Weekend Getaways: River Tubing at Ginnie Springs, Florida

Ain't nothing wrong with a lazy day along the Santa Fe River in Florida. It’s a great way to cool off on a hot sunny day.

Grab your flotation device and cooler of beers!

Any inner tube or two-seater raft will do nicely. Busch Light or Miller beers? Sure.

We're headed to Ginnie Springs Recreation Area for a chill day on the Santa Fe River in northern Florida. 

Ginnie Springs Outdoors is a vast camping ground that features access points to several springs along the river that are prime swimming holes. You can also go snorkeling and diving in the springs, which offer stunningly clear waters.

On our recent day trip to the grounds, we packed up a picnic lunch and a couple coolers of our favorite liquid refreshments and set out for a couple runs along the Santa Fe River on a sunny day.

While most of the people were tubing, we also saw jet skis, canoes, kayaks and standup paddleboards on the river.

Loading our cooler of beers, waters, sodas (and a tasty jar of moonshine) into our raft, we kept it simple and let the slow-flowing river take us along for a ride. 

Bart shares his Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine.

My brother Bart and his wife, Natalie, live in Orlando and were eager to take us to Ginnie Springs, which is about 2-plus hours away from their home. They had been five years earlier and had a great time; now they had a good reason to return. We're glad they thought of it. What a fun time.

No doubt people hit up Ginnie Springs ready to party and let their wild sides thrive! Brother Bart fits right in (he's the one who brought along the moonshine).  

Information

Ginnie Springs Outdoors is located at 5000 NE 60th Avenue in High Springs, Florida
Admission: $14 per adult
Certified divers can explore four diveable springs.
Rental gear and food is available on-site.