My parents were reminiscing about when they were middle school aged and came here for field trips. I was surprised to find out that Silver Springs State Park and the glass bottom boat tours have been around for that long! It was about a 1.5 hour ride from Orlando. Woke up real early on a Saturday (on honestly one of the coldest days of the year) to arrive at the park around 8am. I highly suggest purchasing glass bottom boat tour tickets online about a week in advance atleast since time slots fill up! We purchased the 1.5 hour tour on the boats. Our tour guide was incredible and shared so much knowledge and facts about the wildlife and park. I got to see tons of manatees! Plus getting to see gators, turtles, birds, and even monkeys! The glass bottom gives such a cool perspective on viewing the wildlife and plants underwater. Aside from the tour, we walked several trails to enjoy the great outdoors. Also, we had coffee in the morning when we first got here and lunch after the tour. The food was pretty good and filling. At the gift shop I made sure to leave with a magnet and Christmas ornament to remember such a great day here. read more

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What a breathtaking location! From the parking lot, it doesn't look like much. They are redoing the entrance sign, and from the outside, it seems like the place might be pretty rundown. However, once you walk through, you are quickly transported. The entrance to the park is only two dollars per person, and honestly, in my opinion, they could charge just a little bit more. The glass-bottom boat tours run faster than you might expect, so if you have the time (which we didn't during our visit), opt for the longer boat ride; it doesn't cost much more. They also have little shops to explore and plenty of outdoor seating so you can take in the beautiful surroundings. If you're a water lover, make sure to plan ahead and reserve a crystal-clear kayak or paddleboard to enjoy the water--it'll be worth every penny. The only hiccup in our plan was that we booked everything on the day of our visit, so we ended up with a shorter tour on the glass-bottom boats and got locked into the last kayaking time slot. The woman at the reservation desk for the kayaks was not very pleasant. She told us that despite showing a 5 o'clock slot, they were no longer taking reservations. I showed her the option on my phone, but she still refused to let us sign waivers. Luckily, we found the manager in charge of the rental hut, who advised that we could still make our reservation online. I showed him on my phone, and although we'd have to pay full price and probably have less than an hour, that was perfectly fine with us since we were in the last slot. The lake was practically empty, so we had the entire waterway to ourselves--so beautiful and peaceful. Honestly, it felt like we were in another country, surrounded by nature. If you don't have the chance to kayak, there's also a walking path where you can see monkeys left behind from one of the movies that was filmed on location. We walked part of the path, and it was just as beautiful. Any chance my kids and I get to be outside in nature, we gravitate towards it, putting away our phones to enjoy everything around us. What a great way to spend your day and your vacation! read more

Silver Springs State Park - Beautiful. - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

Park entry fee Paddle fee - byob - bring your own board Enjoy the 5 mile float, or 5 mile push, depending on the wind down a beautiful, redeem waterway, the silver spring river.Gentle Giants our manatees, prehistoric dinosaurs, monkeys, and every bird you can imagine living harmoniously in our states beautiful park Safe Florida Say no to building Protect this land Visit Silver Springs State Park read more

Silver Springs State Park - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

Silver Springs State Park is historically significant as Florida's first major tourist attraction, showcasing a rich cultural heritage that spans thousands of years, from early Native American settlements to modern tourism. It has been featured in numerous films & television shows, including Creature from the Black Lagoon. Today, the park continues to be a vital ecological & historical site, emphasizing kayaking, glass bottom boat rides, hiking & canoeing. The water's temperature never goes above a crisp, refreshing 72° & through that crystal clear water, Joyce, our gallant boat Captain, pointed out entire ecosystems thriving below...aquatic plants, gorgeous rock formations & wildlife like Manatees, Turtles, Blue Tilapia, Gar Fish & Alligators. Whatever floats your boat!!! read more

Silver Springs State Park - The real Florida. - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

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Beautiful State Park with lots of shade and places to sit and enjoy nature. There is a Cafe, a bar and a snack shop. Took a glass bottom boat ride with my family up the river and saw turtles, gators, fish and birds. The Captain of the boat was great. Great relaxing day with my Girl, friends and family. read more

