by Robyn Kurth

Long before beachfront properties and theme parks became the bedrock of Florida tourism, visitors flocked to the Sunshine State to enjoy its pristine natural beauty. Marion County’s Silver Springs nature park offers a fascinating glimpse into Florida’s past, while the nearby Ocala National Forest can be a great jumping off point for young people who are interested in the Earth’s environmental future.

Silver Springs

Silver Springs crystal clear waters enable visitors to get a scuba diver’s view of fish, turtles, shellfish and alligators as well as fossils more than 10,000 years old—all while staying dry in a the comfort of one of the park’s glass bottom boats. Glass bottom boats have been a part of Silver Springs’ heritage since 1878, and for nearly a century it has also served as a shooting location for a number of Hollywood films and television series, including six of the original Tarzan movies, which were filmed here between 1932 and 1942.

In addition to the river cruises that Silver Springs is most famous for, there are reptile shows, presentations featuring birds of prey, a large petting zoo, and wildlife exhibits that include black bears and Kodiaks (the only brown bears on exhibit in Florida), a western cougar, and plenty of gators—including daily alligator and crocodile feedings and a chance to see two rare albino alligators. Younger children will appreciate the Kids Ahoy! Playland and the nearby carousel decorated with endangered wildlife.

“A lot of people who are baby boomers want to bring their children and grandchildren (to Silver Springs) because they were here when they were children,” said Ann Sternal, Executive Director of the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Wild Waters Waterpark

If your kids feel like a trip to an eco-park like Silver Springs is equivalent to eating their vegetables, you can promise them a day at the Wild Waters Waterpark for dessert. Located right next door to Silver Springs, Wild Waters has six acres of rides, slides, a wave pool and a Cool Kids Zone for little swimmers. With water slide names like Alligator Ambush, Osceola’s Revenge, Bunyan’s Bend, Hurricane, and Mini Monster, there is no shortage of excitement for kids who want to keep cool during a summer vacation to the Ocala area.

Ocala National Forest

The Ocala National Forest lies between the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers in central Florida, just three miles east of the city of Ocala. Covering 383,573 acres of land and far removed from the more urbanized areas of the state, traveling through the Ocala National Forest can make visitors feel as if they have been transported to another world. The forest is known for its sand pine scrub ecosystem, and there are a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities to choose from, including hiking, canoeing, swimming, mountain biking, and camping at full service campgrounds as well as remote sites.

Since Marion County is considered the “Horse Capital of the World” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a horseback ride on designated trails through the Ocala National Forest is an ideal way to fully appreciate both the untamed beauty and the rural charm of this part of Florida.

“We do get a lot of people who come (to the Ocala National Forest) in the summer,” said Sternal. “We have the natural attractions that are unique to this region of Florida.”

In the same way that the Everglades showcases South Florida’s delicate ecosystem, Silvers Springs and the Ocala National Forest best represent the natural environment of Central Florida, with plenty of outdoor recreational activities to keep vacationing families busy and enough picture-perfect scenery to fill an entire vacation scrapbook.

For information about travel in the Ocala area, visit the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau Web site at www.ocalamarion.com. To learn more about the destinations mentioned in this article, visit the following Web sites:

• Silver Springs:
www.silversprings.com

• Wild Waters Waterpark:
www.wildwaterspark.com

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/about/index_oca (part of the National Forest Service Web site at www.fs.fed.us)

Photos courtesy of the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.