Blue Spring State Park, Florida

Mermaids? Manatees? Jacques Cousteau? What do these strange underwater creatures (Cousteau included) all have in common? 

Located just 35 miles north of Orlando, this park was the backdrop on the television program The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, for a 1971 episode entitled Forgotten Mermaids. Of course, the manatees stole the show. 

Ever since the park’s brief moment in the spotlight, it has remained a popular destination for recreational activities. Fisherman, bikers, hikers, snorkelers, tubers, hammock lovers, boaters, SCUBA divers, and manatee enthusiasts will all find plenty to do here. 

Every day, Blue Spring dumps 102 million gallons into the St. Johns River. All that water makes for some quality river time. Located just 35 miles north of Orlando, it’s the perfect destination to cool off. 

If you’d like to stay the night, there are fifty-one campsites with water and electricity hookups, and six cabins in the park.