Lewis and Clark were both hobbled during their great expedition—Clark from resentment at his second billing and Lewis from a Lego slipped into his hiking boot by Clark. Enjoy noncompetitive nature excursions with today's Groupon: for $37, you get an annual family pass to Otter Springs Park & Campground in Trenton. The family pass is valid for up to five visitors.
While exploring Otter Springs Park & Campground's 600 acres of forest and shade-dappled trails, guests reflect on the magnitude of the natural Otter Springs, where crystalline waters maintain an average temperature of 73 degrees. Visitors can submerge themselves in the warm waters, floating lazily down the serpentine stream that feeds into the impressive Suwannee River as they page through translation dictionaries to decipher the delicate babbling. Commune with up to four other friends and family members at the picnic area or nestle into a comfy chair at the indoor recreation area’s book exchange and foosball tables. Yearlong guests can watch the scenery shift with the seasons or take advantage of the food-preparation counters at the screened picnic house.
Otter Springs Park & Campground
Clear water trickles through the stream at Otter Springs Park & Campground, sourced from the naturally formed Otter Springs that flows at an average temperature of 72 degrees. The cool, clear water continues to flow into the nearby Suwannee River, which fills with canoes and kayaks when conditions are favorable. Many of those explorers make their basecamp on the park’s 636-acre property, where tent campsites provide outdoor respite and more than 100 RV sites supply electricity, water, and sewer systems. The campground also houses air-conditioned cabins equipped with kitchens, bathrooms, and private front porches with rocking chairs for enjoying a cool evening or rocking a cranky parent to sleep. No matter their lodging, campers can stage feasts at a picnic area, clean up at bath and shower facilities, and decamp to a lodge with a dance floor that can accommodate 150 to 200 guests for events such as weddings, retreats, and family reunions. Conveniently located near restaurants, groceries, and convenience stores, Otter Springs Park & Campground is a short drive away from Gainesville’s thriving collegiate atmosphere.