Sunday, July 24, 2016

Have A Santa Fe River Tubing Adventure

By Jose Turner


Some families never have a chance to take a Florida vacation. They may live too far away or have other vacation priorities. Still others live just a short ride from some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States and never visit. A Santa Fe River tubing trip is a great excursion to take with the whole family. It is inexpensive, educational, and a world away from the realities of text messages, emails, cell phones and electronic gadgets that seem to have taken over our everyday lives.

Florida is known for its pristine waterways and amazing scenic landscape. It looks, sounds, and smells different than anywhere else in the United States. You can choose to enjoy time on the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, or on one of this state's unique and incredibly beautiful rivers that meander through the state.

There are areas in Florida that still seem remote and untouched. The Santa Fe River is one of them. You almost expect to see native tribesmen paddling their canoes through the deep dark water when you come around a bend. Spanish moss hangs from the bald cypresses, and rock formations protect the banks the way they did when prehistoric animals roamed here.

This is not an expensive theme park. The wildlife you see here has not been stuffed and placed at strategic locations along the river. If you see alligators, deer, bobcats or turtles, you are seeing the real thing in its natural habitat, undisturbed and untouched.

If floating, resting and relaxing in the tube is not enough for you, you can always get out and swim or snorkel alongside the inner tube as it floats down the water. You can also try your hand at fishing for Suwannee bass, a dark fish famous in these waters. If you are concerned about getting out of your tube because of the wildlife, you should remember that this is their home, not yours.

Some people will tell you one of their fondest memories of Santa Fe tubing is time spent with Naked Ed in Lilly Springs. Ed is a local character who may be short on clothing but is full of stories. He will tell you that he has entertained boy scouts and religious groups while wearing nothing but his trademark loincloth.

When you go down the Santa Fe, you will notice that there is not a restaurant or a convenience store around every curve. You should probably plan on taking supplies with you. Area officials will let you know what provisions are acceptable to stow on your inner tube. Never litter. Be very careful to avoid leaving your footprint in the form of trash.

Tubing is so much fun, and this is a beautiful part of the country. Hopefully it will be preserved so that many future generations will be able to enjoy it as much as you did.




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