Florida Guide > Other Florida
Silver Springs
If you fancy visiting a different sort of attraction, away form the hustle and bustle of the theme parks - why not try Silver Springs, a natural park covering many acres around the Silver River. This makes for an excellent day out and will be an experience quite different from anything else you will usually do in Orlando.
Take the route north from Orlando to Ocala - Silver Springs is about one and half hours' drive. There is plenty of free parking right ourside the park entrance.
The entrance fee is about half of those other well known Orlando parks!
Silver Springs is famed for its glass bottomed boats and there are various boat trips down the Silver River. The view of the many natural springs through the glass are awesome! You can also see the many fish, turtles and other sea creatures that inhabit these waters.
The area was originally an Indian Reservation and one of the boat trip visits the reconstruction of the Indian village as it would have looked in the mid 1800s. It is fascinating to imagine the life there over 150 years ago, right there on the river bank.
Whilst travelling down the river keep your eyes peeled for the colonies of monkeys that live on the riverbank amongst the thick foliage and trees.
The terrain around the park is very much like a jungle - so it is no surprise to discover that the Tarzan films, starring Johnny Weismuller were made there. There is an indoor exhibition of the various film stars who have been on location there and over the years many other films and television programmes have also used the Silver Springs natural park as their location.
The park also has a zoo with various animals ranging form the larger animals such as elephants and giraffes down to the smaller ones to be found in the children's petting zoo. There are also snakes and reptiles. From this area, take the jeep ride out into the natural terrain similar to the African habitat where you will find all sorts of safari animals grazing freely.
Wander back past the various shops and eateries where you can buy a momento of your day out or stop for a coffee, ice-cream or maybe a more substantial meal.
Altogether Silver Springs is a wonderful day out. It is an attraction which is still little known to the tourists and there is hardly a British accent to be heard.
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