In the beginning of June, we made a trip I've been waiting for for some time. We went to DeLeon Springs State Park. This park I have seen on several travel blogs, on lists of best springs in Florida, among other places. The historic buildings, the spring, a great pancake house in a sugar mill, all combine to make it a nice day trip; however, we didn't think it lived up to all the hype. Thus far, Ichetucknee is still our favorite Florida Spring.
Once we arrived around noon, we decided our first order of business was the wildlife boat tour. Unfortunately we had to wait a bit for the next tour so we checked out the historical buildings on site which include a hotel from the 1950s which has been repurposed into a gift shop with bathrooms. While the architecture was very distinct, there seemed to be a great deal of wasted space in it's current usage. While there though Ruth found her a new swimsuit, and since she needed another, we got it for her, along with some bubbles for Kate and the little boys to play with.
When it was finally time for our boat tour, our impatient crowd was ready to get on board. We had an incredibly knowledgeable boat captain who was able to answer all of our questions and point out countless bird species. Gary felt like it was the best part of the day. We learned an incredible amount; and even though it was the middle of the day, we still saw quite a bit of wildlife. Britt's favorite of course was the osprey. He has loved those since he was around three or four and learned about them from Wild Kratz. Did you realize they have a wingspan approximately the same as both Britt's arms stretched out? They also mate for life and come back to the same nest each year to raise young.
After we finished we had worked up an appetite, so we headed off to my most anticipated part of the trip, the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House. In the 1830s a large sugar mill was built here on the springs, and worked by slaves for a plantation. By the early 1900s the building had burned down leaving only the large brick fireplace and chimney atop the foundation itself. By then someone thought of rebuilding the sugar mill but turning it into a restaurant, and since then (other than kitchen updates and ceiling fans being installed) very little has changed. The receptionist even told me that the lantern lights were the original lanterns used in the restaurant.
The pancakes were raved over online, and I was really looking forward to them. As a child, Grandpa use to fix all of us cousins pancakes, he'd be in the kitchen mixing batter after batter and flipping the big fluffy pancakes. We would routinely eat 20 some a piece, and then he'd still fix more for all of our parents and leave a plate full of extras on the counter. We would take them with us in our pockets as we rode bikes around the neighborhood and spent all day outside in the summer time. One of the reason I was looking forward to pancakes was the ability to pour and flip them right on the griddle built into the table. But more importantly they are known for their variety of pancake toppings. For 2.99 a piece you can get pecans, chocolate chips, strawberries, peaches, banana, blueberries, and other toppings that I am forgetting. However, I was disappointed to discover that didn't provide us a bowl of toppings, but rather a tiny serving cup like you get condiments in at a restaurant.
We had a great time together visiting and eating. The kids had the best time mixing different toppings together and pouring their own pancakes and flipping them on the griddle. I had two complaints. There is no AC, and even though we were sat by a window (and of course they are all open) it was so hot in there that you hardly felt like eating much. The kids were starving and we finished off three large pitchers of pancake batter, but our crew could have eaten more in a different setting. Which brings me to my next complaint, cost. It was expensive when you consider that it's just pancakes, and further since we are cooking it ourselves there's not alot of labor cost. If we could have eaten more that might have justified the cost, but it was an expensive meal with an added 18% gratitude for a group of more than six (all eight of us went). So just be prepared that you are paying for the experience and atmosphere when you go.
Finally we allowed the kids to swim some in the spring for around thirty minutes or so, even though we didn't really come prepared for that. They begged and it was incredibly hot that day, so Gary told them to go ahead, knowing that we had a few dry, oversized shirts in the back of the car they could wear home. The boys and I just stayed on the steps barely getting their feet in the cold water before shrieking and scurrying back up them. Ruth and Rebecca jumped off the platform over and over in the deeper water. Britt and Ruth both took turns bringing the boys rocks to look at too. Gary was pretty wore out for the day as it was only his second excursion out of the house since the accident, so due to that, and the long ride home, we headed out shortly after that.
We had a great time but probably wouldn't go again unless we had family in the area that was interested in going for a visit. However, if you'd like to make a trip the address to DeLeon Springs State Park is 601 Ponce De Leon Blvd. De Leon Springs, Florida. Their hours are 8 to sunset every day of the week year round, but the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House is only open till 3pm. Of course, you can always call for more information at 386-985-4212. It cost $6 to enter the park for a car load of up to eight people. The boat tour cost extra at $12 per child 3 to 5, $19 per adult which is 6 to 64, and $18 for seniors 65 and up.
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