Silver Springs State Park - Here we go! - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

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Silver Springs State Park is absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit. We went on a gorgeous day in early February, and the weather could not have been more perfect. One of the highlights was seeing several manatees swimming peacefully alongside kayakers and also during the glass bottom boat tour. Watching them glide through the clear water was unforgettable. The park is very affordable to enter, especially considering how much there is to do. There are plenty of hiking opportunities, and the trails make it easy to spend hours exploring and enjoying nature. Everything felt calm, scenic, and well maintained. This was an enjoyable and relaxing experience from start to finish, and it is the kind of place you immediately start planning to return to before you even leave. I am already looking forward to going back. read more

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We arrived and followed the signs for kayak and glass bottom boat tours. What we had booked was a combination of both. We were headed for a clear kayak tour! We parked and headed directly towards the main gate. Ms. Denise, the very kind and knowledgeable woman at the counter, pointed us in the right direction. While glass bottom boat tour guests do check in at the main entrance, kayaking tours enter at a separate entrance near the boat launch. Silver Springs State Park has a kayak outfitting company that they are partnered with, but there are also lots of other companies offering tours and launching from that same gate. We purchased our tickets through Viator and the company's name was Epic Paddle Adventures. If you aren't going with the official kayak tour of the park, be sure to know the name of the company and/or the color that the tour guide will be wearing. You'll need to pay for entry to the park ($2/person) and your boat launch fee ($4/vessel) before heading out in your kayak. There were lots of individuals there launching their own personal kayaks as well. The springs, which hover around 74 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, are incredibly clear and teeming with wildlife. While we did not get to see any monkeys, we did see manatee, turtles, gators and various birds. Some of the birds that we saw were excellent swimmers! I was both shocked and impressed. The water currents did get a bit strong in a couple of areas, and as this was our first time kayaking, we had to focus and remember the brief tutorial that we'd been given before launching. Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun and felt safe the entire time. There were lots of groups and individuals enjoying the springs on this beautiful, final Autumn day. We also saw the glass bottom boats out on the water, and think that we'll try them out next time. Underwater viewing might be more enjoyable if we aren't paddling/rowing! Sidenote: Manatees are massive and majestic. If you are an animal- and nature-lover, you should definitely go see them! read more

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I absolutely love this park. There are so many activities, enough variety to accommodate visitors with all levels of ability. The glass bottom boats are a nostalgic trip back in time. Our tour guide provided excellent narration and detailed the history of the area as well as many humorous stories. We saw a great variety of wildlife but unfortunately no monkeys today. There are walking trails and so much more. Although we only spent one day here, we plan to return to try some more activities. In particular, we would like to kayak. Admission is a an amazingly reasonable price of two dollars per person. Truly, the best two dollars you will spend for an entire day of experiences read more

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First time visiting Florida and this state park was my first tourist stop! Florida's historic attraction and has one of America's largest freshwater springs! The park offers a glass-bottom boat tour, hiking, biking, camping , kayaking and as well as a banquet room venue for any occasion as well as a restaurant! Walking along the river's paved trail was very relaxing !! read more

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WOW, what an amazing time I had with my friend at Silver Springs State Park! We arrived at 10:30 AM for an 11:30 AM glass bottom boat ride. It took roughly 2 hours from Jacksonville on a Saturday morning. We paid $2 each to enter the park and the glass bottom boat ride was roughly $30 each. I made our boat reservation online a few weeks prior. She gave us a printed ticket at the gate for the boat ride and asked us to be there no later than 10 minutes prior to departure. We did a short trail walk upon arrival where we saw may beautiful trees, flowers and plants. We checked out the gift shop and used the restroom which was clean. We got in line 10 minutes before our departure, everyone was checked in and then we boarded the glass bottom boat. Captain Vince led us on a 90-minute adventure showing us the largest springs in Silver River, he pointed out various wildlife, including a few manatees, and shared the rich history of Silver Springs. This was one of the most relaxing boat rides ever! I could have taken a nap LOL. Not because it was boring but because it was so peaceful;) The boats are only allowed to idle, therefore it was very quiet. There were many kayakers and paddle borders on the river too. It was a dog friendly park. I would absolutely recommend checking out Silver Springs State Park! read more

