Weeki Wachee Springs: 5 Fun Things To See & Do at Florida’s Best Freshwater Playground
As you step into the crystal clear waters of Weeki Wachee Springs, you may hear crooning herons and croaking frogs singing in perfect harmony: We got no troubles, life is the bubbles, under the spring. . .
Or, they might as well be because Weeki Wachee Springs is also home to more than one Little Mermaid! With daily shows, a water park, and nearby campgrounds, gorgeous Weeki Wachee is assuredly one of Florida’s best freshwater playgrounds.
The sirens of the spring are calling, so, let’s dive right in!
Explore Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
The name “Weeki Wachee” was bestowed on these beautiful waters by the Seminole people. It means “little spring.” However, Weeki Wachee is actually so deep the bottom still hasn’t been found.1 An underwater world of caverns brims beneath the surface, and with part of the cave system delving over 400 feet underground, it’s the deepest natural freshwater cave system in the United States.2 Only incredibly skilled and permitted SCUBA divers should ever attempt to explore this challenging labyrinth.
While the caverns are accessible to only the elite few, Weeki Wachee River is open to everyone! Whether it’s your first float trip or your fiftieth, these swift, cerulean waters are a paddler’s paradise. You can paddle with the current to keep things at a more exciting pace, or just let the water do the work and relax lazy river-style!
Because Weeki Wachee is so popular, the State Park does require you to make a reservation to launch your kayak. However, by limiting the number of vessels, the State Park helps protect this beautiful wilderness from accidentally being over-loved!
Kayaks can be launched just downstream of the headspring and into a stunning 6-mile run that flows through the floodplain forest.3 Canopied by swaying cypress trees, you can float in the comfort of dappled shade along most stretches of the river, though in some areas, the trees part, allowing the sun to dance and play off of the sparkling ripples of the current. The entire run takes about 3 to 4 hours, depending on your pace.
The waters of Weeki Wachee are always a temperate 74 degrees Fahrenheit, so they’re pleasantly cool in summer but never unbearably chilly in winter. The first stretch of the river burbles through the State Park, where you aren’t allowed to swim, but once you pass its boundaries, you’re free to abandon your kayak for a bit and take a dip.
Just be mindful of the local wildlife!
Experience the Weeki Wachee Wildlife
Weeki Wachee Springs is home to some of Florida’s most amazing wildlife.
If you paddle down the river, you’ll find yourself in the company of wading blue herons and basking cooter turtles; shimmering schools of mullet fish will be darting around your kayak or canoe, almost as if Flounder’s cousins have all come out to greet you. During manatee season, gentle sea-cows will swim up to your kayak and pop their noses out of the water to say a curious “hello!”
It’s also not uncommon to spot the occasional alligator as well.
However, if the potential to kayak with a wild gator doesn’t float your boat, there are a few other ways to view Weeki Wachee’s wildlife, too!
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has a Wildlife Show where you can see a gator, turtles, snakes, and exotic birds from the safety of your own seat in an open-air exhibition.4 The animals are handled by knowledgeable rangers, who relay their audience with interesting facts that both educate and entertain. At the end of the show, you’re invited to come to pet an alligator; within a safe, controlled setting, it’s the perfect way to befriend this remarkable reptile. Of course, getting to stroke their leathery scales is a special treat for the kiddos!
You can also view Weeki Wachee’s wildlife by embarking on a tranquil riverboat tour. This 30-person tour is ideal if you’re hoping to take snapshots of any nesting bald eagles or playful manatees; there’s also less risk of smartphones taking a dive than when photographing from a kayak!
All of the critters around Weeki Wachee Springs are truly enchanting – especially the mermaids!
Attend a World-Class Magical Mermaid Show
Beginning as a small roadside attraction in 1947, the Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid show blossomed into one of the nation’s most popular tourist attractions by the 1950s.5 Earning mermaid status was an incredible honor, and girls traveled across the world – even from Tokyo, Japan – to try out.
Today, the tradition of the mermaid show lives on as resident mermaids continue to dazzle and delight their audiences with multiple daily shows. These incredibly talented actresses dance underwater while wearing tails and breathing from air hoses. They’re also swimming against a constant five-miles-an-hour current! Therefore, good conditioning and expert swimming skills are a must.
The mermaid show is viewed from an underwater theatre embedded in the side of the spring. As you watch the mermaids twirl in time to the music, know that you’re also sitting 16 feet below the water’s surface!6
You can choose to get a dose of Disney away from the Magic Kingdom with the State Park’s production of The Little Mermaid or enjoy some of the mermaids’ original stunts from 60 years ago, like eating and drinking underwater, during Wonders of Weeki.
During the annual Mermaids of Yesteryear show, former mermaids return and perform once again to an adoring audience. Vicki Smith, a veteran mermaid who first performed in 1957, explained the joys of donning her fins again in 2018: “The minute you dive in and go under the water, it all disappears,” she said – your troubles, your worries, and even your age.7 That’s the magic of being a mermaid!
“Once a mermaid, always a mermaid” is the motto of this inspiring and legendary sisterhood.
Have a Blast in Buccaneer Bay
Of course, hanging out with the mermaids will probably have you itching to get in the water yourself, so it’s time to head over to Buccaneer Bay!
This splash-tacular waterpark is the perfect place to plunge into the blue, crystal waters of Weeki Wachee Springs. Buccaneer Bay is unique in that it is a waterpark sourced by a natural Spring. A lazy river naturally flows around the swimming area, so you can rent a floatie or bring your own for a cool, relaxing ride.
But if action and adventure is your thing, then be sure to check out the Cannonball and Pirate’s Revenge: two rip-roaring waterslides that are sure to get your heart racing! The Cannonball is a steep, straight shot down, while Pirate’s Revenge is a long, wild ride full of twists and turns – not unlike the plot of Treasure Island!
Little buckaroos have a place in Buccaneer Bay, too – Lil’ Mates Caribbean Cove is a fun play place and wading area for kiddos under the age of 6.
When it’s time to dry off, you can snag a lounge chair on the Bay’s sandy, white beach and sunbathe with a good book!
Get Cozy & Go Camping
While Weeki Wachee Springs State Park doesn’t have a campground, there are some cozy, nearby accommodations so you can turn your day trip into an exciting overnight stay!
Mary’s Fish Camp first opened in 1946, and today, it offers the same beautiful views of the Mud River. With sites for tents and RVs, as well as fully furnished cabins, you can camp as authentically or as luxuriously as you wish! Best of all, Mary’s giftshop offers signature RC Colas and Moon Pies for its campers. Yum!
Another great overnight option is Cody’s RV Park and Catfish Pond. Cody’s 15-acre RV park has all the amenities you need, from firewood to the all-important Wi-Fi. Beautifully situated on the edge of a nature preserve, this locale is excellent for watching Florida sunsets. (Super Cool Bonus: there are dinosaurs and a giant seahorse sculpture at this park!)
Spending the night at either of these cozy campgrounds gives you the chance to unwind and extend your stay. With so much to do, Weeki Wachee Springs is an awesome spot for your next mini-getaway!
With its gentle manatees, wading birds, and beautiful mermaids. Weeki Wachee Springs is an absolute must-see for your Florida bucket list!
Have you been to the springs? What was your favorite thing to do? Let us know in the comments below.
We’ll see you on the next adventure!
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