Florida's Natuaral Springs are the real Fountains of Youth.Ouar 700 natural fountains rank among the world's greatest wonders.  They can be tiny little trickles only seen by backwoods explorers and hunters, to huge gushers like Wakulla, Manatee and Silver Springs.

Juan Ponde de Leon's quest for eternal youth in a magic fountain is an endearing story.  It is rerally just a fun myth that keeps getting re-told.  Sflorida's springs-natuaral fountains that come from underground rivers deep inside the earth are very real, and might just be what Juan was looking for.  To dive, snorkel, orswim in them is an incredible sensation.  They kind of percolate up from down below.  The three biggies, Wakulla, Manatee, and Silver Springs discharge more than 65 millons of gallons of water per day.  Most of our springs are under the State Parks umbrella, and are protected, yet offer amenities  to the public.  Usually the temperature of the water hovers around 72 degrees.  Most parks allow swimming, snorkeling, camping, canoeing, tubing, kayaking, and diving with a special permit. 

Mantees, otters, turtles, gar, allligators, bait fish, are among the animals inhabiting the springs.  Water grasses, cypress trees along with other plant species are pre-dominant

To find the closest springs to visit, go to www.statepartks.fl/  Maps of the Panhandle will also denote close by ones that you can visit as a Staycation