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Sharon's Cabin In The Woods |
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Fully
Furnished Short Term Rental |
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ALL YOU NEED IS YOUR SUITCASE!
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2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Cabin in Osceola Forest |
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Tubing Down Itcheetucknee River, Lake City, Florida
Itcheetucknee State Park: Tubing, swimming and canoeing. I was brought up in this area, so spent my summers down on Itcheetucknee. Itcheetucknee is a small river that is crystall clear due to the springs that dump into it all along the way. The majority of it is shallow enough that you can stand in it, but the current is such that you have to be holding onto something if you want to stay in one place.
The river, as I remember being told, is about 6 miles long, but only the upper part of it, about 3 miles, is tubable, as the lower is on private land.
Tubes and rafts can be rented from varios vendors along the way for anywhere from $6 and up each. Traditionally we always got the inner tubes with the hole for our float, but as I've aged and become more of a wimp, I get a raft as I like being able to get my whole body out of the water.
Ahhhh-the water; a constant 72 degrees, which on a cold day can seem warm as bath water, but on a sunny 90+ day, feels like ice water.
The best time to go depends on what you most enjoy. I like being alone and enjoying the peace and quite, along with an occassional sighting of wildlife, so I go early, and I love swimming and tubing it in the winter as that's when you see lots of wildlife as it's quieter. |
Photo Courtesy of Florida State Parks Site
Links to Photos & Info
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My favorite memories consist of winter mornings when my friend Linda and I would arrive at 8 or so, when the park first opens. We'd be the only ones there and no tram runs in the winter, so we'd go to the end where we'd be getting out, leave our towels and dry clothes, then walk or drive to the beginning point.
With the air cold and the water warm, steam would be rising up into the surrounding forest. The only sounds would be that of squirrels as they gathered overhead to watch.
There's always that point when you ask yourself, "what on earth am I doing?", but then, once you're in the water, it is wonderful.
We've floated quitely in the morning mist, watching as a racoon comes down to wash his breakfast in the river. Deer have lifted their heads as we drifted by, probably wondering, "what is that funny looking creature?" then went back to their morning munching.
To visit North Florida and NOT visit Itcheetucknee, would be like going to Orland and not visiting Disney World.
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