Tuesday we left the Everglades headed for Ocala/Silver Springs, Fl. Tina had wanted to visit the area since she lived here from the first through the third grade. Most of Tuesday was a driving day except spending some time along the way in the Big Cypress National Preserve, which is a large freshwater bald cypress swamp northwest of the Everglades. Finally arriving at Silver Springs later in the day on Tuesday we set up the RV at Silver Springs RV park. Most of today (Wednesday), until it began to rain later in the afternoon, we spent at Silver Springs State Park, the home of the famous glass-bottom boats and the amazing Silver Springs River. Formed out of freshwater springs emerging from the Florida aquifer through limestone, the springs form a river that is crystal clear with a blue tint from limestone and home to a diversity of aquatic life from bluegill and largemouth bass to manatees. The area is also home to Rhesus Macaque monkeys living there that were released in the 30s to add to the appeal of the area to tourists and now number over 300 living wild in and around Silver Springs State Park. The springs and river were a sacred place to the Seminole Indians, one of the first attractions and state parks in FL, as well the location for many movies and TV shows such as The Glass Bottom Boat with Doris Day, The Creature From the Black Lagoon, several James Bond movies, boat chase scenes from Smokey and the Bandit, and the TV series Sea Hunt with Loyd Bridges with every episode filmed here. Since Ocala is the horse capital of the US, especially for race horses, we hope to visit several horse farms tomorrow.
Greg and Tina’s Travels Across America 