Ocala National Forest, Salt Springs

9/9/2015
Becky and Greg heading North to Ocala FL. About a 3.5 hour drive. We took I75 to I40 to I19.  The largest campground in the Ocala National Forest and the only one with full hookups for RVs, the Salt Springs Campground inside Salt Springs Recreation Area offers 106 RV/trailer sites and a designated tenting area for up to 54 tents. Sites are nicely shaded and well away from the bustle of the day use area.




9/10/2015

We visited the Salt Springs a bike ride away from the campground.  Salt Springs Recreation Area is one of the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest. The recreation area is located in the lush, semi-tropical setting of central Florida. Within the recreation area is a natural spring rising from vertical fissures (cracks) from deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters in the spring a slight salinity. Hence the name Salt Springs.

Salt Springs is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is located near Lake George. The community is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area. Salt Springs is seated among the Ocala National Forest.

Salt Springs offers plenty of activities for the family; including, fishing, camping, biking and hiking. The neighboring body of water known as Lake Kerr is also a place to enjoy a variety of water sports. Just inside the town limits is "Bass Champions," a seafood/country cooking restaurant that has become a favorite of locals as well as those from other parts of the state. The main attraction is the Salt Springs Recreation and Camping areas. The recreation area is home to the Salt water springs, with crystal clear water that is 72° year round. The springs are full of Bass, Turtles, and Blue crabs. Although alligators inhabit the area, the swimming hole is safe and free from these predators during the day. The Springs boast 4" boils which you can swim into, the deepest being 6 fathoms (36 ft deep). This spring feeds into Lake George.

The main roads through Salt Springs are State Road 19, as well as County Road 314 and County Road 316, both of which terminate at SR 19.

A fatal alligator attack took place seven miles south of Salt Springs on May 14, 2006. A 23-year-old Florida woman was killed by an alligator while snorkeling at a lakeside recreation area,.  Lake Kerr has lots of Alligators




















Becky braved the 68° water and snorkeled for about 30 min.  The water is perfectly clear.  Greg got in about wast high and stopped there.  

9/11/2015
We left the Salt Springs Recreational Area and headed East to Daytona Beach.  Neither of us had been to the Daytona Beach for years.  Daytona Beach was my first Florida experience in 1970 with my nephew Stan.  Becky said she had only been here a couple of times during her college years.  

I was surprised how clean everything seem to be.  The beach was as large as I remember it and fun to drive on.  We weren't sure what the rules would be with our Kodiak RV, but we were able to drive on like everybody else.  

Still lots of older outdated buildings standing, and a few vacant lots where old hotels had been torn down.  I credit Daytona for the find job they have done over the years making a very structured and organized method for there small town to accommodate thousands of vacationers each year.  Still a beautiful place to visit and have fun.













After lunch on the Beach in our Kodiak, we headed South to Kennedy Space Visitors Center.  Again it has been several years since I had been there.  Becky never has.  I have always been amazed and interested in our countries space travels.
















Moving on, we are heading back South West towards home.  We are thinking about Mexican for dinner in Orlando as we pass through.  Hayley our daughter is working in Orlando and mentioned a Mexican place called Rocco's Taco's she really enjoyed.  So off we go.





Very good meal.  The Guacamole was delicious with their warm chips.  If you are ever in the Orlando area, we recommend Rocco's Tacos.

We arrived home around 10:00 p.m.   Always good to get home.  We love Our Kodiak Adventures, but we love coming home too.  Util our next Adventure.  
Location: Ocala, FL, USA

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