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We've never taken the time to stop and see this state park. It's very worthwhile. The glass-bottom boat tour is great, very educational and entertaining. I wish we'd seen some wildlife other than birds. My daughter enjoyed the nature walks. We ate our lunch at the cafe, a nice bite. read more

This park offers a plethora of things to do and see. But know this, you are being watched! Monkey's are watching, an abundance of birds, armadillos, squirrels, skunks, foxes, opossum, turtles, snakes, alligators and more....and then you have the boardwalks that take you into the heart of the park and allow you to see above the swamp. Or kayak down the river and look for manatees. One thing is certain, you're gonna love Silver Springs State Park in Ocala Florida read more

Silver Springs State Park - Me and my bird Ricochet out walking in the park. He's a golphin cockatoo... - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

I had fond memories of my glass-bottom boat trips as a child, so a friend of mine and I went down on a recent Saturday to see if it lived up to my memories...and it did! We bought tickets online in advance and opted for the extended 90-minute tour, and I'm really glad we did. As a matter of fact, I'd suggest anyone opt for it unless you're in a time crunch or really uncertain whether folks in your party will enjoy it/be comfortable on a boat for 90 minutes. (The boats are open-sided and small -- not the type with any restrooms or concessions on board, for example.) We arrived an hour before our boat tour (on a Saturday in early October); the park was easy to find with its huge entrance sign, and the parking was easy, too. We were greeted as soon as we walked up by a lovely volunteer who asked if we had any questions and pointed us toward the ticket booth ($2/person entry fee to the park, and credit cards were accepted). From there, we walked past the indoor areas that included a Discovery Center (which was closed, unfortunately), a lovely gift shop, a café, a snack bar, restrooms, and an indoor event space. All of these were indoors and air-conditioned, which is always good to have in Florida. We took a short walk along one of the walking trails and found it easy to navigate; I'd come back just to spend some more time walking in the area, as it's a beautiful glimpse of Old Florida. The educational markers were well done and insightful, too. Our boat tour was excellent. The boat wasn't packed, so we had room to be comfortable (although I imagine that might be a bit different during peak tourist times) on the bench seating that surrounded the glass in the middle. Our captain, Vince, was an absolute delight: he was funny, personable, and extremely knowledgeable about the flora and fauna (both terrestrial and aquatic), the history of the park, and more. There are no guarantees about the wildlife you'll see, which is (or at least should be) totally understandable; this is a place to see wild animals. We were really fortunate to see several manatees, which was wonderful, and plenty of birds. However, the macaques (yes, there are monkeys here) decided to stay in the trees during our trip on the water. Even if you don't see the animals you're hoping to see, the trip is still beautiful. Fish are essentially a guarantee, but even the colors you'll see through the glass bottom are gorgeous, thanks to the incredibly clear water. And again, if your captain is (or is anything like) Captain Vince, you won't be bored. The kids and adults on our trip enjoyed learning from him and asking him questions. Overall, I think this is a great place to visit whether you're a Floridian or a tourist, as it's a beautifully cared-for part of the state's past and present. read more

Silver Springs State Park - A manatee passing under our glass-bottom boat - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

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This morning at my dad and I drive to the Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs Florida. We paid for the 30 minute glass bottom boat tour which was $15 per person plus a five dollar entry fee per person. I haven't been to this park since I was little with my grandparents back in the day; it definitely brought back a lot of memories. The tour was roughly about 30 minutes and our boat captain was Captain Andrew and he knew a lot about the springs. Not only can you do the glass bottom boats but they also have walking trails, picnic areas, and sitting spots around the springs. Unfortunately for the state park you cannot swim in it but down the street they do have an area that you can swim in for camping and swimming. I think this is one of my favorite state parks in all of Florida. If you have not been I definitely recommend it it was about an hour and 45 minutes from when I picked my dad up from the Orlando airport. 10/10 read more

