America's Hidden "Jiuzhaigou"? It's a Mermaid-Filled Family Fun Park

Florida's fame mostly comes from Miami, Key West, Orlando Disney, and Universal Studios 🌍, making this park, known for its mermaids 🧜‍♀️ and crystal-clear springs, relatively unknown. 🔆 Weeki Wachee Springs State Park This water park, dubbed "America's Jiuzhaigou" 🌟 by locals, features crystal-clear springs and a 60-year-old mermaid show. If you want to escape the summer heat 🌞 and crowds, Weeki Wachee is a perfect family-friendly destination. How to enjoy Weeki Wachee? Here’s a quick guide ✋: 1️⃣ Admire the Clear Springs Fed by an underground river. The water temperature stays at a constant 23 degrees Celsius, 🧊 making the springs incredibly clear and earning Weeki Wachee Springs its nickname as America's Jiuzhaigou. 2️⃣ Kayaking and Water Fun The river is 12 miles long, and kayaking is the best way to enjoy the water. Recommended family kayaking route: Rent a kayak from the State Park and paddle downstream for 6 miles to Roger’s Park. Find a shallow area near Roger’s Park to have a picnic and let the kids play in the water 🤿. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a manatee! 💡 Tips: ✨ The upstream current is stronger, while the downstream is calmer with more shallow areas, so it’s better to plan water play downstream. ✨ Boat rentals at the State Park are limited daily. During the summer vacation from June to September ☀️, book two weeks in advance, and at least one week for other seasons. ✨ If you can't get a kayak from the State Park, you can rent from other companies. However, you'll have to start from their private docks. ✨ The State Park does offer boat tours, but they’re not as free and close to the water as kayaking. 3️⃣ Mermaid Show From the 1950s to the 1960s, the Weeki Wachee mermaid 🧜‍♀️ show was extremely popular in the US, even attracting Elvis Presley. There are two types of "mermaids" here: one is the underwater ballet performed by real people dressed as mermaids, and the other is the manatees and dugongs, which are also called mermaids. Although mermaid shows are not new, they’re still worth seeing with kids. Plus, the Weeki Wachee mermaid 🧜‍♀️ show has been running since the 1940s, offering a nostalgic experience. When kayaking, you might spot manatees. Weeki Wachee is an ideal habitat for them, as they love to hang out in shallow estuaries. 🌊 #BestSummerWaterSpots #Nature #DayTrip #ParadiseOnEarth #Travel #WeekendGetaways #Orlando #UniversalOrlando #UniversalStudios