Blue Spring State Park, Florida

Mermaids? Manatees?? Jacques Cousteau??? What do these strange underwater creatures (Cousteau included) all have in common and what do they have to do with Blue Spring State Park? All great questions and to answer them let’s take a trip back to 1971, when the park provided the beautiful backdrop for an episode of “Forgotten Mermaids” on the show Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau. Since the park’s brief moment in the spotlight, it has remained a popular destination for nature-lovers, families, fishers, bikers, hikers, snorkelers, vacationers, hammock-ers, outdoor scenic river boaters and, of course, SCUBA divers. Encompassing 2,463-acres and located just 35 miles from Orlando, Blue Spring State Park is also home to Blue Spring itself which shoots off 104 gallons of water into the St. Johns River each day.