Once in a while a gator will attack and kill a swimmer. Last year this happened in the Ocala NF. I have also seen people do stupid things. On the walkways at Royal Palm (Everglades NP) I have seen people ignore gators sunning on them. They would step over and straddle them to have a photo made.... Not a good idea, they are faster than one would realize. Sometimes people forget they are in fact wild animals.

I was at Disney's Blizzard Beach a few years ago. My son enjoyed the thrill rides/ slides and I loved their long lazy river. :-)

Wow you all, thank you Birder and OO for the gator advice. I am also a big chicken as far as this stuff goes. I have heard that alligators move a lot faster than they look.

Don't let the gators get you down. More people get attacked by sharks.

Did we mention fireants? :D

You guys have been very helpful, I really want to thank NeoPatrick for his excellent advice. I don't think I am going to go, and I know I would not take my grandchildren someplace with gator in the water.....going to Melbourne too, but am not going in the ocean either because what might be in that water. Will look further on the theme park web sites for "Lazy Rivers".

Wow, I have to say that if you are never going to take your grandchildren someplace that they might be in danger, I certainly hope you never drive them around in a car. That's by far more dangerous than floating down a river in Florida or swimming in the ocean. In fact, the safest thing is probably just to stay at home. I know this sounds sarcastic but I just find your response very surprising and sort of sad.

Please let your grandchild and his/her parent know that you plan to go to an oceanfront hotel in Florida and do not plan to allow the child to get into the ocean.

If I were the parent, that is information I would want to have before I decide whether or not I would want my child to travel cross country. I don't think I would want to set my child up for that kind of disappointment. If I were the child, I think I would opt to stay home and play with friends or go to camp than make a long trip to the ocean with a grandparent and not be able to go in the ocean.

Manmade water parks are not by default "safer" than natural water.

Birder and Starrsville. First of all I find your remarkds off hand. My duaghter (mother of my grandchildren) will be driving the car, I will not. My grandchildren do not like the ocean (we have pools at each hotel we are staying at - which is what THEY want.

How can you assume that we do not know how to live because we do not share your interest? What makes you think that everyone wants to go into the ocean?

So before you post any sarcastic tremarks think a little first.

AND, I would never take my grandchilden anyplace they might be in danger. I happen to love my grandchildren very much and ask any grandparent about that!!

We all grow up 20 miles north of NY city and have river and ocean access we do not have to go to Florida for that

I can't speak for Birder but I am surprised that someone would consider the ocean "unsafe" and would consider a manmade water park "safer".

My thoughts regarding making a cross country trip with a child comes from personal experience. My input was not sarcastic. If this is something the parent agrees with, than my point is made. The parent has a hand in making the decision. My recommendation was that you not drive for hours with a child to an oceanfront hotel and not allow the child in the water unless the parent is advised of that beforehand. There is nothing sarcastic in that. My guess is that your grown daughter is in agreement because she was raised to believe that the ocean was dangerous. Still, you are adults and can make that decision for yourselves and the child. I still believe its a bum deal for the child, but that is your decision to make on behalf of a minor. I also think it is a shame that you won't consider a canoe trip on a true lazy Florida river, but again, you as the adult have every right to make that decision. I hope the child at some time is able to experience play in an ocean and time on the water on a "real" river - otherwise the bias against nature will continue through subsequent generations.

Starrsville wasn't being snarky. She was just giving you a heads up that you are setting yourself up for some pretty upset and miserable grandkids by taking them to the beach and not allowing them in the ocean.

I agree because YOUR grandchildren will see tons of kids their own age at the beach. Not at the pool.

Kids LOVE the beach. It is a giant sand bucket.

Do people read what the question is that they are replying to? I said that I was not going to go in the water in a river that had gators in it. I said nothing about a canoe trip. We go to the ocean and the Hudson River (where I live? all the time. The kids like playing in the sand, they do not enjoy the Ocean water and the waves knocking them down.

HOw would anyone know what my grandchildren would or would not like doing. We are going to Melbourne to go to the Space center (which they want to do)

Please if you ever post a reply to a question I ask I would appreciate you sticking to the question at hand and do not give your opinion about what my grand children will be better off doing.

The last time we went to the Ocean in New Jersey they stayed about 20 minutes and wanted to go back to the pool.

So now you know that my daughter approves of what her children will and will not do. They are 8 and 11 years old and they let their opinions be known.

The question I originally asked was about a "Lazy River" that was not part of a hotel. Not asking you if my grandchildren would be happy.

I hope the rest of the readers do not think I am being fresh but you do not attack me because I will not bring my grandchildren into a situation that might be dangerous. I would not be a good grandparent if i did.

If you had said, "I spoke with my daughter and her children, and they are not interested in a real lazy river float, and they don't want to go into the ocean," then no one would have said anything.

But that's not what you said. You said you didn't want to do a "real" lazy river float because there might be gators and you were not going into the ocean because of what might be in the water.

That's why people are responding the way they are.

"I hope the rest of the readers do not think I am being fresh but you do not attack me because I will not bring my grandchildren into a situation that might be dangerous"

Water parks can be dangerous. Fatal, in fact.

We are responding to YOUR comments.

"... going to Melbourne too, but am not going in the ocean either because what might be in that water"

Here's my question - What do you think may be in that water? Why do you think water park water will be safer?

Another question - Are you saying that my family members who enjoying canoeing Wekiva and swimming in the water hole are exposing their children to a "dangerous" situation? I think, if I read your words correctly, you are saying they are not being good parents and grandparents by doing so.

First of all my original question was a laxy river like at Discovery Cove, which is where you get into the river and snorkle. I am not going to get in water that might or might not have gators - I think it is dangerous and foolish.

I did not know that I had to let you know that I spoke with my daughter...blah, blah, blah.

I do not see people posting these kinds of answers or explanations in other posts.

All I did was ask a simple question and it turning into a spitting match

granniem, several folks suggested options for manmade lazy river options (including me).

Several folks responded to the title of your post "Lazy River in Florida" (including me).

Several people have thanked posters like me, pollyw, NorCalif and birder when we've let them know about natural options that aren't manmade attractions. They had not known they existed and those trips have been the highlights of their (and children's and grandchildren's) trips to Florida.

I'm sincerely wondering what you think will be in the ocean water. Do know it won't be gators.

Starrsville, I appreciate your giving me options about a Lazy river, I objected to your opinions about what my grandchildren would and would not be disappointed about, and what their parents would think about my bringing the kids to the well and not letting them drink. That is an opinion I did not ask for and do not appreciate.

granniem, you are all over the place.
I hope you and your family have a nice trip to Florida.

I feel sorry for the grandchildren....

I wish you people would stick to the subject. I have no opinion in what other people do with their children. I would appreciate you bringing them into this, because you do not know what you are talking about.

I just know that I do not want to go in a Florida river or the Ocean. End of subject PLEASE!