This is a very tranquil place. The entrance is on a fast curve, so you have to be careful turning…read morein!! If you are on foot, or bike, you can enter from the sidewalk on 16th Ave, as you go down the hill past Colony Park. Colony Park is the subdivision with the curvy brick wall. As you go down the hill, on the right, you will see a small grassy area. There is no sign, so you'll have to be sharp!! This park is so very peaceful. There is a lazy creek that snakes though it. There are at least ten man-made bridges and decks that let you enjoy a nice stroll through nature. Lots and lots of birds will be sounding out, especially in the morning. You can walk your dog, bring some hot coffee, binoculars, camera, etc. You won't believe that you are in the middle of the city!! The word "enclave" comes to mind, as the mood in this park is almost magical and surprisingly isolated. You feel safe and peaceful. I am definitely going back. They even have doggy bag dispensers!!

Alfred A Ring Park is very close to town; it's a nice walk getting here :-)…read more Tip: The funds to preserve this small bit of greenery were donated by Mr. Alfred A. Ring, which is why the park bears his name There's bridge from the parking lot into the park proper which very much reminds me of Costa Rica; there are some pretty nice views to take in when you cross it.

We were so impressed with our scuba cert program through SpringAdventures!…read more Honestly, when we hit the targeted ads, we were a little dubious because of some of the web design choices, and how low the prices were. SO GLAD we took a chance. It's a one-man operation, and he's incredible. His prices are all in, and he really does knock it out in just 2 days with great flexible local dives near the High Springs area. If you have a special request, just call him - he was able to add our NitrOx cert as well on the fly. I was blown away watching this man transition from charismatic comedy, making learning fun but still hitting all the key points, right into suddenly supportive teacher mode when we were in the practical portions and he was helping a student who was struggling, using a disarming compassionate demeanor. At least in our session, class sizes were very small, and he not only equipped us mentally for our scuba expeditions, but he gave us incredible insight and recommendations beyond the certification on what kind of gear to look for, good habits, inside tips for the industry. Just 11/10. He also does have gear available for sale, customized to the diver, which is I assume how he keeps his prices so low, but he wasn't pushy at all and advised us for what we NEEDED not what he sold. I was actively trying to buy gear from him, and he advised me that I might need something special and that also some other websites unrelated to him are having a pretty good sale right now so he chose our equipment and savings over his own revenue. Just couldn't be more impressed. (Also, if you come down here for just the class from out of town, I highly recommend the "getaway" tiny home cabins nearby for lodging. They're clean, super cheap, nice close by, and easy. Including two nights lodging, you could get your scuba cert here for like a thousand or $1,200 cheaper than you can in most major cities.)

From the owner: Providing 2-Day PADI eLearning Open Water Certification in our North Florida springs. We use…read morebetter training gear and have smaller class sizes than our local competitors. Come "Spring into Diving" with us! We are the most economical choice at $385 for full certification!

The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the springs. Will definitely be back!read more

I booked a shuttle online because I brought my own kayak. The folks at the shop were very nice and…read moreextremely knowledgeable about the river. The shuttle driver was also very professional and knowledgeable about the river, the accesses, and the ecosystem. Would 100% recommend this shuttle service to anyone wanting to float the Santa Fe, especially if you want to get away from the crowds.

Took my son out for his 10th birthday along with other son, brother and nephew and we had a good…read moretime. Capt and crew were knowledgeable and great at what they do.

From the owner: "Always Hookin" Fishing Charters is a father and son owned and run local business. USCG Captains…read moreBig Greg and Gregory Foxworth were born and raised right here in Jacksonville. They have been fishing together since Gregory was a small boy. They have now recently opened up "Always Hookin" to share that passion with you. We run a 31 foot Contender Boat with Twin 300s and can carry up to 6 people out to fish.We run numerous offshore and near shore charters and even do sightseeing and burial at sea ceremonies. Come check us out and support your small locally owned businesses!

Great time. Great service. We caught 15 different species in one morning.read more

We went out with Tyler three times on our recent trip to Jacksonville. We were staying on the St…read moreJohn's River and had access to a boat, so we wanted someone to show us where and how to fish. Tyler explained that the SJR is hard fishing, with the brackish water. Fishing will be better there in a couple of months when the shrimp come in and the big fish follow, and fishing would be better out of St Augustine, but we had the boat on SJR, so he obliged. The first day we went out on Tyler's boat. He was so helpful, explaining the right tackle, spots, what to look for and how to do it and caught fish. Next day we went out on our own and realized that we needed more help, so we hired Tyler a 2nd time as 'mate'. He went on our boat with us, and supplied all of the tackle and bait. We caught several fish, reds, trout, flounder, catfish. After this 2nd lesson we were successful on our own. At the end of the week we went out of St. Augustine oh his charter and much better fishing - constant action and we brought home trout, redfish, flounder and had an awesome time. My husband has PPA, and Tyler was so very good with him - helping him to catch the big ones. Our group highly recommends Tyler and Last Call Fishing Charter. He grew up in this area and knows his stuff. He is a hard and fast worker, making sure you have fresh bait, the right spots, and every possible chance to catch the big ones. Great fishing skills and people skills! Awesome boat and gear. Go with him and his recommendations, or he will customize a trip for you on his boat or your boat as captain or mate.

Yeesssssss!, should be your answer, when asked "do you want to go on an airboat?". This was a…read moresuper fun experience for ALL ages. I took my 21 yo little and had an absolute blast! Captain Bill is fun, experienced and knowledgeable about the waterways we traveled. We saw lots of wildlife, learned about boat safety and got to go really fast (my favorite part). Bonus: the Captain is a very kind and conscientious operator and was so respectful to the other boaters around us.

Captain Bill's airboat ride was awesome! Very accommodating, informative and well managed. We saw…read moregators, birds, turtles and learned of manatee presence. We were two adults and three kids (11,8,4) and all loved it!

We signed up for an airboat adventure, and Captain Becca was absolutely fantastic. She was…read moreextremely knowledgeable, engaging, and made the entire experience a lot of fun. This was my first time on an airboat, and it definitely did not disappoint. While I wish we had seen a bit more wildlife, we still got to spot an alligator, a few turtles, and some beautiful ospreys along the way. The music added a really fun energy to the ride and made the experience even more memorable. Overall, I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a unique and exciting adventure.

The airboat ride was exceptional! Would highly recommend it. Our tour guide Captain Becca was…read morefunny, knowledgeable and very entertaining. Take the early tour if possible if you are worried about the heat. The airboat does go fast at times, so the wind from it keeps you cooler. Wear a sun shirt or lots of sunscreen. Well worth it though for the views, the incredible wildlife and the history. Mother Nature has control over what wildlife you will view not Sea Serpent, so just sit back and enjoy the knowledge, the history and the company of your fellow boat mates. We were privileged to go on the airboat tour and honored for the alligators, turtles, Ospreys, snakes and other wildlife that were out for viewing. It will not disappoint!