De León Springs State Park — Attraction in DeLand

This Day started off with absolutely the worst sleep of my entire life, waking up at the butt-crack of dawn. Our first destination was CircleK were i proceeded to buy a loaf of banana bread for a measly $6.99, for 8 single bricks of banana bread. I was quite the hungry boy absolutely devouring these thick bricks of banana bread in minutes, finished 3 in lest time it take to say banana bread. After that very dangerous activity of crushing a loaf of bread we pack and set sail for the church h to pick up so many kids for our youth properganda. While head I decided to crush yet anthor loaf of banana bread. We stopped at a gas station were i proceeded to call a number I found on a post the he called my a ma'am I was furious and full of anger and rage. After the quick crash-out I made the decision to crush yet anthor loaf of banana bread. I made the smart and speedy delicious decision to stop eating the banana bread, so sad. After I made this decision I made a new deal of eat a bite of banana bread every 10 minutes, I may have lied and took a bite every 30 seconds. We had finally arrived at our destination but my friend Joseph a.k.a (Jenie) which is a girl, I dont know why my phone autocorrect to Joseph (weird phone i guess) We payed to get in a measly 20 dollars to smuggle 15 AMERICAN CITIZENS. After finishing the final boss (BANANA BREAD FINAL PIECE) I realized I have single handedly ate 2,280 calories in for breakfast for reference im a 5'8 130lbs skinny male with no hope and future. My stomach had other ideas. After stealing the nice old ladies rod and fishing, I saw fish but never touched 🥲. I finally got into the water it was not ever cold, lowkey disappointed in the natural spring should work a little harder. After the disappointment in nature I decided to test my free diving skills i went down and touch the bottom with easy it was 8 feet, im disappointing 😞. Just Kidding I'm a freaking beast in the water I went down like 20ft, I almost died. I proceeded to try going deeper but then I got a little Thalassophobia, that tounge twister. I was outta breathe but I remember who I was, I run Cross Country but I lowkey suck I can't make it pass districts, I need to lighten up on that dang banana bread. But I ran to play volleyball with my friends, Josh, Bob, Ethan, Joseph, we all know Joseph, she was a beast on the sand. But on the other team was the underdog Collin he was a little kid we found in the woods playing with a palm tree 🌴, he called my PA, he's now my son. He was diving for every ball even on the other team, nobody could match his game, until the unthinkable happend Collin got bored we was so hot from carrying the team on his back btw he's 9, and weight like 40 pounds. We ran back the spring and I threw the volleyball at Connors head, he chased me. I escaped in the nick of time. But it was time for lunch I absolutely inhaled 6 little sliders (pub subs) sooo good. I went back on a mission to find the hinding Icave under this mystical spring I was too deep and the works started to hate me except Josh he was sooo cool I strive to be like Josh. 👍 We kept swimming and swimming till my arms felt like jelly but I made a train of people I was pulling across the spring give the a magical tour of water that was blue soo cool it just got cold freak you mother nature. I finally found the absolutely best way to end this day with a banger PEDAL BOAT WITH ALLIGATORS, It was 20 dollars for 30 minutes kinda overpriced but with bigg-ole alligators im so down, I almost pooped myself on the boat and screamed when we were like 100 feet from it I was terrifying. After we sat in the torture chamber of the things Connor found funny i almost strangled him and throw as a sacrifice to the gators. The scorching heat hit us with intensity and heat energy the size of whales I ran hoped into the spring to be reborn and rejuvenated. We were rushed out of the mystical spring water with healing powers to leave and probably never see this place ever ago but it will be in my dreams for ever. Love you De Loen...

Brought a group of 18 kayakers from The Villages. We had an excellent experience with the kayak rental staff (Preston and Alma) who were friendly and professional in helping our 5 renters. Our 13 kayak owners and 5 renters had an enjoyable paddle down the river and return. Then we went to the Sugar Mill restaurant for pancakes and that's where it turned ugly. At around 1:30 p.m. the restaurant was about 2/3 empty, so no line, no waiting. Our paddlers were arriving after they put away their kayaks and gear. The restaurant staff seated a party of 7 and took orders. Two more of our paddlers arrived and they were seated at a table for 2 and orders were taken. No problem. Then two more arrived and were seated at a table for six, orders were taken. (Four empty seats at this table.) A few minutes later the last member of our party arrived and seated himself in one of the 4 empty seats at the 6-top. As the server delivered pancake batter to the previously seated 2, a very large, very angry woman employee stormed over to this table and scolded the 3 seated customers. "You were told all members of your party had to arrive together!" etc etc. In a rude angry voice, she said the person who arrived last (and seated himself in one of 4 empty seats) could not sit at this table and he must leave. When the other 2 customers protested that he is one of the group and the seats were empty, did she expect him to move to another table and sit by himself, she angrily repeated that he could not sit in one of the 4 empty seats at this table. So he calmly got up and walked out. The rest of us were stunned at this rude behavior. As we all finished our meals and prepared to leave, another employee kindly apologized for the rude woman's behavior, explaining that when the restaurant was full and there was a waiting line (clearly not the case today when the restaurant was 2/3 empty) the policy was that a party would not be seated until all members had arrived. Needless to say, the woman's rude attitude and unreasonable insistence that our final arrival could not sit in one of empty seats at our table, created an ugly ending to a totally enjoyable day at this charming park. As delightful as this pancake experience potentially can be, we do not...

One of the best natural locations for swimming in Florida! We have come to this location for YEARS (since I was a kid, really) and are now bringing our grandkids here. The water is very cold, but it sure does balance everything out on hot days. Be sure to wear your sunscreen, because if you're in the water you'll want to hang out in the sunshine to balance out the chill. Super clear spring water, fun to snorkel in. They have a playground here for the kids, and The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant is right on location (another place we highly recommend going to - the wait can be long, but worth it and you don't have to leave the park). Bring a float, this will help give you something to hang on if you don't want to cling to the walls like most swimmers do (sunscreen!). You swim in a round concrete basin where the spring water comes out of, so the water is very chilly. There are concrete steps that go down into the water - bring water shoes if you're not sure-footed, or you're worried about the kids' feet (ours did not wear shoes, but we saw other kids there that did). Because the water is so cold it takes a while to get acclimated and everyone ends up clinging to the sides and around the stairs, so we like to use the floats and go out in the middle of the basin (deeper water) - so it's a great tip! Very clean park, the bathrooms are nice and clean, and there are large grassy areas to picnic in (or bring folding chairs), lots of big shade trees so you can choose sun or shade, and there are large concrete picnic tables you can snag if you are lucky. If you'd like you can call ahead and reserve/rent a BBQ pavilion there. We belonged to an organization that held events there every year and rented a whole pavilion and it was always a great time - it comes with a BBQ so you can cook right there as well - also great if you're doing a birthday party out there with a lot of people. The public is always well-behaved here, just a really family-friendly atmosphere. They also have a lifeguard on duty which we really like since bringing the grandkids there as...