Day 15: Exploring Rainbow Springs State Park

Despite the fact that we woke up to 26 degree temperatures, this was one of the best days of the trip.  Rainbow Springs State Park is the nicest one so far, very clean and well-maintained, and our site is large and comfortable, with no neighbors to be seen out our windows.

Once the sun came up, temperatures rose fairly quickly.  Ranger and I took a short hike around the nature trail near the campground, about one mile in length, and he seemed to feel good, getting out and about early.  In late morning, with temperatures up in the mid-60's, Dan and I headed out on our bicycles along the tram path that connects this part of the park with the tubing area.

This state park is unusual in that it has three distinct sections, each with its own entrance.  We have, of course, been in the section with camping and the park office.  In warmer weather, people come to ride tubes from here downstream to the tubing section of the park, where they get out (and from which they pay their fee and park their cars).  The tram takes them up to the starting point, or for campers returns them their campsites.

However, at this time of year, no one is tubing, so the tram path provides a paved, flat place to bike.  It led to another lovely view of the Rainbow River.

After biking back to the RV, we had lunch and then left Ranger to take his afternoon nap in the camper while we checked out the third section of the park, the Headsprings..  

A gentleman I had chatted with back at Hillsborough said that he had previously been a campground host at Rainbow Springs and that we MUST see the headsprings.  And he was correct.  It was well-worth the trip. (One must drive over to it from the campground, about 15 minutes away.)

What is somewhat unusual about this place is that it has only been part of the state park since the 90's.  From the 1940's until the 1970's, it was privately owned and was a tourist attraction, complete with glass-bottom boats, monorail, a zoo, and even a rodeo!  

It even had artificial waterfalls, built with the tailings of the old phosphate mines, in the extensive gardens (with azaleas and camellias):

After driving around the town of Dunnellon a bit (lots of fast food, auto parts stores, and strip malls, but also a nice historic district with antique and gift shops), we returned to rescue Ranger in time for him to enjoy lying in the late afternoon sun while Dan grilled chicken for dinner.    And it's still close to 70 degrees, no rain, no wind.  Life is good!