp 72 degrees year round, so the best advice is jump in!  There is a roped off area that is quite large where the water is only 3 feet deep, which was chest high on my four year old.  My youngest could not touch the bottom, so he stayed on the steps splashing his brother.  There is a diving platform, where the water is up to 30ft deep, and my husband enjoyed doing cannon balls for the children's amusement.

The restrooms were clean and stocked.  There was a changing table and a bench in the women's room to help change in and out of swim suits.  The stalls were quite large and doubled as changing rooms.

There is a small play area that consists of only 5 slides, very small but my oldest enjoyed it.  There is also a volleyball court.

I give this park a true THUMBS UP!  My family and I will be back for more.

Sun Splash Park, Daytona Beach

Another weekend in Daytona Beach!  This time we headed up to Sun Splash Park, located 611 S. Atlantic Ave. Admission to the park is free (it’s a Volusia County Park).  Parking is limited but free as well.

The park itself is nice, but the website is a bit deceiving http://volusia.org/parks/sunspla.htm.  The pictures are relatively old, so the playground equipment is a bit beat up and bleached, but it is still in good condition.  There are several vending machines located in at the entrance to the park selling sodas and sports drink, the prices are higher than normal, so I suggest bringing your own. 

It is a county park, so there is no alcohol beverages allowed.  There are picnic tables, but no grills, so I would suggest sandwiches.  Bring plenty of bottles water, the vendors sell it, but you will pay a high price, and I did not see a water fountain in sight.

The park was pretty standard with a basic slide and climbing equipment.  It’s built for 5 to 12 year olds, so the younger set might have troubles.  There is shooting fountains in a separate area.  The park requires swim diapers on children who are not toilet trained.  They did not sell them, there so you will need to provide your own.  Bring your first aid kit!!  There were several children there that slipped and fell on the wet concrete while running through the fountains.

The park has a walkway that leads directly down the beach.  A lifeguard tower is located extremely close to the park.  Cars do drive on this patch of beach, so be careful walking down to the water.  Don’t forget to bring a small bottle of vinegar with you, Jellyfish have a tendency to sneak up on swimmers and the stings hurt.  The lifeguards normally have a bottle at each station, but I like to carry my own for quick applications.

The park was pretty clean, although the women’s bathroom left much to be desired.  There are NO CHANGING TABLES.  There are only 4 toilets (2 men, 2 women) for the entire park, so there is a long line.  The woman’s bathroom was disgusting, but my husband assured me that the men’s bathroom was clean.

I do not think that we will be returning to this park anytime soon.  I’m hoping one of the other beachside parks fair better than Sun Splash.