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Silver Springs - The original Florida Park with Glass Bottom Boats and clear springs I hadn't been to Silver Springs State Park in over 10 years, and I'm really glad I decided to go back. It was even more enjoyable than I remembered, and the park has clearly improved with time. Parking was easy with plenty of spaces available in the form of 2 large parking lots with the southern one providing access to the river for kayakers, canoes and paddleboards. The entrance off the parking lot is the classic Silver Springs sign in front of a beautiful wooden boardwalk entrance. It is framed by large, impressive trees that create a very peaceful feeling with a good amount of shade. It also sets the tone for the whole visit. You get your tickets at a ticket book where you choose your visit options. We chose the 30-minute glass bottom boat tour, which costs about $15-$17 per person. It was excellent and well worth the money. The water in the springs is crystal clear, and the boat gives you fantastic views of the underwater world, including fish, plants, and the bubbling springs themselves. The guide, Capt Andrew, was awesome, funny and knowledgeable which made the short tour both fun and informative. Admission to the park also includes access to all the walking trails, and there are a lot of them. A lot of the trails and boardwalks feel brand new and well-maintained. We walked along several paths and were surprised to see monkeys jumping right in front of us on one of the boardwalks. That was definitely a highlight and a fun, unexpected treat! In addition to the glass bottom boat tours, you can rent paddleboards, regular kayaks, or clear kayaks for a unique view from the water. Overall, it was a wonderful, relaxing day in a beautiful historic park in a natural setting. The Park is a true Florida treasure that has only gotten better over the years. I highly recommend it whether you're a local or just visiting the area. I'll definitely be returning again soon. read more

This was the second time I had gone to Silver Springs. The first time I did the 1.5 hour glass bottom boat ride and hiked the paths in the park. This time, we rented clear kayaks with Kayak Rental Silver Springs (a company that operates in the park but separately from the State Park Kayak rental. I highly recommend them). What a memorable, glorious experience! You kayak in still water with a canopy of trees allowing dappled light to shine through. We encountered so many animals up close including manatees, otters, turtles, alligators, anhingas, herons, ibis, and many squirrels. No monkeys, though. For an unforgettable experience in nature, kayak Silver Springs. read more

Silver Springs State Park - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

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Silver Springs State Park is one of those places that really shows off the natural beauty of Florida. The water is crystal clear and you can literally see straight to the bottom on the glass boat tour. The tour is definitely worth it! read more

Must visit. Gorgeous park and a ton of stuff to do while visiting. Glass bottom boat is awesome and the walking trail is beautiful. Parking is free and admission is very reasonable read more

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Such a beautiful state park! It's a hidden gem if you're looking for things to explore. Highly recommend this park. This spring is gorgeous. I think I love this park so much because I'm a water engineer and a nerd! Lol Highlight of the park is the glass bottom boat tour. Definitely worth it! Our boat guide was fantastic and knowledgeable with the park and the history of the spring. Definitely one park I want to come back to and check out all the trails here and do some kayaking. Beautiful! read more

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This is probably my favorite spring i've visited in FL so far! This one has a lot of animal sights along the spring which was fun to see: manatees, gators, turtles, deer, birds...We were even lucky enough to see the monkeys, which my friend who is a local said of the many times she's visited she's only seen one other time so that was cool! Only downside is if you start this spring too late in the day, there's no shuttle to take you back to the beginning. Recommend if you're starting this late in the day, to take 2 vehicles if possible and leave one at the start/finish. Will definitely return if i'm ever in the area again! read more

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So happy we made it here for the first time and it was the best Saturday for it. Not so hot, overcast, & not chilly at all. Perfect place for a walk. They love dogs here and they are welcome throughout the park. They also have kayaking here, so rent or bring your kayak and check on the springs on the water. The biggest hit here is the Glass bottom boat rides. They were invented here actually. There is quite a bit of history at this location and there is tons of places around the park and by the restrooms by the shop and cafe that explain it all to you. Old time moves were filmed here. This was once a water park. Indians settled here. Someone I know said there use to be animals here and an amusement park. So much to learn about and see. We saw some cool fish and the bottom of the springs through the 30 min boat ride. There's also an old boat and 3 statues in the water that we saw. What we didn't see was monkeys. They say there are wild monkeys even around. Wish we saw some, but that's ok. This is a great example of Old Florida that must be seen and not forgotten. Nature in so many forms can be seen here! They also have special events, parties, & weddings here. That would be so cool to be a part of at this memorable gem! read more

