Sunday Favorites: Rainbow Springs

The neighborhood where I live becomes a war zone on holidays that feature fireworks, so my family and I usually plan a trip to avoid them. This year, our plans changed last minute and we were faced with the dilemma of booking something spur-of-the-moment, or succumbing to a sleepless night of everlasting explosions, crying babies and terrified pets.

I found the most adorable rental on Airbnb. A tiny house resort about three hours away. The only issue being that it was in the middle of nowhere. Despite my husband’s reluctance, I insisted we go ahead and book the trip to Williston, Fla.

”It’s only a couple of days,“ I said. ”Surely there are a few nearby parks or attractions worth seeing.“

I planned out a short road trip, stopping in the Goethe State Forest on the way there. I wanted to see the Big Cyprus Boardwalk Trail, a popular attraction on SR 121. We drove down a gravel road for about three miles before reaching the trail head. After that, it was a short half-mile hike, which culminated at a 900-year-old Cyprus tree. It was an easy walk for the kids (ages 4 & 5) and a much needed mental health break for us parents, who had to ride the car with said kids for multiple hours. My husband felt the tree was a little underwhelming (I probably hyped it up too much), but for this Florida girl who’s used to mangroves and sea grapes, it was impressive. In addition, the boardwalk trail along the cypress swamp was beautiful and definitely worth the short detour.

Next, we arrived at the Homestead Tiny House Resort. The house where we stayed was absolutely adorable. We felt right at home in the charming cabin. Located downtown in a neighborhood, it was within walking distance to several restaurants all of which were closed for the holiday. So we rang in the New Year with Chinese food and Netflix.

The next day, we headed 20 minutes south to Rainbow Springs. I’d read that access is limited, especially during Covid, so we arrived as early as possible, around 9:00 a.m. There were plenty of parking spaces at that time and we walked right into the state park.

I wasn’t sure what to expect as we were walking in. Manmade pools around the entrance were neglected and filled with green algae. However once, we got through the gates, the landscape opened up and down a wooded hill was one of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. The view was absolutely breathtaking. The water was so lovely, we all got in our bathing suits and jumped in. We had the entire swimming area to ourselves.

Rainbow Springs is one of the largest in Florida. It was utilized for thousands of years by Native-Americans. In the early 20th Century, it was used for phosphate. However it was turned into a theme park in the 1930s. Forced to compete with other similar attractions like Silver Springs, the park featured something better than the glass bottom boats of its competitors. Sub-boats, half boat and half submarine, allowed visitors to descend down a flight of stairs and look at the surface of the water at eye level. In addition to the sub-boats, the park featured waterfalls, a zoo, a rodeo, a gift shop and a monorail with leaf-shaped gondolas, according to the Florida State Parks website.

The waterfalls weren’t natural. They were created by piling rocks on to phosphate tailings. Despite their origin, the waterfalls were, and are, very beautiful. I can’t say I’ve ever seen waterfalls like that in Florida.

After our frigid dip, we explored the rest of the park which has several walking trails. Toward the back we found the remains of the zoo, with several overgrown stone cages that used to hold deer, monkeys and other animals.

The interstate system in Florida eventually led to the demise of Rainbow Springs. In 1974, it closed and stood abandoned for many years. The state purchased the property in the 1990s and group of citizens, called Friends of Rainbow Springs helped restore of the old features.

Today, the Rainbow River is a designated National Natural Landmark, a Florida aquatic preserve and an Outstanding Florida Water. The park consists of more than 1,470 acres and has three main entrances: the head-springs day use area, the tubing facilities and the campground.

Visitors from around Florida and the world visit Rainbow Springs State Park to swim in the crystal-clear water, tube down the peaceful Rainbow River, and enjoy picnicking with friends and families. My family really enjoyed our time there.

Another natural wonder just a few miles from our tiny house resort was Devil’s Den spring. This attraction is privately owned and renowned for its snorkeling and diving. We had a look around the campground, but decided not to pay entry just for a few Instagram photos since we wouldn’t be going into the water.

All in all our impromptu vacation turned out really fun! I am constantly amazed at all that Florida has to offer.