Day Trippin' to Green Cove Springs, Florida

As part of our get out and explore summer, we visited Green Cove Springs, Fl. which is just a short drive from Jacksonville.

Over 7,000 years ago natives first inhabited the area after being drawn by the warm mineral springs.

Green Cove Springs is named after the portion of the St. Johns River where it is built. The river bends here, and the area is sheltered by trees that are perennially green.  It's mother natures way of giving visitors a wonderful respite from the summers heat.

I love the mini dips of the rolling green lawn.  The Jacksonville area is pretty much as flat as a pancake, with the exception of a few spots.

Doesn't this little bridge have the cutest iron work.

I love spotting sweet little gems like this when I'm out sightseeing.

You can see their city sign represents the spring, river and greenery it's famous for.

Don't you love the old Spanish architecture of the Old City Hall.

The mix of the victorian architecture and spanish moss draping the old oaks leaves a haunting impression.  

The hydrological spring,  locally know as the "original Fountain of Youth", attracted guests in the 19th century.  At the time more than a dozen hotels sprang up near the spring.

Today the sulfur-scented spring water feeds an adjacent public swimming pool.

I still remember taking a Sunday drive with daddy when I was very little girl and visiting the park.  Well it could have been a Saturday but that's what dad liked to call those drives. I never forgot the sight of the big pool or how daddy explained it spring fed waters.  It's funny how those little moments of time stay with us all our lives.  I treasure them.

It's hard to see how deep it is because the crystal clear water clearly shows the beautiful green trees and blue skies in its reflection.

The spring water leaves the pool and travels pass bald cypress knees a short distance to the St. Johns River.

The photo above is the little stream of spring water that flows to the St. Johns River.  I love all the greenery of the banana trees surrounding it.  Just looking at this photo cools me off by 10 degrees.

Source: http://www.greencovesprings.com/departments/city_pier.php

The city pier is the perfect place to pull up to and take a break.  I mean really, who wouldn't enjoy this view.

The Pier provides a centrally located covered pavilion and 12 floating finger boat slips which allows visitors to dock for very affordable prices:

• 0-6 hours of dockage with electricity and water....$5.00
• Over 6 hours with electricity and water $10.00
• Overnight with electricity and water......................$20.00

All-in-all, it was another nice day in the south.  If you're ever in my neck of the woods be sure to visit Green Cove Springs and stay awhile.

Where have you been lately?  Maybe you enjoyed something fun or pretty right in your own neighborhood.  I'd love to hear about it.  I hope you'll share some comment love with me.  

Hugs Y'all...

P.S.  Don't forget to stop by and enter my $100 Hapari Swimsuit giveaway here.

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:8