Since Ichetucknee Springs is approximately 5 hours away, several of us are planning to leave on Friday, July 31 to head up to Cedar Key. We will depart Cedar Key for the one hour drive to Ichetucknee AT 5:45 AM We will be inner-tubing down the river on Saturday August 1st at 7:30AM. If you are going to attend the Saturday tubing event and would like to leave Friday night, and if you are interested in carpooling / willing to drive or need a ride, please state that in your RSVP comment so that people can contact you to carpool/share a ride.

Accommodations:
We have sold-out the Park Place!! and they have recommended another similar location located across the city park from them... the Cedar Cove Hotel
Cedar Cove Hotel: Phone number: [masked]
Website: http://www.cedarcove-...

Friday - July 31, 2009:
Everyone will be leaving at different times from South Florida and arriving throughout the day and evening. Once you check-in your accommodations, come to the Big Deck Raw Bar located right on the main road in town, Dock Street. This is a great local rawbar that has live music each evening.

Saturday - August 1st 5:45AM Departure:
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 crystalline 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!

Park Fees
Admission Fee - $6.00 per vehicle (limit 8 people per vehicle).
Single Car Occupant - $4.00

Tubing
North Entrance-Summer Season - $6.00 per person.

Link to Florida State Park Ichetucknee Springs
http://www.floridasta...

About Cedar Key?

Cedar Key is one of the oldest ports in the state, and when Florida's first railroad connected it to the east coast, it became a major supplier of seafood and timber products to the northeast. Today it has become a haven for artists and writers who find the unspoiled environment inspirational to their work. Many people visit each year to walk the historic streets browse the shops and galleries, explore the bayous and enjoy the restaurants featuring fresh local seafood.

Federally protected sanctuaries, the Cedar Keys form a chain of barrier islands ideally suited to a vast range of migratory and shore birds, including the elusive white pelican, roseate spoonbill and bald eagle. The variety of natural habitats, from salt marshes to Indian shell mounds, makes this truly a nature lover's paradise.

It will be a bit of a drive to Ichetucknee Springs early Saturday morning, the natural attractions - and the galleries and restaurants of Cedar Key make this a great destination in of itself!

Jim