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We took a boat tour on a glass bottom boat. Our tour guide was great, very informative & kept everyone entertained. The water was crystal clear so you were able to see all the fish & other wildlife. It's great for adults & children. read more

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So cool - an amazing and unique park with access to nature and wildlife. The springs feed into the St John river and are crystal clear and 72 degrees year round. You can embark on a glass bottom boat for 30 or 90 minute guided tours - with lots of interesting information , or paddle board or kayak on rentals. There's shops, two restaurants and one has a full bar with drink prices from the 90s Hike, bring the kids, your dog and have a great time! read more

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My wife and I used to go here when we were kids with our parents back in the 1970's. Wow things have changed since then! My wife and I have been here a few times since we've been married but we've never stayed in the Rv park. We had some friends get married here so we decided to bring the Rv down and stay here so we can spend more time in the park. Wow we love the Rv park! Making the reservation online was super easy. When we arrived at the security gate the checkin process with the Rv was very fast. We had site #5 and it was sooooo big and spacious! It was a pull through site with only electrical and water. The dump station was easy access when leaving. The Rv was very quiet and full of wildlife. We took our dogs for long walks at night which was great. One of the advantages of staying in the Rv park is you don't have to pay when going over to the Silver Springs State Park Entrance where the spring head is located. On Friday my wife made reservations for the glass bottom boats for 11am. That was great and we highly recommend that tour! We did the 30 minute boat ride which felt long. They do have a 90 minute boat ride as well that takes you further down the spring. After our boat ride we walked around the garden area looking at the flowers, trees and bushes. Definitely recommend you come down to Ocala Silver Springs State Park!!!! We also recommend the Rv campground! We will definitely book another trip here again!!!! Loved staying here! read more

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One of Florida's MOST FAMOUS natural springs. Silver Springs has crystal clear water and a history with film and television. "Creature From the Black Lagoon" was filmed at this destination, as was James Bond "Thunderball" (1965) and "Moonraker" (1979). Entry to this park is just $2, and you can add-on a 30 or 90 minute ride on their glass-bottom electric boats, starting at $15. This is a great time of year to see manatees, as the spring is warm, but the rest of Florida's waters aren't. Teeming with fish, gators, manatees and even monkeys, this state park has wildlife, history and tropical views. read more

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Well, ai was here back in the early 70's and had a glass bottom boat ride. I really wanted my spouse Togo because I thought it was so cool back then. We had such a nice visit. We walked around the grounds and saw some pretty cool birds and fish in the lake. It was a cold day, so there were no alligators,but that was fine. We decided to try the short glass bottom boat ride. So happy that we did. My spouse really loved it We saw a few manatees and a couple large turtles. The guide was good, but his jokes kind of fell flat. When we do nit have the dog, I really want to come back and go on the longer ride. It was excellent! read more

Silver Springs State Park - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

Kayaking the river was great. We booked a four hour rental and it took less than three hours. Just let the river take you and enjoy it, use the four hours. read more

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Great experience! We were here during the summer months, so only did the 30" tour. They offer a 90" tour in the glass bottom boats, and we plan to do this when we come back down in the winter. They also offer kayaking tours. The water is extremely clear, a fresh water spring. Wildlife abounds! Over 250 movies have been filmed here; including Tarzan with Johnny Weismuller; Creature from the Black Lagoon; and Smokey and the Bandit just to mention 3. Beautiful scenery, workers are all very kind. Great family adventure for all! read more

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What an amazing experience. The wildlife and the education and relaxation of the springs were great . Thanks to our amazing guide , we had a fantastic time . read more

What an amazing experience especially during the winter ! Wanted to see the manatees, and that we did. They charge a park fee and a vessel launch fee. All reasonably priced and the views are amazing. Saw all types of birds, alligators, manatees, tons of turtles, monkeys, and huge fish. I do not know all the pricing for their equipment but if you've never been, this is a must on your list. The water is extremely calm and crystal clear and darker in some spots. Great 5mi paddle down stream read more

