Florida springs are a real outdoors door

Springs are one of Florida’s clearest reminders that the pretty water and the drinking water are connected.

Florida has more large springs than any other state. Springs are windows into groundwater, which is the water under the ground. Most Floridians drink water that comes from groundwater.

That gives springs their mix of beauty and responsibility. A spring can be a swimming hole, a paddling launch, a family picnic, and a local water lesson all at once. Clear water is the draw, but the setting around it matters, too.

Before a trip, check the park or spring page for capacity, closures, swimming rules, and paddling access. Those details can change the day without changing the appeal.

Before a home decision near a spring or spring run, check the county and the water-management source tied to that address. Septic, fertilizer, drainage, and water-quality questions are easier to understand when you start with the local map.