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Travel Diaries: Blue Springs State Park

We saw alligators, manatees, and birds... OH MY!

Katie McKinnies

Apr 12, 2016

College of Coastal Georgia

Katelyn McKinnies

For all you Florida/southeastern people, here’s a new affordable weekend adventure for you. Blue Springs State Park is full of neat experiences. My roommate, Sarah, and I started our morning by waking up at 4:45. We pre-planned/packed the night before. Therefore, we were on the road by 5 o’clock. It took us about 2 and a half hours to get there from South Georgia. We kept each other company and surely were woken up by the bikers that were in Daytona for bike week! We arrived at the park by 8 a.m. which is when it opens (Make sure to get there early to avoid long lines). The park entry fee is $6. We started out by walking the little bridges and saw a couple manatees but we wanted to get a closer look.

They offer kayaks, canoes, snorkeling, tubing, and river cruises. As college students, of course we went for the cheapest option which was the canoe. It was $12 total for us to fit two into a canoe. I saw a sign that said, “WARNING: ALLIGATORS no swimming permitted”. Pshh I know I signed a release form, but there’s no way. It’s a joke, right? Surely, it was not. Within 10 minutes of being out on the open water, a huge alligator twice the size of me was hanging out on the other side of the river. Sarah goes, “let’s get closer so I can get a good picture”… well guess which one of us was in the front of the canoe and would be eaten first? ME! Along out path we saw a few other ones that kind of freaked me out more and more but it was awesome to see them in their natural habitat up close.

Next, we saw manatees! They loved to rub themselves under the canoe and I was waiting for one of them to flip us into the water. There were tons of Lilly pads, water to roam, birds, and other creatures. After returning our canoe, we had a picnic on one of their tables. It was definitely a full on nature experience and only $18 plus gas as a total for both of us. How awesome is that?

I hope y’all get to experience this amazing place for yourself one day! Let me know if you do and tell me your favorite part.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Travel Diaries: Blue Springs State Park

We saw alligators, manatees, and birds... OH MY!

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

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11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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