Silver Springs State Park - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

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How beautiful is this state park?!! Absolutely gorgeous! About a 15 minute drive from my daughter's place in Ocala and us grandparents had the opportunity to take our grandson, Ashton, tot he park. He just loves to run and go go go. We wanted to take advantage of visiting the kiddos and grandbuds and also do some touristy stuff, like go out on the water, and this place offers both. Albeit, I would love to kayak through here, they also offer a boat tour all around the Springs. Which we took our boy on. Wait- did I preface this with- it's friggin hotter than Cindy Crawford and Dua Lipa on an airboat gliding across the Everglades swamp water? It's friggin hot and I'm sure I'd pay for that. Anyway, back to Silver Springs- Gorgeous hues of blue and the history of the place blew my mind. Had no idea it belonged to a studio at one point, and several shows and movies have been filmed here. The glass bottomed boat was absolutely fantastic! So cool to see all the fish below in their habitat, as well as all of the Springs that feed into this lagoon/lake/spring. So amazing and emphatically recommend this place for all ages. See the fish and wildlife like turtles, gators, and various birds in their natural habitat. As always, Enjoy & Happy exploring! read more

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We went here, I think it was my first time, nice weather and staff and great glass bottom boat.!! And also walking trails.. I recommend this place if you in the area!! Saw some fish's, turtles, alligators and some birds.!! read more

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The park has a glass bottom boat ride that was very interesting. There is also camping and cabins to rent.

The beauty of the area and cleanliness.we had a beautiful day and walking around was safe.

The water is crystal clear and really a nice setting. Take the glass bottom boat ride for a nice underwater view. Cafe and gift shop are nice also. read more

Silver Springs State Park is one of my favorite places to go in Ocala. It offers a wide variety of activities that include camping, taking a ride in a glass bottomed boat while you learn the history of the area and see the incredible wildlife and pieces of history that lie below the water's surface and, of course, kayaking. Visitors have the option of participating in many guided kayaking tours or renting a kayak to go at their own leisurely pace. My favorite time of day to go is first thing in the morning, when the water is calmer and there's a higher likelihood of seeing a variety of animals. read more

Silver Springs State Park - The launching area for the glass bottom boats at Silver Springs - Tours Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

This Florida State Park located in Ocala is the largest artisan spring in the world and the site of the oldest commercial tourist attraction in Florida since the 1870's. The fee is $2 per person for State park admission and under 5 is free. It was designated National Natural Landmark in 1971. By 1975, Silver Springs Amusement Park was closed. In 2013, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection took over the operations. In the 1930's, Hollywood discovered Silver Springs and many movies were filmed in the area including six Tarzan movies. Monkeys are still frequently seen in the park. We purchased tickets for the Glass Bottom Boat tour $15 per person, $14 for seniors and children 3-12 and free under 2 for a 30 minute ride. The tour offers visitors a unique view of the park's crystal-clear springs and life within. The diverse underwater ecosystem is the habitat to fish, manatees, turtles, alligators and natural vegetation. While on the boat, the views were breathtaking. The park also offers other activities like kayaking, hiking, camping and exploring the Silver River Museum and Crackers Village. There is a restaurant, gift shop and bathrooms. read more

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Didn't stay because it started to rain. Convenient parking. Several trails for hiking.

The park is beautiful and the staff incredible. Even had a great cafe! Whether you are going out on the glass bottom boat or not this is a very peaceful and gorgeous park! read more

Silver Springs is one of my favorite destinations in Florida. We booked glass bottom kayaks to see the underwater world! Its crystal clear waters and forest are home to lots of fish, alligators, limestone, and seasonal manatees. Although monkeys are a cute sight, they can be an absolute menace. Per our tour guide, they like to ambush people with their poo and many carry Herpes - so keep your distance :) They used to film movies here, like Tarzan, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and more. You can find abandoned, sunken artifacts from those films throughout the river. Highly recommend visiting Silver Springs to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature! read more

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