By Vic Yerrill

When our great niece, Kate, and Greg recently came to visit us from England, her first request was that we go to DeLeon Springs.   The DeLeon Springs State Park is off US 17 between SR 40 and SR 44, near Deland and an easy 60 mile drive from here.  

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/de-leon-springs-state-park

The park offers swimming in their fresh water – and I mean fresh (72 degrees) spring, fishing, 5 miles of hiking and a 45 minute wild life tour on board the M/V Acuera (cost $16), looking at alligators and bird life.  

Best of all is the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant where you can make pancakes with all the trimmings at your table.

We decided to leave the hiking and swimming in the spring to the families with young kids having a picnic and we concentrated our efforts on the pancakes and the boat ride.   While it may be busier at weekends we did not have to wait since people doing the boat ride do not lose their place in line for a table.  

We had a wonderful day.

Vic and Linda Yerrill