I found Gemini Springs Park in DeBary on Google Maps for a discover a new park day, so stopped in…read more It's huge, with 212 acres and 2 springs! You can hike the trails, kayak on the St. John's River, or fish in Lake Monroe or off the pier. Plenty of parking, picnic tables, BBQ grills, and a cool playground for the kids. Even dogs have their own park! Plus, there are primitive camping sites available. It felt super clean and safe, and parking was easy.

Gemini Springs Park is located in DeBary, Florida, 25 miles north of Orlando…read more Since you can no longer swim here due to high concentrations of bacteria in the waters, visitor attendance can be quite low. And since there's alternative parks situated throughout Central Florida that are swimmable, not many people will make the effort to experience Gemini Springs. In fact, I'd categorize this place as a local town park more than anything. It's free to visit and hours are sunrise to sunset. There were no names or signs for the hiking trails, so at times it felt like I was wandering aimlessly. But, the trees decorated with Spanish Moss exuded southern charm and most corners I turned felt like strolling along a nature trail. There's a dual sided passageway that acts as the centerpiece to the park and is also a dam spillway which (I believe) separates the DeBary Creek waters and the Gemini Springs area. I did spot a gator which almost caught a fish right in front of my eyes. I also noticed a soft shell turtle who appeared to be laying her eggs in the sand and some birds doing fishing of their own. Gemini Springs has picnic pavilions, a playground, a dog park, a fishing pier, plenty of grass to play around, and even camping is permitted here. Lastly, I'd like to highlight a section of the park that turns colorfully vibrant when the sun is shining... - Follow the concrete walkway (which you can't miss). - Then...you'll approach a tucked away corner of the springs. This area can be a rewarding moment for admiring the great outdoors. If you just pause and absorb the surroundings, nature's beauty shines through. It's a refreshing reminder that just because a park isn't as accessible as it once was, doesn't mean it should go unnoticed. I believe Gemini Springs Park can be a worthwhile half day visit.

Lake Monroe Park is a popular park located at the base of the Lake Monroe Bridge. It is known for…read moreits beautiful waterfront views of Lake Monroe which is a lake on the St. John' River. It also has a variety of recreational activities. Lake Monroe is almost 10 acres and a destination for fishing, boating, kayaking, and other water sports. The park reopened to the public in July of 2004 after a $1.2 million renovation and improvement project that included new restrooms, refurbished entrance road, floating fishing docks, picnic pavilions, and improved parking and a trailhead for the south segment of the Lake Monroe-Gemini Springs-DeBary Hall trail. The Spring to Spring Trail is so named because the 6.6 mile trail links a number of state and county parks that contain springs. This segment of the trail is known as the Pat Northey Trail, named for a local resident who advocated for protection of this natural corridor. Additional park amenities include a boat ramp that puts you on to the St. Johns River at the north end of the lake, a sand volleyball court, and a playground, but it was closed during my visit. The trailhead at the back of Lake Monroe Park is a draw for hikers because the bike path leads to a broad boardwalk through a cypress swamp. There is also a 25 site campground, one of the few public campgrounds in Central Florida. Each site has a picnic table, grill, and electric outlet and a bathhouse with hot showers is provided. I loved the lake view and despite the alligator warnings the only one I saw was a huge concrete one that you could take your picture with. I did see a red-shouldered hawk in the parking lot catching his dinner but he didn't feel like stopping and posing for a picture.

This is a nice community park with lake access (boat ramp) that also has camping facilities…read more(trailer and tent). There is a ranger station there for assistance. The park has a small playground, volleyball court, pavilions, restrooms, and ample parking. The restrooms are nice, clean, and for single (private) use. I was impressed. I used the park for the Spring to Spring trail access. This is a nice area to go camping if you don't mind the road noise - probably not bad at night.

Many trailers on the property full time are run down. Very noisy as there is construction going on…read moreall the time and the night is filled with the sound of sirens. The pool is not heated but the hot tub is great. Prepaid for a stay of 3 weeks or would have found another location. We were looking forward to playing shuffleboard but the court is unusable, and games in the game room were broken. This community is more of a trailer house park, some RVs that stay for the winter, and campers coming and going daily, not a resort.

Staff is super helpful!! kudos Anthony appreciate you! Very accommodating! Park is quite and well…read moremaintained!

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.

This is one of the most beautiful places in Florida! Highly recommend visiting at least once. Being…read morelocal, I've visited a number of times. A few things knock the stars down: - The amount of rules/ regulations is a downside. There are more than any other river we've visited in Florida. It's nerve wracking to make sure you're following every new rule. - Launching and landing at the dock is stressful. It feels rushed and disorganized. - The bathroom situation is DIRE. They have a few porta potties but they're pretty gross. - I've found some of the staff intimidating/ borderline rude. There are a lot of newbies to kayaking/ paddleboarding so patience is a virtue at busy times! It's a hard paddle up stream and coming back it can be easy to lose control around the corners. There are a few spots to be cautious of other paddlers. With that said, it's really stunning. They keep the area very clean and there are a lot of spots to pull off to the side to enjoy the view. I've never done a guided tour, but I've heard they're really well done!

Memorial Park in DeBarry Florida was built on 2.5 acres donated to the city by the Gray family. It…read morewas dedicated on Memorial Day 1999 to veterans, local heroes, and residents. The hilltop park has five picnic pavilions and memorials. One of the most impressive memorials is a F-15 fighter jet. The plane is a memorial to Airman 1st Class Brian McVeigh, who was killed in the Khobar Towers bombing on June 25, 1996. While in Saudi Arabia he served as an F-15 crew chief. Brian was only 21 when he died. Another display in the park is the anchor from the USS Langley CV1. It was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter. During WWII 16 crew members were killed during bombing by the Japanese. The ship was dead in the water and the crew was given the order to abandon ship. It was sunk off the coast of Java on February 27, 1942 by escorting destroyer USS Whipple so it would not fall into enemy hands. There is also a memorial to Charles Richard Beall, the only DeBary resident killed in the Vietnam war. Beall was shot at close range on March 6, 1968, while attacking enemy bunkers where snipers were firing on an army convoy. In January the city added a WWII M5 light tank to the park. The M5 was named the Stuart in honor of Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, a Confederate cavalry officer. The city has renamed the tank The Spirit of DeBary. I have been to a lot of veterans parks and this one definitely stands out despite its small size. The memorials showcase the might of the military and the poignancy of the sacrifices made. This is a must stop for history enthusiasts, especially those of military history.

A small park with…read more big toys Memorial Park is indeed a small park.. Less than three acres, you can easily walk around it in ten minutes or so. It does have some nice picnic areas with tables and grills and some cool shade trees and interesting plants. The stuff that you find at most parks. However this is a memorial park so it has more than just the normal park things. If you look a bit more closely you will see a bulletin board with the names of local people that have lost their lives in times of conflict. Also a memorial plaque than commemorates MIA's and veterans that have died in prisoner of war camps. Poignant stuff. However it's the large things that really makes this park special. As you leave the parking lot you will notice a huge anchor. It weights nine tons and is from the USS Langley. Pretty impressive if you like large anchors. But the item in the center of the park is what really catches the eye. A real F-15 McDonnell Douglas Eagle, poised to look as if it just took off and was screaming toward the sky. This is the air superiority fighter that served so effectively in the Gulf Wars and in the hands of the Israelis. Achieved the unprecedented achievement of shooting down over one hundred enemy planes without a single loss and still serves with the United States, Japan, Israeli and Saudi Arabia. Memorial Park isn't a large or particular scenic park. It doesn't have a lot of the amenities that other parks have. But it is a great tribute to the local servicemen and women that sacrificed during times of war. Just seeing that F-15 pointed toward the sky is worth a visit.

My 5yr older daughter attended SportsTyme last year for the 1st month of summer on her own without…read moreknowing whether or not any of her friends would be going. Was a bit hesitant on how well she would do as she isn't really the 'sporty' type either. SportsTyme does an AMAZING job keeping the kids busy. She got to play new sports that she normally wouldn't have done on her own choosing, which really got her out of her shell. Scott was great! Enjoyed my trivia every morning coming in. Looking forward to 2019 camp!

From the owner: SportsTyme’s DeLand camp at DeLand Middle School offers a summer experience that prioritizes safety…read morewhile keeping fun at the center of each day. Built on a program refined over more than twenty years, campers ages 5–12 are encouraged to explore new sports and activities in a relaxed, confidence-building environment. Join us in DeLand this summer to help your child stay active, make friends, and build character all season long.

Today we went to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford, Florida! $70 to get in for…read moreall 4 of us and Calliope was free! Plus extra $15 for us all to ride the train. Free parking! Food and souvenirs were too expensive! Free small cups of water! $5 for small cup to feed goats! Playground w wood mulch flooring and splash pad

We took our 4 month old daughter to the zoo for a fun afternoon to see the animals! This zoo is the…read moreperfect size for small children and families as you can stay for a few hours and still feel like you have seen everything! It was HOT the day we decided to go so we only stayed for a couple of hours. I do wish there was more shade on pathways, and fans and/or covered spaces to take a break from the Florida heat. We thankfully found a spot by the black bear exhibit that was air conditioned and had only two chairs, so I could feed our daughter. There were MANY other moms that came in looking to also feed their kids and it turned into a waiting game as we had to take turns using the two chairs in that building to sit and feed our babies. The animals were neat to see, because it was so hot a lot of the animals weren't out or were in shady places within their enclosure. I liked that there were zoo workers and volunteers near many of the exhibits that were available to answer questions and provide more information about the specific animals there. Overall we had a great time with our daughter and look forward to bringing her back again in the future.

My kids have attended Odyssey Adventure Camp several times in the past and loved them. Yesterday,…read morewe also rented paddle boards/kayaks for the afternoon. They were in great condition. Mr. Waterman delivers them and picks them up. My kids had a great time at Sanchez park, nice calm waters. It was a beautiful day. High recommend Odyssey Adventure Club if you are interested in renting kayaks and/or paddle boards.

From the owner: Choose your adventure! We love to help people build a passion for the outdoors.....whether through…read moreour summer camps for kids, group paddle outings, rentals, tours, or through our bike clubs, with training, group rides, trips, and exploring

What an amazing oasis this place is. There's so many hiking trails. I wouldn't even know where to…read morebegin. My visit was brief, but beautiful. I would have to take a whole day to even begin to remotely explore this springs Park. I was hoping to see the fluorescent green water, but it wasn't that way this time of year. Either due to the weather or the time of year, I'm not sure. But I will be back. I will see that water yet!

Such a beautiful Florida hidden gem! Green Springs is a small, easy hike that's perfect when you…read morewant to get outside without committing to anything too long. The spot where the river and spring meet is pretty cool, and the water is the prettiest turquoise blue -- absolutely unreal. Definitely worth checking out!