We were craving some crystal clear spring water and Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon, Fla. was at the top of our list.
 
We didn’t have an entire weekend available to camp, so we took a day trip to the park to paddle and swim. We got up super early and headed north so we could get into the park as soon as it opened. We’ve heard it can get crowded and we wanted to launch our paddleboards before the wildlife got scared away.

​We were rewarded for our early efforts. Steam rose from the water and we were the first people into the park. We shoved off from the canoe launch and paddled with the current, mesmerized by how clear and deep the water was. 

We quickly learned how the Rainbow River got its name – a variety of multicolored vegetation floats on and below the surface, creating an array of color and texture. Not far from the launch, we were greeted by two bald eagles. One swooped right over our heads and landed in a nearby oak tree

​We enjoyed a lovely trip down the river, only encountering a few other paddlers and tubers. After a couple miles, we turned back upstream, paddling against the current to return to the headspring. It was a nice workout and we were rewarded with a swim in the crystal clear, 72-degree spring water.

Afterwards, we scoped out the campground, a separate entrance six miles away by car and a short float downriver, as we knew we would love to return for a longer stay. After driving around both camp loops, we decided site 51 and 6-11 would be ideal sites to return to.
 
If you go:
Rainbow Springs State Park
Headspring/day use area: 19158 S.W. 81st Place Rd., Dunnellon, Florida 34432; 352-465-8555. Activities include swimming, snorkeling, tubing, fishing, canoes/kayaks including gear available for rent, hiking/nature trail through gardens, wildlife viewing, picnicking.
 
Campground: 18185 S.W. 94th St., Dunnellon, about 1.5 miles downstream from the main headspring and day use area. All sites have water and electric (20, 30, and 50 amp) with sewer hook-ups. Maximum RV length: 103 feet. Dump station, recreation hall, showers, restrooms, laundry and playground. Pets allowed in campground; not permitted in swimming areas or buildings. Advance reservations available through ReserveAmerica.
 
Follow our adventures on Twitter @RivetedRoost, or find us on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram. We're posting lots of photos to our social media sites in real time, so follow along!
 
All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost

{By Kelly}

Creating a closet
Before every camping trip, we try to make a repair or improvement to the Airstream. Prior to this trip, Justin finished the closet and wardrobe area, and also installed the bathroom wall in between. With this project, he created his first countertop, using leftover Formica from the kitchen area. I think it turned out quite well!​ And having more storage for clothing and gear is a big help.

Discovering Fisheating Creek
On this trip, we visited Fisheating Creek in Palmdale, Fla. March 13-15 for my belated birthday campout. It’s located just west of Lake Okeechobee in the middle of the Sunshine State.
 
I discovered an old Florida camping book that belonged to some dear friends who have since passed away. They had made notes in the margins, raving about Fisheating Creek when they visited in the 1970s.
 
I imagined much had probably changed, but it was an area of Florida we had yet to explore, so we gave it a try. It was a beautiful drive across the middle of the state through oak hammocks, cypress swamp, and orange groves. We rolled the windows down to bask in the scent of orange blossoms. Divine! 

​Fisheating Creek’s camping and recreation area is located within a Wildlife Management Area and is under the supervision of the licensed concessionaire, Fisheating Creek Outpost. While the camping area is more commercialized than your average state park, the waterway deeply resembles Old Florida.
 
We stayed in site #C-1, which was one of the few sites left when we made reservations. It was lacking in shade and privacy, but the surrounding campers were friendly. We were joined by our friends who stayed with us in the Airstream, and our neighbors who snagged a great site under the oaks (A section) for their pop-up camper. We were all ready for some R&R. 

​The next morning, we walked the dogs down to the creek to check out the scenery. It was lovely! And the tent campers have it best, with waterfront sites under giant live oaks, right along the creek. 

​We couldn’t wait to get out on the water with our paddleboards. Due to the gator population, we decided to leave the dogs in the camper during our paddle excursion. Our friends rented a canoe and we all paddled a couple miles up river, stopping to fish along the way. We saw lots of gators and birds, but unfortunately, we didn’t catch any fish in Fisheating Creek.

After our paddle, we were hot and ready for a swim, but not in the gator-infested creek. We decided to check out the swimming area located on the other side of the park. It’s supposedly a spring-fed lake, but I had my doubts about its cleanliness and gator population, so I only went in to my knees. Others enjoyed swinging into the lake from the rope swing, but we swear we saw gators, and heard the squawk of baby alligators in the tall grass along the banks. No thanks, I’ll pass. The oaks that surround the swimming area are gorgeous, and there’s a pavilion to enjoy picnics.

​We had a delicious barbecue dinner that night, despite a light rain shower. We played giant Jenga by the campfire and had some delectable gourmet s’mores. Everything is better with friends!
 
Overall, we enjoyed our stay, but if I came back, I would tent camp to capitalize on the waterfront view, like this, on our last morning at Fisheating Creek:

If you go:
Fisheating Creek Outpost
7555 U.S. Highway 27 North, Palmdale, Florida 33944
863-675-5999
52 RV sites including 48 full-hookup sites with 30 and 50 amp electric, water and sewer; 68 tent sites; picnic tables at every site
Restrooms with hot showers
Creek, camp store with firewood and necessities, kayak and canoe rentals, wi-fi
Fishing, canoeing, hunting, swimming, hiking, 

Follow our adventures on Twitter @RivetedRoost, or find us on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram. We're posting lots of photos to our social media sites in real time, so follow along!

All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost