Silver Springs Theme Park

Because the Silver Springs Theme Park is 90 miles north of Orlando, it sometimes manages to miss the radars of Orlando vacationers. But you might be happy to know that the Orlando Card, which gets you in to a number of great area attractions, such as WonderWorks and Fun Spot, also includes admission to the Silver Springs Theme Park. Due to this fact, Silver Springs often gets mentioned in the same breath as the greater Orlando attractions. On your Silver Springs Orlando adventure, you'll enjoy a diverse range of attractions, from the popular glass bottom boat rides to the intriguing animal exhibits. The park sits on 350 beautiful acres so there's definitely plenty to explore.

Glass bottom boat cruises are a Silver Springs Orlando favorite, as they give passengers the chance to see what's going on below the surface of the Silver River . It's kind of like scuba diving or snorkeling without getting wet. The boats that carry passengers along the river are manned by licensed captains, and they provide cover from the warm Florida sun. While you explore the area headwaters, the kind of marine life that you might spot along the way includes turtles, alligators, and a number of different fish species. In addition to taking a glass bottom boat cruise, Silver Springs Theme Park visitors can also enjoy the Fort King River Cruise, which covers the history of the Silver River, and the Lost River Voyage Cruise, which usually involves quite a lot of animal viewing. Among the creatures that you are likely to see on the Lost River Voyage Cruise include alligators, osprey, heron, and turtles. While Orlando attractions like Disney's Animal Kingdom and Sea World are great places to see some exotic animals from across the globe, the Silver Springs Theme Park gives you a chance to witness some of the local species in their natural environments.

If you don't get to spot an alligator on one of the Silver Springs Orlando boat cruises, then you can head to the Big Gator Lagoon exhibit to see more than three dozen of them. A pair of rare white alligators also figure among the attractions at Silver Springs. Often referred to as "swamp ghosts," they are quite the sight to see. Other animal exhibits at the Silver Springs Theme Park include Panther Prowl, where you can see a western cougar, and the World of Bears, where Kodiak brown bears and North American black bears roam free on two acres of land. At the Ross Allen Island exhibit, visitors will get the chance to see an impressive collection of spiders, snakes, turtles, and other animal species that are native to Florida . For a more hands-on approach, your group can make way for the Kritter Korral exhibit. This is arguably the top choice for kid-friendly attractions at Silver Springs, as kids love to pet and feed the Kritter Korral goats, turkeys, rabbits, sheep, donkeys, and other farm animals. As a side note, for those who want to see a lot of alligators during their central Florida vacation, Gatorland is another great theme park to consider.

In addition to viewing a lot of different animals at the Silver Springs Theme Park , visitors can also check out over 100 different varieties of plants at the park's Botanical Gardens. Beautiful floral displays abound at the Botanical Gardens, where you can enjoy a leisurely walk along a lovely pathway. Upon seeing the beauty of the Botanical Gardens at Silver Springs, it's easy to see why it's a popular site for wedding photographs. After a stroll through the gardens, you might also take the chance to check out a bird, reptile, or snake show, or perhaps catch the 2:30 p.m. alligator feeding. For the opportunity to spot wildlife in a different environment, visitors can also enjoy Wilderness Trail tours, which involve heading out into a local forest. The attractions at Silver Springs are diverse. There's definitely something for everybody here.

As any good theme park usually does, the Silver Springs Theme Park also has some rides for its visitors to enjoy. The Kids Ahoy! Playland is home to a replica Riverboat, a Ferris Wheel, a playground, a carousel, and more. For a bigger thrill, you can ride the Lighthouse Ride, which is part carousel, part gondola. You'll be able to see far and wide once the Lighthouse Ride finishes its gentle climb to 80 feet. On top of having an array of fun rides, the Silver Springs Theme Park also boasts some souvenir shops, some quick-service restaurants, a bar and grill, and plenty of places to grab some snacks.