If you're heading to or near Williston, Florida then you're in for a treat. This small Florida town is packed with beauty. With breathtaking springs, snorkeling, paddle boarding, botanical gardens, ice cream, coffee, Airbnbs, and even an a unique air plant shop, you won't be short on entertainment or amazement.
I recently spent 36 hours in Williston, Florida with my husband, and below are the nine things we did and recommend. Get ready to plan your next weekend getaway!
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Things to Do in Williston, Florida
Devil's Den Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
First up was our most anticipated stop and what Williston, Florida is most known for; Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring.
Florida natural springs produce crystal clear water that stays 72 degrees all year, and this underground spring is no different. You can swim, snorkel, or dive in a truly bucket list worthy setting. The park also offers a campsite for those wanting to make a full stay out of the experience.
This spring is over 50 feet deep, so keep that in mind when planning your adventure. While there is a platform you can stand on if you need a break, the ability to swim is essential as life vests are not allowed.
Reservations are required and fill up quickly, so plan and book ahead here! A mask, snorkel, and fins are required to be worn at all times in the spring, and you can bring your own or rent them at check in.
There really is nothing quite like this experience, and while it can be a bit anxiety inducing to walk down into the cave and snorkel in dark spots, it is absolutely worth it to experience at least once!
Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens
Did you know that Florida has waterfalls? Because I sure didn't! Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens is a breathtaking botanical garden that houses waterfalls, koi ponds, and stunning plants and wildlife.
Reservations are not required and dogs are allowed! Our pups absolutely loved the 1 mile walk around the property trails, and so did we. This is a worthwhile stop that I recommend to anyone staying in or passing through Williston, Florida!
The Onyx Oasis
A great place to stay always makes a trip even better! We stayed at The Onyx Oasis in Williston, Florida and loved it. The property is cute and cozy with a large piece of land and lots to do, and it is pet friendly!
The house includes two bedrooms and a pullout couch in the living room, which gives room to host up to 6 people. The spacious yard includes a fire pit, grill, swings, tons of seating, and lots of yard games. It was a great place to relax between our many fun excursions and is located within minutes of most of them!
Flamingo Freeze Ice Cream Shop
What's a trip without ice cream?! We are always scoping out the nearest ice cream shop during our travels, and Flamingo Freeze did not disappoint. Not only was their ice cream fantastic, but the shop is adorable and even includes games for kids and adults.
Sad Donkey Coffee
Local coffee shops are another thing we always check out while visiting new places. We came across Sad Donkey Coffee, and it was an adorable little spot! It is housed in a tiny home surrounded by a small community of other tiny homes. The decor is cozy, the staff is pleasant, and the menu is great. I'm glad we made the stop!
Rainbow Springs
One thing about the Florida springs is that they tend to reach capacity quickly, especially during weekends and summer. Because of this I always strive to arrive right when they open, but we had Devil's Den reservations from 8-9:30am and planned to head to Rainbow Springs after that.
Unfortunately, by the time we arrived to Rainbow Springs they had already reached max capacity for the day. If you want to visit both Devil's Den and Rainbow Springs I highly recommend having two free mornings during your trip so that you can attend one each morning. Although Devil's Den does run on reservations, I still recommend to take their earliest spot due to cooler temperatures and less crowding overall.
If you do visit Rainbow Springs, they offer swimming, snorkeling, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding! You can rent equipment for your own use or take a guided tour. The Florida springs are absolutely stunning, and although I have yet to visit Rainbow Springs I have visited many others and highly recommend the incredible experience.
Silver Springs State Park
Though we did not visit Silver Springs State Park during this trip, we have visited countless times before! It is within a 45 minute drive of Williston, Florida and a truly remarkable experience.
Silver Spring State Park houses the Silver River, which is my absolute favorite place to paddle board. It is located within the protected Ocala National Forrest making it an incredible place to see spectacular wildlife. You can rent paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes and take a guided tour if you choose, but you cannot tube or swim there due to preservation laws.
KP Hole Park
When we found Rainbow Springs to be at max capacity we headed towards KP Hole Park. Unfortunately, it was also at max capacity for the day. It is located on the Rainbow River not far from Rainbow Springs, and it is another place to swim, snorkel, tube, kayak, canoe, and paddle board. You can book water tours here as well!
Paradise Air Plants
With all of the water activities at max capacity for the day we set out on another adventure because there was still more to explore! We came across Paradise Air Plants, and it was an impressive experience.
The shop housed a large amount of garden decor and pots, but the true star of the show was their stunning air plant garden housed in a huge greenhouse behind their building. It was remarkable, and I'm so glad we stopped in!