If you are tired and weary, need a little peace and quiet away from the theme parks and “Mickey” why not visit Blue Springs on St Johns river, there is something there for all the family.

Blue Springs is only an hours drive north of  Orlando along the I4 till you see the signs for Orange City take this turn and then keep a close watch for just one small sign that takes you west to the Springs.   We were advised to take swim wear with us, and plenty of sun cream, a picnic is good, although there is a small shop for purchasing drinks and snacks.

There are several areas within the park, bird watching, fishing, walking, swimming or going on a boat trip.  The later is to be highly recommended.   You are accompanied by a very knowledgeable guide who will point out the smallest and largest inhabitants.  On our trip we were lucky to see several Manetee.  The best time for seeing these giants is between November and March.  Alligators are also quite numerous, again the guide will point out the areas where you would most likely see these. 

The spring is a warm,  so swimming is encouraged along with scuba diving into the large opening of the spring, only for those who are qualified.

There is plenty of shade and the whole area is very peaceful.  Picnic tables are dotted around, if you are in need of a quiet sit or eating these are for your use. 

Walking is mainly very easy in the main areas there are board walks and well walked paths, although we were told there were some more challenging routes that could be tried a little of the beaten track.

There is a lot of history attached to the area  which you can read about at your leisure within the park and a visit to the historic Thursby House is a must, learn how the original inhabitants lived. 

I hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did.

Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to alligators

When it comes to any wild animal use your common sense and if you have the misfortune to be bitten or scratched by an alligator, seek immediate medical attention as alligator bites can result in blood infections from deadly pathogens in their mouths.

Alligators are very fast but only over very short distances which they use to their advantage when lunging at their prey. Old wives tales suggest you should run in a zig-zag pattern if chased; being chased over any sort of distance is very unlikely.

Hope you never have to employ the last tip!!!

Mary & Larry 

Just a one hour’s drive from Orlando along the Beeline (528) to the east is a wonderful peaceful area.  Take the 95 to Titusville and then it is just a short hop across the water to Merritt Island.  Once on the island there is a choice of interesting thing to see and do.  Try the visitor centre, you can see and learn all about the wild life in the area, there is a board-walk that takes you to some quiet un-spoilt viewing points where you are very likely to see fish, maybe an alligator, birds and other animals.

A little further onto the island is the nature drive about 5 miles long. Take it slowly; we have always seen at least one alligator drifting in the shallow waters. There is a main stopping point where you can get out of the car and walk through to a high viewing platform.  Well worth a look as again there are usually many types of wading birds to be seen.

Next stop is the viewing observation platform for the weird but very lovely Manatee.  Try to imagine a cross between a big seal and a Walrus, they are like no other animal, they are large water animals that have to surface to breathe, slow moving and gentle.  They graze on the underwater plants very close to the platform, totally unconcerned that they have an audience.

After all the nature trails why not finish your trip with a visit to the beach, there are many to choose from.  Remember that the beaches are all on the Atlantic Ocean so are usually cooler and have rougher waves than the west coast.  Still a good way to cool down after a day spent nature watching.

The park might not be to everyone taste. They have some of the animals in small cages especially the panther and Alaskan bear. The park is opened from 10am - 5pm, check before you go, they close some days in the winter months. It cost $7.00 to park. Admission is $34.99, but there are a lot of coupons in the books which gives you $5.00 off. Still it cost $29.99. Check the entertainment calendar - they have some very popular entertainers scheduled.

There is no food and drink allowed in the park, except water, they check your bags on entry. There is a picnic area near the car park. Make sure you get your hand stamped if you want to return.

There are three different glass boat tours. They are all different. One tells you about the nature of Florida, another about the springs and the third about the history of Florida. It is worth going on them all. The water is clear and the boats are covered. You see lots of fish and turtles. The guides are well informed.

The springs have been used to make about 50 films, James Bond, Tarzan and Steve Irwin have filmed here. On the nature boat ride, you see plenty of alligators, crocodiles and monkeys. On the history tour it tells you about the Indians and the first settlers who came here. Each boat trip takes about 30 minutes.

There is a jeep ride, you can not compare it with the one at Animal Kingdom. You go through the woods, but we did not see any wild life. One you could miss out. There are a few shows, reptile show, snake show and bird show. Each lasting 15 minutes. There is a small playground/funfair for small children and a gondola ride which takes you up 80ft and you can see all over the park. You can take a leisurely stroll around the gardens. There are a small number of shops and cafes.

Disadvantages – not for teenagers, animals in small cages, admission cost, distance.

Advantages – informs you of the history and nature of Florida, no hustle or bustle or queues, peaceful.

Guests visiting from the northern U.S or Europe may not be aware of some of the dangers of some of these creatures.

Whenever I visit Florida, I seem to be a magnet for Fire Ants.  Most ants I have encountered are harmless and do not bite, however these small reddish ants sting.

