Combining Nature, Education, and Fun Into One Package

The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, located in Homosassa, Florida is a great park for the family to enjoy. Not only does everyone have a lot of fun, but they also learn a lot from the exhibits at the park.

The site does have an interesting history. It was a tourist stop in the early 1900s. Trains would stop to allow passengers to take a break by the spring. The land has exchanged hands a lot over time, but was eventually purchased by the Citrus County Commission in order to protect it. It is obvious when visiting that it is a very environmentally sensitive area.

I love a good zoo, if you want to consider Homosassa Springs such a thing. Yes, you do get to see bobcats, black bears, white-tailed deer, American crocodiles and alligators, river otters, and much more. There are bird watching activities, a nature study, and an underwater observatory that gives visitors a good look at West Indian Manatees. The wildlife that is seen is native to the state of Florida.

Wildlife viewing is not all that there is, however. There are boat tours, which do showcase wildlife that is identified along the way. There are also hiking opportunities, a picnic area in the beautiful Garden of the Springs, and the Wildside Café that offers some great food from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

I was excited to find out that Homosassa Springs will be offering a lot of new activities for 2011. There is something new every year. This year, it’s Lu The Hippo’s 51^st birthday. You should imagine my mom’s surprise when I told her that there is a Hippo in Florida only 7 years younger than she is.

There are also a number of other activities, such as bird walks that will be taking place. Also, the holidays bring about a number of surprises. And for the kids there are daily educational programs. These programs occur at different times during the day, so it is good to review those schedules when planning a trip since they can change from year-to-year.

As for places to stay, there are plenty of options. There are log cabins, lodges, and camping opportunities. There are more places to eat in the area than just the café, especially since it closes in the late afternoon.

And it should be noted that swimming opportunities are definitely not plentiful unless swimming takes place in a pool. There are “no swimming” signs posted everywhere because there are alligators in the water. Unless frantically swimming away from alligators is on the agenda, it’s best to refrain. As for everything else, this is a great family get away with both education and nature thrown in.