The Wandering Walkers

There’s nothing quite like packing up the car, heading into the heart of Florida, and spending a few days completely surrounded by nature — and that’s exactly what we just did!

Last week, we packed up our gear and headed out for a midweek camping adventure at Kelly Park in Apopka — and let me tell you, it was every bit as magical as we hoped it would be!

Kelly Park is home to one of the most beautiful, crystal-clear springs in Florida that offers a natural lazy river and nature trails.

Floating down the springs was like drifting through a dream — cool, sparkling water, lush greenery all around, and wildlife everywhere you looked. We saw fish darting beneath us and birds along the waters edge as well as a few deer.

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon and quickly set up our camp. Our tent is one of my favorite pieces of gear — it goes up in just 1 minute! It makes setting up so stress-free and gives us more time to enjoy being outside.

Right after we set up camp, we immediately noticed something — a tick crawling on our tent! It was a little unsettling, and as we looked around, we quickly spotted signs all over the campground warning about ticks and urging visitors to use bug spray. (This was definitely not mentioned on the Kelly Park website, so if you’re planning a trip, make sure you bring strong bug spray and use it consistently!) Luckily, we had some with us and stayed cautious the entire trip — no unwanted hitchhikers!

After setting up camp, we decided to explore our surroundings. Kelly Park is directly attached to the campground, which made it super convenient to walk down and check out the spring.

It wasn’t very busy, which was awesome — just a few families here and there.

The water was crystal-clear and icy cold, as all Florida springs are, staying between 68–72°F year-round. In the summer heat, it feels absolutely incredible! Phoenix and I slowly worked our way into the chilly water, inch by inch, finally dunking ourselves with lots of laughter. C.J. was a little more hesitant — he came in briefly but never fully submerged. We played and floated for a while before deciding to head back so Phoenix could hit the playground for a bit.

Back at camp, we grabbed some food and relaxed while waiting for our friends to arrive. Phoenix had a blast playing in the tent — it’s like his little home away from home.

After resting, we decided to walk back to the spring, this time heading all the way to the spring head. On our way, we noticed the crowds had completely cleared out.

Pro Tip: If you’re camping at Kelly Park, you get access to the springs until 7 PM, even though the park entrance closes at 5 PM.

This meant we pretty much had the entire spring to ourselves — such a rare treat!

When we reached the spring head, the only people there were our friends – perfect timing! We grabbed a spot on the rocks to hang out while our friends and Phoenix snorkeled, floated, and played in the water. Eventually, the fun was too much to resist, and I jumped in too!

Swimming in that clear, cool water with fish all around us was truly magical. As the sun began to lower, we floated back down the spring toward the parking area while Sarah and C.J. walked alongside carrying our supplies. Yay teamwork!

As we drifted around a bend in the water, I spotted the most enchanting sight — a wide, green meadow opened up along the spring’s edge, and standing right there in the water was a beautiful doe and her two fawns.

It was like stepping straight into a fairytale. I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes. That moment alone made the entire trip worth it — that’s why you camp at Kelly Park.

After we made it back to camp, it was time to whip up some dinner. Because of a burn ban in the area, we couldn’t have a campfire, so we improvised and made “campfire” nachos on the grill instead. Our friends joined us, and we sat around the soft glow of the lanterns, swapping stories, fending off raccoons, laughing, and loading up on delicious nachos.

It was the perfect first day of camping — full of adventure, magical moments, and wonderful company.

Stay tuned for part two, where we paddleboarded King’s Landing, celebrated Sarah’s birthday on the water, and had a blast playing a new survival game, Ravine, at camp!