The park is such a hidden treasure. I've been to many state parks and some have basic amenities but…read morethis park has it all (in regard to trails and things to do). Beautiful scenery, historic monuments, charming beach area, clean restrooms, and a unique eclectic onsite store.

At one time, this used to be a very nice park to come for a family picnic and perhaps a kayak ride…read moreon the river. Now, they have eliminated the grills from the family picnic areas. There are very large grills at the pavilions and grills out family picnic areas that are not near the water and do not have views. The picnic area we had to settle on was in a Sandy clearing with too much sun. The grill could not be turned to adjust the flow of smoke. We drove 40 minutes to get here and paid the five dollar entry fee thinking that we would get the same thing we got last time we were here... Unfortunately, even though the picnic tables are new, they are filthy too sunny and little compensation for the lack of grills and views. It is a real shame. They have bathroom facilities, boat, launch facilities, and so many other nice things, and they choose to eliminate the grills.

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.

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for…read moreswimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;)

This was a lot of fun, and completely on a whim! We were visiting my daughter and new grandson and…read moredecided to stay at a nearby resort. Looking for some activities, this came up in our search, so we made an afternoon of it. First off, the captain and crew was comical and they made the experience that much more memorable. We seen turtles, dolphins, and a few manatees! On top of that, we debarked on a small island along our tour, got out, stretched the legs, and took in some amazing views. The Mangroves were a sight to be seen. I can just imagine all the sea creature they give habitat to. We also seen some amazing boats, as well as, some interesting... uh... placement of sailboats. Great history of the local storms and the havoc they wreaked! Thank you for the fun experience for the Familia!! As always, enjoy and Happy sailing!

Dolphin and manatee boat tour was good. So was parasailing. All of the tour guides were awesome and…read morefun! Cute little waiting spot on the river for sightseeing while u wait.

The Pacetti Hotel and Museum opened to the public in November 2024. I'm so glad I overheard someone…read moretalking about the museum when I was visiting the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. It is across the street from the lighthouse but be on the lookout because you may miss it as you can't see the house from the street. You can walk over from the lighthouse or drive as there is a parking lot. You enter the museum from the front of the house by the water. Stepping up on the porch and looking out over the water helps to better understand why the house was built in this location as it is a gorgeous waterfront property! Be sure to start by watching the video as it will give you some background before you take the self-guided tour. You could spend hours inside reading and checking out all the different rooms. One of the things that stood out to me the most were the gorgeous wood floors;) And something that struck me as odd were the two sets of staircases. The museum volunteer explained that the front part was the original house and the back was an addition for the hotel. They were originally two separate buildings but were combined to one. The two rooms upstairs in the front would have been the best rooms to rent as they had the most gorgeous views. The hotel was a fishing resort at one time and later hosted the Cincinnati Reds as the last owner also owned the team. If these walls could talk lol! I highly recommend checking out this museum as it is also one of the oldest structures in Florida. So much history! Your entry fee to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse also includes entry to the museum.

I used to ride my motorcycle out to this Lighthouse just for the ride, then grab a quick bite…read morebefore heading back home. It was on the list of places to explore while in the area with Nancy. Then we finally planned a day where we could shop/play in the area and also visit the Lighthouse. It's definitely worth the stop. The Lighthouse is Florida's tallest lighthouse and is one of the best preserved in the country. The $7 Admission gets you access to the lighthouse and the museum. For $5 more you can gain access to the General Pacetti Hotel Museum. If you're a Ponce Inlet Resident, admission is free. Its 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse and once there you have a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce Inlet, the Intercoastal waterway, and Daytona Beach. The museum allows visitors to explore the grounds and keeper homes. The Fresnel Lens is on exhibit which is a great way to lean how curved lenses generate powerful clear beams of light with minimal distortion. There are plenty of great photo op areas just be sure to bring the family on sunny days so you get the best outcome. All-in-all, a great experience all around and I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

This a my favorite spot to access the beach. There is always parking, on a quieter side of the…read morebeach. It is so peaceful in the morning for a good walk or bike ride. Beautiful sunrises if you get there early enough

The park is named for the late Frank Rendon, a long-time community leader. In 2003, the park…read morecelebrated the completion of a three-acre addition and in 2016 the playground was replaced. Volusia County provided the land and paid most of the $850,000 in expansion project costs. The project was funded in part with grants from the Volusia ECHO program and the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District. The park and beach area are ADA accessible. There are sheltered picnic areas, grills, children's playground with padded ground, disability-accessible restrooms, water fountain, outdoor showers, 134 off-beach parking spaces, handicapped parking and a wooden observation deck. The Shores Hotel and the covered walkway across Atlantic Avenue is just north of the park and a nice place for food and drinks as well.