The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
465 Wakulla Park Drive
Wakulla Springs, FL 32327
on a very hot day
July 8, 2014

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is a Florida State Park in Wakulla County, Florida. This 6,000 acre wildlife sanctuary, located south of Tallahassee, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and designated a National Natural Landmark. It has three nature trail systems which lead the visitor through pine forests, Bald Cypress wetlands and hardwood hammock. Hikers, bicyclists and horse riders are welcome. The wildlife found in the forest includes White-tailed deer, Wild Turkey, and many other bird species, while American Alligators, bass, gar, various snakes, and West Indian Manatee (during the winter) populate the springs, swamps, and river.

The glass bottom boat which was NOT
in operation on the day the
two RV Gypsies visited.

The two RV Gypsies took the 3-mile river tour (a 40-minute cruise) to see alligators, native birds, turtles, and manatees up close.

Below: Crystal clear water even with small waves from the boat

Below: Turtles

Below: Alligators

Below: When the alligator shown below swam in-between the greenery, another alligator attacked it and the two RV Gypsies saw a lot of splashing, so they must have been fighting. The river boat did not stop and so Karen Duquette only got the one photo of the event.

Below: Manatee

Below: Birds

Below: Lots of Birds

A bird drying its wings
plus a Turtle

Below: As the river boat approached the end of the tour, Karen Duquette snapped a few photos of people jumping into the water. Karen thought it looked like fun and hoped the line would be shorter a bit later in the day so she could join the fun. Lee Duquette was not interested in doing it. But Karen never got to do this because of the long lines. Maybe it is just as well, since they did see alligators here.

The park draws its name from Edward Ball, the DuPont family financial manager who sold the park lands to the state of Florida and its contained Wakulla Springs, one of the world's largest and deepest first-order freshwater springs and an exit point of the Floridian Aquifer. Wakulla Springs' highest outflow has been measured at 860,000 US gallons per minute. The spring's average flow is about 400,000 US gallons per minute. The opening of the spring is 180 feet down, through which cave divers, especially those of the Woodville Karst Plain Project have explored many miles of its underwater tunnels. The spring gives rise to Wakulla River which flows several miles to the south where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

The two RV Gypsies took a photo of themselves with their toes in the spring water. But it was ICY COLD, so Lee Duquette did not go any further into the water, but Karen Duquette did.

Below: As Karen Duquette went a bit deeper into the ICY COLD water, she turned to look at Lee Duquette with a very shocked look on her face. And that is when Karen decided that she would not jump off the jumping platform because she did not want to jump that deeply into the icy cold water. Plus the line never got any shorter and Lee did not want to hang around much longer.

Below: The story of Old Joe the alligator as seen in a showcase in the lobby of the Wakulla Springs Lodge.

Below: Signs and photos (on a hiking trail) about sinkholes, springs, and karsts.

Menu for the two RV Gypsies Adventures in Florida - 2014
You may visit these ten (10) FL sites in any order you choose.
There is also a link to Alabama below, plus the main navigational menu.

Broward County holiday fun with friends and family - through Easter 2014

canoe trip at Jonathan Dickerson State Park, Hobe Sound

Florida Keys (2 pages)

boating at Everglades NP - with family on Fathers Day

Englewood (on the west coast)

St. Petersburg/ Madeira Beach / John's Pass

Dee Dee and Forest Pierce in DeLand

Wekiwa Springs State Park, Wekiva River, alligators/turtles

Wauchula and Kayaking the Peace River plus two state parks

Wakulla Springs State Park: boat tour, alligators, and manatees (this page)

AFTER you have seen all of the above, please continue on to The Big Peach, plus Cross Garden - Hell's Warning Label in Alabama

OR Continue Navigation in the order of your choice via the alphabetical or category buttons below OR Click here to see travels by the year (not the best way)