For most parents, the words: “economy” and “Orlando” are not all that synonymous; after all, it’s the town that “Mickey Built.” Still, if you know where to look, you can find some delightful spots that won’t bust your family's budget. Well, Rock Springs in Kelly Park is one of those places.
If you take Orange Blossom Trail north through Orlando, and up to the nearby city of Apopka, all you have to do is follow the signs to the state park, to Kelly Park. As it’s a state park, the admission price is quite reasonable – a dollar a person. Also, the park forbids alcohol, and they’re pretty good about enforcing it. So, the place is a great family fun spot. They’ve got bar-b-q grills, volleyball courts, and a nice little concession stand. The main attraction (so to speak) is Rock Springs. From deep underground, a natural spring sends out a constant stream of clean, cold water, and it comes out of its cave might fast, let me tell you! At the cave’s entrance, the water has got to be well over eight feet deep, but you wouldn’t know it to look at it. Being so clean and clear, you can see right to the bottom.
Now, it’s not without reason that it’s called “Rock Springs.” The upper portion of the stream has some big, nasty rocks. Your best bet: wear water shoes, and bring an inner tube. As it happens, there are several places right outside the park that rent tubes for only a couple bucks a day.
One Fourth of July, my family and I went there with some friends – a teacher and her three kids. Being a single mom, and a teacher, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that she doesn’t have money to burn. So, Rock Springs is the perfect place for her. Well, we got there early, had a great swim in the cold water; which was most welcome considering how hot it was. You got to remember, this was July, in central Florida. Again, no great intellect is needed to know it wasn’t just hot; it was blazing hot!
After splashing about for a while, we stoked up the grill, cooked up some burgers and hotdogs, and chowed down. And, as expected, the park staff came around to check the coolers for alcohol. Some people might object to this, call it an invasion of privacy. Me, I never had a problem with it, especially considering the number of families with kids who frequent this area.
After lunch, and still more water play, we headed home. The thing is, we were hungry again. The great thing about that area, it has plenty of restaurants. As we had four hungry teenagers – two of them growing boys, we headed over to CiCi’s Pizza. For those of you who don’t know the place; it’s a specialty pizza place, cafeteria-style. You pay one price, and eat all you want. Our kids, they just about inhaled a couple pizzas each!
That night, we were didn’t bother with the fireworks; we were all beat. Looking back, it was about the best Fourth of July of my adult life. And yet, what had we really done? Gone swimming, had a bar-b-q, and spent time with friends. Some would call it an old-fashion Fourth. Me, I called it quality and quantity time with those I cared about.
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