Tubing Ichetucknee Springs

Accommodations:
Park Place Condominiums
First choose tour the rooms on line, each is different: https://www.parkplacei... (https://www.parkplaceincedarkey.com/Tour%20our%20Facility.html)
Then call 800-868-7963 to reserve your room.

CEDAR COVE (https://www.cedarcove-florida.com/) is the secondary option after we sell out Park Place. And between us and Big Dave's group, we will sell it out.
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Have you ever been inner tubing down a river? Just imagine banding multiple inner tubes together and floating down the river with some great people. You will be floating through crystaline waters shaded by huge trees. The head spring of the river is a National Natural Landmark. The Ichetucknee is six miles long and there are three different starting points. We are planning to do the 3 hour float. Get your old tennis shoes ready!
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Rising up from deep beneath the surface of Florida's cavernous aquifer the pristine waters of the Ichetucknee River are absolutely the cleanest in all of Florida.
These waters give rise to a spectacular and complex ecosystem both on land and under water. Its shores are lined with ancient old growth cypress and mixed hardwood forests that are home to many species of rare birds, mammals and reptiles.
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Manatees, otters and beavers play in her waters. Hawks, Eagles and Kites soar above the old growth forests as the crystal clear river winds its way down to join the Santa Fe River, the Suwannee River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.

Since this river is quite a jaunt away, let's make a weekend out of it. Car pools will leave Friday and we will come back Sunday. Tubing will be Saturday 7:30AM.

Tube Rental: ~$5
We will be meeting at Lowe's Tube Land at 7:00AM to rent the tubes.
Address:
6252 SW Elim Church Rd.
Fort White, FL 32038
Phone: 386-497-1115

Direction from Cedar Key to Lowe's Tube Land-
If you are coming from Cedar Key it will take about 1 hour to make the trip. Take FL 24 to 345 - 9.4 miles. Continue on 345 for approximately 17.8 miles. Turn left onto S. Main St. / Turn right onto US-129 /Rodgers Blvd / FL-49. Continue to follow US-129 / FL-49 - 10.3 miles. Turn slight right onto FL-47 - 19.8 miles. Turn left onto Elim Church Rd.

Park Fees
Admission Fee - $6.00 per vehicle (limit 8 people per vehicle).
Single Car Occupant - $4.00
The park has two entrances. We will be meeting at the North Entrance.
Tubing- $5.00 per person.

Agenda for the day-
7:30AM Ichetucknee North Parking Lot
After we get our tubes all passengers and tubes will be dropped off at the North entrance parking lot. The drivers will drive their cars to the south entrance parking lot and then take the shuttle back to the North Parking lot where we will all go to the launch area and float down the river. YEAH!

Half Way Point:
The south parking lot is at the half way point. We will stop at the half way for a snack/breakfast. There will be concessions at the half way point, but you will be able to go to your car if you drove it to the south parking lot. Make sure to pack some goodies to drink and snack on, but leave it in the car as we are not allowed to bring it on the river
Please note there is no food, drink or tobacco products allowed on the river.*

After lunch we will tube the lower half of the river.
First stop - Dampier's landing - 30 minutes
1 1/2 hour more to the South Take
Take shuttle back to South Parking Lot

If you choose you can tube the lower half as many times as you want since there are no capacity restrictions. Take the tram back to the south parking lot
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Link to Florida State Park Ichetucknee Springs
https://www.floridasta... (https://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/)

ONLY 750 PEOPLE A DAY ARE ALLOWED TO TUBE THIS PRISTINE RIVER - SO YOU MUST BE IN LINE AT THE PARK BY 7:30AM..MAKE SURE YOU RENT YOUR TUBE FROM ONE OF THE PRIVATE OUTFITTERS BEFORE YOU ENTER THE PARK. WE ARE MEETING AT LOWES TUBE LAND AT 7:00AM TO RENT TUBES.

WHAT NOT TO BRING ON THE RIVER!
Please note there is no food, drink or tobacco products allowed on the river.*

Not sure? Don't you know us by now, we won't let you down. Ask any of us that went last year what it's all about: https://www.meetup.com... (https://www.meetup.com/Naples-activities/calendar/9519900/)