I advise guests not to walk in the grass without some type of footwear. Even then, it may not protect you from the Fire Ant.

When they bite, it feels like a minor itching sting.  You probably will not see a mark or other evidence.  As time goes by, the sting turns into a raised red bump which has intense stinging itch. The symtoms will last a couple of days and usually the bumps will scab and finally go away.

There are a few topical creams to treat the bites but, they only limit the discomfort.  While doing some yardwork. I was bitten over 100 times and I had and allergic reaction (from so many bites) I had welts all over and difficulty breathing. I went to a local clinic and had an antihistamine shot.

Stay away from the ants!

I looked at the woodland on my first real visit, and thought that no way was it suitable to walk through. It was just too dense to contemplate a walk. It was not until several months later that I had a friend who stayed with me, that he told me that he had looked up my address on “Google Earth” and was amazed to see what appeared to be several lakes running between the two highways and the woods. The highways being, highway 27, and highway 545.

We decided to do a bit of Manley exploring and found an entrance to the woods at the rear of the small fishing lake situated to the right of the property. We followed this for about five minutes; low and behold a footpath took us through the woods and between two large lakes, one on either side on the footpath. We saw several people fishing both lakes and this was a real find. The woods continued passed the lakes and so did the well trodden path. At this time we did not pursue the woodland path.

It was November 2006 that I went out again with my wife, and it was a holiday without children, just a week out of season. I explained to her about the previous visit and it was then that we decided to purchase two mountain bikes, with a view of exploring the woods.

We did just that, and set out and followed the path through the woods. It was a great and interesting cycle ride lasting about forty minutes. We headed to the right of the first lake and kept on going along the path, it eventually brought us at the side track at the rear of the Wal-Mart store and then back on Highway 27 home.

You too can share this experience if you book in at Pebble Creek Court. It was then we decided the name for the web address had to be, Mickeyswoodlandretreat.co.uk, hope to see you real soon!

The address for Boggy Creek Airboat rides West, is 2001E Southport road, Kissimmee, Florida 34746. Telephone number 407-344-9550.

Directions are, take Highway 192 East to Poinciana Blvd. Poinciana Blvd is located between markers 10 and 11.Make a right on Poinciana Blvd. Go 19 miles South until it meets a dead end. Poinciana Blvd. Will change its name to Southport road.

When you arrive at Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, you discover territory that has remained unaltered by man, in the wilderness of the Central Florida Everglades. Experienced Captains pilot the boats and take you into the breathtaking beauty and natural wonders, including wetlands, cypress trees, and wildlife. We saw many alligators of various shapes and sizes. We saw turtles and a variety of birds all in their natural environment. Earmuffs deadened the noise of the huge engine and fan but this did not stop our pure enjoyment of a truly wonderful 45 minutes. I felt safe at all times in this exciting and educational airboat ride filled with surprises and fascination. We hit speeds of up to 45 mph, and then watch wildlife when we stopped.

This is something I would definitely consider going on again because you never know what you are going to see .I hear they do a one-hour Night Airboat Tour! I am not sure about this, but it may suit you.

Silver Springs is located north of Orlando, east of Ocala, Florida on State Road 40. We travelled via Highway 27. The route, although interesting, was long and tedious and we would advise travellers to take exit 352 east off Interstate 75 or exit 268 west off Interstate 95.

It was refreshing to arrive at a park and not find a queue! For those of you with a Florida residence Silver Springs operates a two for the price of one scheme.

The park is attractive and well cared for. Floral displays, botanical gardens, fountains and clear Blue Springs set alongside a zoo like environment make this a pleasurable day out. There are a range of animals and reptiles. We loved the contrasts, which ranged from cuddly looking brown bears to feeling in awe of the alligators. The park staff are well informed and encourage questions and participation. Our daughter actually held a baby alligator!!

The wilderness trail ride through the forest – in a safari style jeep - gave us the opportunity to encounter wild chimpanzees swinging next to us.

Glass bottom boats give an interesting underwater view of the springs. The boats, with U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains, tour the seven major spring formations at the headwaters. We saw turtles, colourful fish, old wreckages and even alligators as we viewed the watery world in the safe comfort of the boat.

The one and only ride is a very smooth 80-foot rise in a gondola/carousel called the Lighthouse Ride. This offers fantastic views across the park and is a must to appreciate the area.

The entertainment programme for Silver Springs boasts some well-known names. The events area looked very inviting. It is easy to imagine a warm Florida evening, good music, a deck chair and a cocktail!

Staff at the park urged us to return for the Christmas Lights season, which commences early December. It is evidently renowned as one of the best displays in Florida - presented from dusk to 8:30 p.m. and feature more than a million twinkle lights throughout the park!

We look forward to a return visit. Next time we will take our swimming gear as there is a quiet water park, Wild Waters, adjoining Silver Springs.