This is way out in the country. Not far off interstate 75 mere Lake City To. You can float down the river and have a cookout or picnic after or in the middle. There are trams to take you back to midway point and a bus to the beginning. Beautiful clear water and lots of springs no homes along your float. You may see otters or other nature. Ive been many times and never seen a gator. It fills up fast at the very beginning as they only let so many down from the head. But you can always go in at the midway point and float for a couple hours and thenget out and take the tram back. Ive been going since a kid and I'm from Florida and have never seen a alligator there thou signs are posted. Its been my experience that gators tend to stay out of the cold springs.