Central Florida springs

Central Florida's springs fall into three clusters. The Ocala National Forest holds Alexander, Juniper, Silver Glen, and Salt Springs, each with a national-forest recreation area, a swimming basin, and a canoe run. Marion County around Ocala has Silver Springs, with the state's oldest glass-bottom boat tours, and the Rainbow River at Dunnellon for tubing and paddling. The Orlando side is anchored by Wekiwa Springs State Park, Kelly Park (Rock Springs), Blue Spring State Park on the St. Johns, and De Leon Springs.

The Gulf coast below Crystal River is the region's manatee country. Kings Bay and Three Sisters Springs host the largest winter gathering of manatees in the state, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park keeps a resident population viewable year-round, and Weeki Wachee combines a spring-run paddle with the famous mermaid show. Blue Spring State Park in Volusia County is the closest winter manatee refuge to Orlando and posts a daily manatee count in season.

Central Florida parks are the first to hit capacity because they draw from Orlando, Tampa, and the theme-park corridor at once. Wekiwa and Kelly Park routinely close to new arrivals by 10 a.m. on summer weekends. Reservations are required for some tube rentals and for the manatee swim tours at Crystal River. The profiles linked above carry the current rules.