I brought on the last canoe trip the idea of Inner tubing on Ichnetucknee Springs (pronounced Itch-ne-tuck-nee). I haven't done this is
in many years but remember is was great relaxing day. Just floating slowly down the river enjoying it's sights and sounds and the sun.
I was thinking Fri-Sat May 5/30-31 or Sun 6/1, after memorial day (may 26) when it's still not too horrifically hot (remember this is a spring fed river so the water's a cool 73 degrees)
Summer season starts that week and it would a be chill day prior to SWW madness which start june 6th. It's near gainesville so maybe we could conjole Laura and Beth into floating with us
. Maybe even Audrey might be convinced to relax in a raft with Scott to navigate. Depending on the start point
you can float 45min 1.5 hr or 3 hrs so earlier in the day, float a few hours then enjoy a picnic lunch. If we schedule before that particular week there's
only the 1.5 hr max float time unless you do it twice but the 3 hour is worth the drive to me.
Cost wise It's $5.00 per person to get into the park and inner tube, sweetheart tubes (2 tubes tied together) and raft rentals range in price from $2 to $8 dollars and these are not the wimpy lifesaver size rings you're thinking but big truck inner tube (smaller for kids not slip through). Gas would be the most cost but carpooling would reduce that. Tube or raft rental is recommended outside of the park as inside they charge twice as much so we'd have to tie inner tubes to the car top for just a short distance. No food, drink, tobacco, disposable items,or pets may be taken on the river.
After float picnic leave several options depending on the total float time we want but near the parking area there is concession tables and grillin' areas and covered pavilions which can be reserved. Well ices coolers could be left in the cars for lunch.
Time wise we must consider that the driver of each vehicle must drop off all tubes/rafts and passengers at the north drop off point then go to park at the south landing. Only the driver of each vehicle (with pass) will be shuttled back to the drop off which is a approx. a 45 min. time frame. While waiting there's swimming, picnicing and a playground for kids and two nature walks, one a 1/2 mile and another which is about a 30 min walk. I have to check but there is a limit to the number of people allowed on the river on a given day (either 750 or 2250) so this is something to consider as Ichnetucknee really is a very popular park just like wekiva or rock springs.
If enough people are interested I'll find out more specific info on any questions. But here's some links on the River tubing:
http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/
http://funandsun.com/1tocf/natf/tubing/tubing.html
So what's y'all think
BTW Campbell snorkeling is allowed only at the north entrance at Ichenetucknee or Blue Hole Springs. Will have to call if it's allowed on the river.
I was thinking Fri-Sat May 5/30-31 or Sun 6/1, after memorial day (may 26) when it's still not too horrifically hot (remember this is a spring fed river so the water's a cool 73 degrees)
Summer season starts that week and it would a be chill day prior to SWW madness which start june 6th. It's near gainesville so maybe we could conjole Laura and Beth into floating with us
. Maybe even Audrey might be convinced to relax in a raft with Scott to navigate. Depending on the start point
you can float 45min 1.5 hr or 3 hrs so earlier in the day, float a few hours then enjoy a picnic lunch. If we schedule before that particular week there's
only the 1.5 hr max float time unless you do it twice but the 3 hour is worth the drive to me.
Cost wise It's $5.00 per person to get into the park and inner tube, sweetheart tubes (2 tubes tied together) and raft rentals range in price from $2 to $8 dollars and these are not the wimpy lifesaver size rings you're thinking but big truck inner tube (smaller for kids not slip through). Gas would be the most cost but carpooling would reduce that. Tube or raft rental is recommended outside of the park as inside they charge twice as much so we'd have to tie inner tubes to the car top for just a short distance. No food, drink, tobacco, disposable items,or pets may be taken on the river.
After float picnic leave several options depending on the total float time we want but near the parking area there is concession tables and grillin' areas and covered pavilions which can be reserved. Well ices coolers could be left in the cars for lunch.
Time wise we must consider that the driver of each vehicle must drop off all tubes/rafts and passengers at the north drop off point then go to park at the south landing. Only the driver of each vehicle (with pass) will be shuttled back to the drop off which is a approx. a 45 min. time frame. While waiting there's swimming, picnicing and a playground for kids and two nature walks, one a 1/2 mile and another which is about a 30 min walk. I have to check but there is a limit to the number of people allowed on the river on a given day (either 750 or 2250) so this is something to consider as Ichnetucknee really is a very popular park just like wekiva or rock springs.
If enough people are interested I'll find out more specific info on any questions. But here's some links on the River tubing:
http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/
http://funandsun.com/1tocf/natf/tubing/tubing.html
So what's y'all think
BTW Campbell snorkeling is allowed only at the north entrance at Ichenetucknee or Blue Hole Springs. Will have to call if it's allowed on the river.
