Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Fishing in the Forest

Did you know there are supposely over 600 lakes in the Forest.  (some may be dried up currently!)
For true fishermen, you can fish a different lake a day and it would take almost 2 years to visit all the waters in the area.

Where do you fish when you come to Lake in the Forest Resort?  These are my first choices.

1) Half Moon Lake (350 acre lake) You can bank fish, dock fish or rent a canoe, row boat or small pontoon boat to fish our wilderness Lake.  Last week, someone caught a 9 pound Bass!   Yes, in the past, we have caught 14-15 pounders in the past but times have changed with the water being low.

2) Lake Bryant (750 acre lake) accross from Lake in the Forest Resort

3) Ocklawaha River

4) Lake Weir

5) St. John's River

6) Alexander Spring Run

7) Wildcat Lake

These would be my first choices.   After you book, I will send you a confirmation package.  Ask to have the fishing info and the fishing lakes sent in the package.

FYI: Fat Daddy's Bait shop is located on 40 and 314A and is the recommended bait shop.
What are they using? shiners, worms, red plastic worms, one family said hot dogs!  Don't forget
your fishing license!!!   Walmart, Tag Office, Online Registration/FWC

Another Spring - only $5 per car of 8 persons-Family Value

DeLeon Springs State Park
601 Ponce DeLeon Boulevard
DeLeon Springs, Fl 32130
386-985-4212
 
 
Take 40 east to 17/92 and turn south/right and follow signs. (around 35 minutes)
 
This is a great value for familes but can be busy.
This is a State Park and charges per car $6 (up to 8 persons).
There is a swimming spring, canoeing, paddleboats, fishing, ecological boat trip, hiking trails and little museum.  Like the Ocala National Forest, the water temperture is 72 degree.
There is 600 acres in the park.
Picnic Area, grassy area for a picnic, bathrooms, water fountain.
 
There is also a old Sugar Mill Resturant where you can cook old fashion pancakes on your table.   You can also buy fresh bread which comes from an old recipe.  It is lots of fun but be aware of long lines during weekends and busy times.
 
My husband Jeff and I went a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the resturant, hiking and the little museum.  If it is not too busy, it can be a fun and affordable day for a family.


 

2015 UPDATE/Swimming with the Horses!!! Makin Tracks

Makin Tracks Trail Rides has always left our campers with great memories and family experiences.  I expecially recommend Swimming with the Horses Excurison.  It is a wonderful ride through the Greenway Trail and then swimming in the Ocklawaha River with 1-2 horses.  (not all the horses with swim in the water).
I took my two daughters last summer and we had a blast.   It is a very unique experience.   The Trail Guides from Makin Tracks are very experienced, nice and accomadating and make their guests feel at ease and comfortable with the horses.   Many of the horses are rescue horses and they each have a unique story. The trail rides pay for the upkeep and care of the rescue horses.

They also have other guided tours at different prices.

If you mention you are staying with us, you will get a discount.

I keep getting good feedback from my campers which is a plus.   We had @4 or 5 familes go in the last 2 weeks and they raved about it.

Check out their website at www.ocalatrailrides.com and call Tina or Corey at 352-236-3939.

Ocala National Forest Springs- general overview and Deb's favorites

When you are visiting Lake in the Forest, it is fun to visit our springs in the Ocala National Forests.
Since they are run by concessions, there is a fee of @$5.50 per person.   I wouldn't go to the Springs if you are not planning to swim.   There are many other facilities in the Forest and the Area which you can visit for non-swimming activities.

Depending on your family and your objectives will decide which Spring you pick.   I personally feel that there is so much to enjoy at each Spring, that it would be a waste of money to visit multiple springs on the same day.  Floridians - don't forget all the springs are 72 degrees year round -so be prepared to find the water chilly!

1)The closest Spring to Lake in the Forest Resort is Juniper Springs.  You would go back to SR40 and turn right(East) and it will be around 10 minutes east on the left.  If you reach SR19, you have gone too far.   You can swim, walk on the boardwalk trail and swim.   Because there is a waterwheel at the entrance of the swimming area, you never need to worry about a wandering gator.  
This Spring has a jumping wall where you can jump or dive right into the Spring.  There are ledges around the Swimming area where you can spread a blanket or just sit and watch.   There are also garbage cans, rest rooms, small store (not always open), canoe rental, picnic tables. 
I always enjoy walking the 1/4 mile decked boardwalk around the Spring which makes it accessible to strollers and wheel chairs.
Even though, the Juniper Spring Canoe Run is very beautiful, the water is very low and the trip is very long.  There is no place to turn around, so you are stuck going to the end if you want to or not.
See my comments on canoeing in another blog.

2) Another favorite of mine is Silver Glen.   From Lake in the Forest, go to 40 and go East 12 miles to SR 19.   Turn left (North) and go to entrance on the right.   The hiking trail - The Yearling is right accross the street and is also a nice hiking trail through the Forest.
Silver Glen has a big spring in the middle where you can snokel and feel the pressure of the Spring and view all the fish swimming in the Spring entrance.   There are picnic tables, grills, porta pottys.  You walk into Silver Glen and it gradually gets deep.  Goggles and floaties are a plus.  There are some trails to walk and  canoe rentals which I have not personally used but heard good reviews on.
20 minutes from park using 19.

3) Salt Springs in another uniques spring with lots of little caves to snokel over.   It is shallow in most areas.  Goggles are a neccesity if you want to view under water by the springs.   It is a lot of fun to go from one to the other.   There is lots of grassy areas to spread out a blanket and have bathrooms and a small store close to the spring.   Salt Spring is located in Salt Springs on 19 north of Silver Glen.  Ask me for a short cut map through the woods to bypass 19 and also info. about the Salt Springs Marina.  Boating on the run and then visiting the Spring can make a super inexpensive experience for the whole family. 20 minutes from park with shortcut.

4) Alexander Springs is located south of 40 and east of 19.   It takes a good 30 minutes from our Park.  I think, the easier way is to go past 19 on 40 and then turn to the right at the marked sign and than a right again to the park entrance.  There is no easy way to get there.   I feel it is the best beach for toddlers and non-swimmers because of the beach area.   There is a big spring to snokel into and many of my advid snokeling friends and campers have commented that they felt Alexander Springs is the best to snokel out of the 4.   I really enjoy Alexander Springs, but did feel uneasy snokeling there because you are not far from the wild life when you swim out to the cavern area.  There is also a hiking area and canoe rentals.

When you book your reservations with us, we can send you a more detailed description of the Springs.   Enjoy!!!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Lake in the Forest Resort

I, Deb Anderson, on behalf of Lake in the Forest Resort have been exploring, testing, researching, discovering new and places for our guests and families at Lake in the Forest Resort to visit during their stay with us.  Many of these will be found in the Ocala National Forest, Florida State Parks and Marion County Parks.   Other imput will be on horseback riding, boat trips, resturants, classes that would be of interest to our guests.
I would like to share these comments and discoveries with our current and future guests.
I am also welcome ideas and imput from others.
My goal is to discover as many fun and exciting, nature orientated (if possible) and reasonable places with 1 hour drive of our RV Park.  

Deb Anderson
www.lakeintheforest.com