The Fenney Springs Nature Trail is superb, and worth going to over and over again. There is…read morealmost always some interesting bird or beast to see. It is not punishingly long to walk. The Villages did an excellent job of restoring this genuine spring, after it had been ravaged by agricultural use. The boardwalk loops around, and one can experience this uniquie area without struggling through muck. The highlight is catching sight of alligators, who are attracted to the endless food source of catfish, and like to bask in the sun at various spots on sandbars and on shore. This is an opportunity to get close to an alligator with minimal risk, as they can not get through the fencing on the side of the boardwalk, and are unlikely to leap over it. If you just admire them they will not bother you. It is unwise to try the same close admiration at retention ponds as alligators can move very quickly despite their sleepy appearance. There are usually interesting long legged birds hanging out in the same area that the alligator favors as well. This attraction is not too far from Route 301, and the adjacent restaurant is pretty good as well, so worth a stop if you are motoring about.

I saw an alligator, and 5 turtles on a log. Great…read moreexperience.

I thought I had already reviewed this long ago. Fenney Trail is great, unless you are an invasive…read morearmored catfish, in which case you are on the menu. Love to see the occassional gator, all sorts of birds, and several turtles all sunning on the same tree branch, all in a line.

A beautiful, easy walk near the Fenney Rec center. So peaceful. We saw a lot of critters too. I…read morethink the squirrels were honked off that we did not feed them.

Nice small park across the street from Snooky Park. It is a nice place to grab lunch or to just sit…read moreand watch the world pass you by. While small, it is tended with great pride and I am better for this discovery. We need parks and parks are a reflection of the community that they are in. This is definitely a pleasant park and I would recommend coming to check it out.

Beautiful historical park in Lady Lake. Wonderful place for photos!…read more I really enjoyed the garden. Great place to take a walk, watch the sunset.

Great walk today with our dog!!! Nice shaded walk. Good surface to walk on. Dog waste stations a…read moreplus!!!

My college boys found this park on a disc golf app. Fantastic little nine hole disc golf course…read moreamong the beautiful oak trees. Cement tee pads, professional hole signs, new Innova baskets. Could use benches and trash cans. Brand new bathrooms, people walking and walking dogs and very close to the Villages. We were very grateful to find this course. Strongly recommend. John

Gorgeous. Wild. Real Florida. Trails were in great shape,…read moretrail markers well maintained. Loved it.

Went on a nice easy hike here at Flat Island Preserve. The trails are well maintained, but can get…read morea little muddy if it's been raining recently. We took the 'red' route which brought us to the canal. About half way through there was an actual boardwalk that was above the water/swampy area. Walking there it was really cool to see the forest of palms. We also saw plenty of butterflies and geckos. No alligator sightings in the canal.

Even though Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is still recovering from the…read moreimpacts of Hurricane Helene, our visit was outstanding and absolutely worth the stop. The staff and volunteers clearly care deeply about the park and its mission, and their dedication really shows. While a few areas are still in the process of being repaired, the park remains beautiful and full of life. The wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent, and the park does a wonderful job showcasing Florida's native species in a natural and respectful setting. Seeing the manatees up close was a highlight, and the underwater observatory provides a truly unique perspective you won't find in many places. What impressed us most was how well the park is being maintained despite the storm damage. Paths are clean, signage is clear, and the staff members we encountered were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. It's obvious that a lot of hard work is going into restoring everything while still making sure visitors have a great experience. If anything, visiting during this recovery period gives you an even greater appreciation for the park and the people who take care of it. Their resilience and commitment to conservation are inspiring. If you're traveling through the Homosassa area, this park is absolutely worth your time. It's a special place that celebrates Florida's wildlife and natural beauty, and we're already looking forward to coming back once the final restoration work is complete.

Originally, we road-tripped north almost 2 hours to experience a rare opportunity to swim amongst…read moremanatees in a natural setting. When we arrived we found out that the manatees had migrated away from the springs about 2.5 weeks ago. Disappointed we drove about 6 miles south and happened upon Homosassa Springs State Park, where they have 3 resident manatees that live in the springs year round. This small state park, was devastated by the hurricane several years ago. They have photos showing how high the waters were and many buildings are still closed. We had to wait for the tram to take us across the way to the park, they also have a boat to get there in a unique way. However, the water was too low to enjoy the boat ride. The park has about 3-4 manatees during the off season and you just have to look for them as they live in a natural setting. Eventually we found them a bit down river from the springs. Once in a while you'd see their nose pop up for air. They are such beautiful creatures. There is also a small zoo with a black bear, flamingoes, a white tailed deer, reptile case, an array of birds, and a variety of wild cats. They used to have a hippo but she died about 10 months ago. Definitely worth the $13 entry fee. It's a cute and well maintained park that is about at 75% of its operating capacity due to closed buildings that have not yet been renovated following Hurricane Milton. Although, we were disappointed to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience to *actually* swim amongst manatees, being able to see them in their natural habitat was truly special.

Hidden gem! We loved swimming and my boys enjoyed climbing the palm tree…read more We did a short trail and saw plants and bugs! We had a picnic at a table but moved to the sun because the boys were cold.

One of my favorite springs. All the wildlife, the 72 degree year round water. Feels so good on a…read morehot summer. Only bad thing is that they charge $15 a person. Used to be $5 a person. During the busy season you have to make reservations

I was at a library and saw there were two geocaches here so off I went !…read moreThe park attendant was very friendly and the park itself was very quiet and quite beautiful. I live in The Villages and it was nice to see some real nature, bugs and all.

I absolutely love camping and the nature but I also loce being able to shower in a regular shower…read moreat the end of the day and I still enjoy the ability.to be able to access electricity still.

Yesterday, my friend, Lydia and I drove to Kelly Springs State Park for fun in the sun and a day of…read morerelaxation. The park is about 40 minutes from where she lives off of colonial. You get to bring your own food and drinks. They also have a concession area where you can just your own food and drinks. At the state park, they have a concession booth and a restroom as well. The park is open from 8 AM to 6 PM and I have a recommend staying at the full day. It was so nice and relaxing plus parking was only three dollars. 10/10

Pretty neat place and I thought it will be way bigger , but the swim area or use of a floating…read moretube area is not huge , You neve to arrived super early as they only allowed 250 cars and then you can't enter after full capacity The sheriff will give you a ticket while u on the car line . They do have restrooms and concession areas where u can buy food , but there's a circle k near by . You can't bring in alcohol, and the price to get in is $5 per car . Just wish that it could be deeper , as it averages 4 ft all areas

The sunsets are amazing. I love coming here with my dogs. It's really relaxing and great for walksread more

Very beautiful large lake that has a nice walking path along that gives beautiful views. There's…read moredog stands for baggies, seating benches, the pier is closed because it needs fixing