We want to tell stories. These stories will be about adventures our family have enjoyed, and our hope is that it will encourage your family to go on a similar adventure (though all adventures are different). These stories will include a list of what you might need, a review, and some of our favorite parts of a hike, park, playground, or any adventure. With that, welcome to the Florida Series. This will be a two part series highlighting two parks we visited during trips to Florida, and if your family is headed towards the beach this summer, maybe you can have an adventure at one of these parks.
First up is Silver Springs State Park located just east of Ocala and easily accessed from I-75. This is a great stop to stretch your legs on a long drive; spend a few hours exploring the park; or even a weekend trip before school starts.
Florida Alligator
Here’s what you might need at Silver Springs:
- Wildlife spotting eyes, especially for monkeys and alligators
- Walking shoes
- Clothes that can get wet
- Picnic
Silver Springs has been a destination since the 1870s, and it has been an adventure for us multiple times during our trips to Florida. I am always in awe of the crystal clear spring waters feeding the Silver River, which leads me to the first and most famous attractions – the Glass Bottom Boats. With multiple options, maybe it’s best for your family to take a tour on the glass bottomed boats where you can get a unique view of wildlife, historical artifacts, and remnants of old movie and TV shows. On our most recent visit to the springs, we opted for a two hour kayak paddle (they offer 1-hr, 2-hrs, and full day water sport rentals), and four year old Kara loved this adventure. We loved the opportunity to get up close to turtles, birds, and even a few alligators sunning on logs.
Along with water sports, the hiking is great at the park. If you’re just looking to stretch your legs, I recommend the Ross Allen Loop. This is a short walk along a boardwalk that offers great views of the river and leads you onto Ross Allen Island.
Fun fact: Rhesus Macaque monkeys have called Silver Springs home since the 1930s, and be warned, they inhabit the island. Keep your eyes out for monkeys, and they are known to throw poop. We’ve yet to see monkeys, but maybe your family will. The park offers other trails that offer stunning views of the river and even more opportunities to see wildlife. The trails are flat and easy for kids with little legs to navigate.
There’s so much more to discover at Silver Springs.
Our favorite parts:
- Turtles
- The frog slide (see if you can find it)
- The crystal clear water. It still blows my mind.
- Looking for monkeys
Be Kind. Be Bold. Be Thankful.
