Silver Springs Theme Park - Orlando / Florida Guide
Florida Guide > Other Parks
If you want a break from Disney but the family would still like to go to a Theme Park Silver Springs is well worth a visit. The Park is open from 10.00am – 5.00pm all year round.
This 350-acre nature theme park, which surrounds the headwaters of the beautiful Silver River, the largest artesian spring formation in the world, is 90 miles north of Orlando on the SR40. From the I 75 you take exit 352 east or the exit 268 west from the I 95.
Daily tickets are available for about $33 adults, seniors $30 and children 3-10 years $24. There are generous money off coupons in most of the free Orlando publications many of them giving each member of your party $7 off.
The admission charge includes all rides, shows and attractions plus any concert and special events that day. During summer months for a few dollars more you can get a combo ticket that also gives you admission to Wild Waters Water Park.
Silver Springs lets you see what life was like here more than 10,000 years ago. Just as they did then, the springs pump out 550 million gallons of sparkling-clear water a day, enough to supply the entire city of New York.
A special feature at this Park are the glass bottom boats where you can watch the fish, shellfish, turtles and alligators in fabulous clear water.
As you walk around the beautiful grounds surrounding the springs you can see the animals in their natural habitat.
Be sure not to miss the shows that take place in the Park. The Birds of the Rain Forest Show will make you laugh; this includes comical parrots, macaws and cockatoos performing antics and tricks.
Go to the outdoor Silver River Showcase Theatre to see the Birds Of Prey Show. The program, features hawks, eagles, owls, falcons and vultures, who display their strength, survival skills and beauty in a dramatic free flight demonstration.
For the braver members of your party the Non-Venomous Snake Show offers you the opportunity to view, touch and learn about the many different species of snakes in the world, and the important role they play in controlling rodents and other pests.
Several ladies in our party deliberately missed Creature Feature. Three television monitors bring the smallest of these creatures to an up-close and personal view. Animal handlers give you interesting facts about bats, scorpions, arachnids, a five-pound marine toad, and giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches!
Be sure to visit Big Gator Lagoon, this is a swamp where you will see more than three dozen of Florida’s largest alligators, most 11 to 13 feet in length. Look out for Sobek, believed to be the world’s largest American crocodile in the care of man. He’s 16 feet long and weighs 2,000 pounds. His name, Sobek, refers to an ancient Egyptian god that had the head of a crocodile and the body of a man.
Reptile keepers feed the alligator and crocodiles daily at 2:30 p.m. during the summer. This gives visitors a chance to witness the feeding habits of various species while learning more about these ancient creatures.
Do try to go on the Lighthouse Ride. This features the combination of a carousel and gondola ride with a unique telescoping outer tower that rises 80 feet in the air! You will get a great view of the River, grounds and wildlife. Up to six passengers ride in each gondola for an unobstructed, panoramic view of the crystal clear river, landscaped grounds, and native Florida wildlife.
The children will really enjoy Kids Ahoy! Playland. Here you will find a replica of a 1800s riverboat permanently anchored in a shallow lagoon. Other activities include a 40-passenger carousel decorated with endangered wildlife, miniature motorboats, Ferris wheel, cargo climb with net bridge, slides, crawl tubes, fireman’s poles, and more.
At the Springside Mall you will find everything from souvenir tee shirts and jungle clothing to gifts from the sea.
Finally if you are hungry you can choose from Springs Pizzeria, Springside Café, Deli, Ice Cream & Fudge Shop, and Billy Bowlegs Bar & Grill. There are also snack bars and food carts located throughout the park.
Although Silver Springs is a 90-minute drive from Orlando, it is a great day out.
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