$13 / $8 / free
Florida's famous spring with live underwater mermaid shows, wildlife programs, and the Buccaneer Bay water park (seasonal). Kids 5 & under free.
Hernando is the heart of Florida's Nature Coast. Paddle the crystal-clear Weeki Wachee River, swim in spring-fed parks, hike and bike miles of trails, fish or scallop the Gulf, and spot manatees, birds and more. Here's the best of the outdoors.
Outdoor Activities in Hernando County
51Included
World-famous underwater performances in a 400-seat submerged theater; included with park admission.
Included
Florida's only spring-fed water park — slides, lazy river, and a sandy beach. Slides run spring–summer.
$35 kayak / $51 tandem
Rent a kayak, canoe, or SUP and paddle the crystal spring river; life jacket and shuttle included.
From $49.50
Guided clear-bottom kayak tours on the Weeki Wachee River; manatee-season and LED sunset paddles too.
Parking $5/day
The county's main Gulf swimming beach — lagoon, playground, and picnic pavilions.
Parking $10/day
Swim in the Weeki Wachee River with a boat ramp and picnic areas.
Parking $10/day
Waterfront park at the mouth of the Weeki Wachee River — boat ramp, fishing pier, kayak launch.
Parking $5/day
A 45-ft observation tower, playground, kayak launch, and coastal trails — a birding and sunset favorite.
Fishing from ~$275
Licensed captains run inshore, offshore, and summer scallop trips (season July 1–Sept 24, 2026). Hernando Beach & Bayport are the hubs.
Parking $5/day
11,000 acres of trails and striking blue former-quarry lakes for hiking, biking, and hand-launch paddling.
One of Florida's longest paved rail-trails (~46 mi) for biking, walking, and skating.
A paved rail-trail running east from the historic 1885 depot — a great family bike ride.
Day-use ~$2
157,000 acres for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, and off-road riding at the Croom Motorcycle Area.
Free (donations)
Volunteer-run themed gardens with butterfly and rose beds, ponds, and a gazebo. Open daily dawn–dusk.
A nature center with trails, guided walks, wildlife programs, and a monthly 3D archery shoot (first Saturdays).
~$12–$14
An organic farm with a fall corn maze and pumpkin patch (Oct) and a spring sunflower maze.
~$14–$16
U-pick sunflowers (May), a fall festival (Oct), Christmas lights (Dec), and a petting farm.
Pay per pumpkin
Family fall festivals and u-pick pumpkin fields in October.
Seasonal u-pick blueberry and berry farms in spring (~April–May).
Trees from $42
A choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm (late Nov–Dec) with cider, candy canes, and photos.
Free (park fees may apply)
Free guided birding walks across the county's preserves and parks (roughly monthly, fall–spring).
Free entry
UF/IFAS Master Gardener plant sales and monthly Florida Native Plant Society programs.
Beach Bash at Buccaneer Bay
$8 / $6
An after-hours beach party at the spring-fed water park.
Wild n' Wicked Nights
~$12/person
The park's Halloween event — haunted attractions, an underwater mermaid show, and a spooky boat ride.
Fall Festivals & Pumpkin Patches
~$12–$16
Corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkins at Sweetfields, HarvestMoon, and Beasley Farms.
Turkey Paddle
$30
A festive morning kayak paddle on the spring run after Thanksgiving.
Welcome Back Songbirds Festival
Free
A spring-migration festival with guided bird walks, talks, and kids' activities.
Spooky Spectacular
Free / low cost
A family-friendly, nature-themed Halloween event on the conservation grounds.
Nature Coast Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale
Free admission
A spring sale with plants, produce, and garden goods.
Earth Day Celebration at WellCome OM
Free / donation
An environmental-awareness Earth Day event.
Florida Agriculture & Wildlife Expo
Varies
A regional farming, wildlife, and natural-resources showcase.
National Public Lands Day at Weeki Wachee
Free
A volunteer day — invasive removal, native replanting, and river cleanup.
Sisters of the Moon — Witches Paddle
See organizer
An annual witches-themed kayak paddle on the spring run.
First Day Hike at Weeki Wachee
Free (park admission may apply)
A guided New Year's Day behind-the-scenes trail walk.
Brooksville Christmas Bird Count
Free
An annual citizen-science bird census with Hernando Audubon.
$45–$70/night
A 49-acre RV park and fish camp with a catch-and-release catfish pond, canoe/kayak rentals and nature trails.
From $199/week (55+)
An upscale 55+ RV resort — full-hookup concrete sites, heated pool, hot tub, fitness center and pickleball.
Price varies
A gated RV park with 66 paved sites, a geothermal heated pool, Sparkman Lake fishing, shuffleboard and a rec hall.
Price varies (call for rates)
A value-focused RV park with clean sites, showers and a community garden, minutes from Weeki Wachee Springs.
Free
A 20-acre neighborhood park — basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, shuffleboard, bocce, horseshoes, playgrounds and a half-mile lighted walking trail.
A 113-acre youth sports park with baseball/softball and soccer fields, basketball courts, a playground, picnic shelters and grills.
An 18,720 sq-ft skate park with ramps, obstacles and half-pipes, plus a basketball court, playground, horseshoe pits and pavilions.
A 21.5-acre park with multipurpose fields, a ball field, playground and tot lot, and a half-mile lighted exercise trail with fitness stations.
The county's first dog park — three fenced runs for large, small and service dogs, plus picnic shelters, a pavilion and restrooms.
A riverside park on the Withlacoochee River with a boat ramp, canoe/kayak launch, basketball, picnic tables and a shelter. Open 24/7.
Free
A City of Brooksville park with a paved trail around a pond (a National Recreation Trail), a splash pad, playground, ball diamond, volleyball and pavilions.
Free drop-in open-court basketball and pickleball at the Jerome Brown Community Center — plus a first-responder open-court night on Wednesdays.
Free / low-cost
A City of Brooksville senior program (55+) — aerobics, resistance-band training and fun athletic games at the Jerome Brown Community Center.
Free family open gym with games and crafts, plus a monthly toddler sensory playdate, at the Jerome Brown Community Center.
Low-cost (call 352-754-4031)
Low-cost Hernando County recreation classes at Delta Woods Park and the Lake House — Taekwondo, belly dance and youth cheerleading.
Keep exploring
Thinking About Buying or Selling in Hernando County?
I built this guide to help neighbors and newcomers fall in love with the area. When it's time to make a move, I'd be honored to help you or anyone you refer.
Keith Rainville
REALTOR® · Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners
keithrainville.com