I visited this spring about five years ago, right after moving to central Florida. I don't remember how I found out about it, but when my grandparents came to visit, this sounded like a place they would enjoy. Fast forward to now, I jumped at the chance to visit again with a fellow group of SUP (stand-up paddleboard) people. De Leon Springs is home to the Old Spanish Sugar Mill. A breakfast restaurant where you eat in an old sugar mill while making pancakes on your table griddle.
When I first visited this spring, the main attraction that got us was the Old Spanish Sugar Mill. It is very popular, so plan for a wait time. Use that time to enjoy swimming in the spring head, which is right by the mill. There is also a hiking trail and a quick paved walking trail, opposite side from mill you can do.
Once inside the restaurant, you will be sat at a table with a griddle. There are two pitchers of batter you will receive for your pancake making. The red one is a normal batter and the blue one is a buckwheat batter. If you order eggs, they will bring you however many you want, and you can cook them how you want on the griddle, as well. Any breakfast meats you order, like sausage and bacon, will come to the table cooked. Usually, you don't want to cook your food when you go out to eat. But it's such a fun experience that creates a memory of simple times and pleasures while enjoying the ambiance of the old mill.
Next to the mill is a little snack stand for those that want a hot dog, or the restaurant has stopped serving at 2 p.m. Here you can purchase tickets for the boat tour. It is an open-air top-covered boat, that glides the Spring Garden Creek from De Leon Spring to Lake Woodruff. My grandparents had their little Yorkie with them, and they were allowed to bring her with us on the boat tour. I would still check with staff before doing so. You will board the boat on the opposite side of the park. Tour is about 50 min long.
Over by the boat ramp is a little museum about De Leon Springs and the Fountain of Youth. There is also a tidbit about Sunshine Sally, a water-skiing elephant once a part of the resort team.
There are also restrooms in that building.
So when I visited the spring recently, it was with a group of fellow SUP people. We parked and set up to drop in on the side of the park with a boat ramp. Our goal was to paddle from the spring head to Lake Woodruff.
We dropped in at 9:30 a.m. and in December. Florida doesn't know how to snow or be cold, so she creates mysterious fog.
But halfway down the river, everything cleared, and the sun came out.
As you weave and wind the river, depending on the weather, you will get sections where the wind will hit you. We began to feel the effects of the wind as we got closer to the lake.
The whole paddle was about 8.5 miles there and back! Felt like quite a champion!
After the paddle, we headed to the sugar mill to refuel up with a good hearty breakfast!
Breakfast at the Sugar Mill might be the main attraction, but be sure the check out the water and nature. Come for the pancakes, but stay for the water!
Check the springs off your adventure bucket list using the Florida Springs Passport!
Your fun interactive booklet, where you can see what spring adventures you've completed and which ones to look forward to!
Visit floridaspringspassport.com to get yours!
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