Best route to Silver Springs

Hi everyone

We're still in Florida and we are having a fabulous time.[clap][msnsmile2] We're going to Silver Springs on Saturday and have been advised by a local to take the 192 westbound and then pick up the 27 to Ocala. Is this the best route - anyone any advice? Can't stay online too long - one good thing about coming home will be all the time I can spend catching up with the postings on the forum. It will all seem so more 'real' now I've been. So much to tell you all when we get back.

Bye for now. Will log in tomorrow to see if anyone thinks we should take a different route.

Yes, this is the simplest and the best route. Start early, say by 8:30am from your villa. Go West on US192 and bear right onto US27 going North towards Ocala. This takes about 90 minutes to reach the town. Keep on the US27 till you reach SR40 where you turn right again, heading East. After about 8 miles, you first pass the Wild Waters water park on your right, followed very soon by the entrance to Silver Springs on the same side. Have a great time, it is worth it.:)

Thanks Nostromo. As we will be travelling back mostly in the dark - is the US27 fairly well lit? We've noticed several times how you're suddenly plunged into darkness on some of the roads here. We've had one or two hairy experiences which I'll tell you all about in my trip report[msnscared]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Fletch
Thanks Nostromo. As we will be travelling back mostly in the dark - is the US27 fairly well lit? We've noticed several times how you're suddenly plunged into darkness on some of the roads here. We've had one or two hairy experiences which I'll tell you all about in my trip report[msnscared]
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The lighting is OK around the villa communities, but I am not sure how it is further up. We have only been to SS once and that was last year in early May. The park closed at 5pm and it was daylight for a few hours afterwards. Though it will be dark for you now in Janaury, I cannot see any problem. Ocala itself is well lit and once you get onto the US27 while still in the middle of the town, it is a straight 85-minute run to the junction with US192.

Can some tell me more about SS? We have never been there msnsmile2]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lal
Can some tell me more about SS? We have never been there msnsmile2]
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It is a very nice alternative day out to the big theme parks. Located near Ocala, northwest of Orlando and some 90 minutes by car from most of the villa communities. Opening times are ususally 10am to 5pm and you'll need about 5 hours to see everything. An early start is recommended to get the best out of the day out. No food and drink allowed inside, except bottled water; but there are restaurants and shops inside.

It is basically an 'animal park' with alligators, crocodiles, birds of prey etc. It is very well organised, with specific areas for the creatures. There are 3 very educational Animal Shows with alligators, snakes and spiders. There is also a small aviary with a good birdshow.

There are no big rides in SS, but the highlight is the 126 year old Glass Bottom Boat Ride which gives a great view of the springs and underwater life. There is also a Jungle River Cruise and Jeep safari. Admission fee covers everything. But for only a few dollars more, you can get a joint ticket to a small water park next door called 'Wild Waters' with the usual slides and flumes. Worth going to cool off if you have a couple of hours after SS.

Check out their website. It has accommodation links and so I cannot post it here. But you can find it via google easily.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lal
Can some tell me more about SS? We have never been there msnsmile2]
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The glass bottomed boats were lovely. We took my parents to SS in December 2003, the christmas lights were fantastic and it was a more relaxing day for the oldies in the party.[msnsmile2]

Silver Springs is wonderful - we loved our day out there and will be going back soon [msnsmile]

Thanks everyone, thats another place to visit this year - its amazing I have been going since 1983 and still find new things to do![clap]

we're off in 2 weeks time, and definately want to visit silver springs but am i getting it mixed up with another place, think it is crystal river where the Manatees are....am i getting cuffuddled?[:I]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by alfie
we're off in 2 weeks time, and definately want to visit silver springs but am i getting it mixed up with another place, think it is crystal river where the Manatees are....am i getting cuffuddled?[:I]
[/quote]

You are getting cuffuddled (whatever that means) Alfie. Crystal River (and the Manatees) are near Homossassa Springs on the Gulf Coast north of Tampa. Silver Springs is nea Ocala well inland; there is a Siver River there, but I don't think that is a manatee habitat.

Just to prove I know all sorts of useless information, Silver Springs is where they filmed the original black and white Tarzan movies starring Johnnie Weismuller.

We particularly enjoyed the Jungle River Cruise and the glass bottom boat there and it makes a refreshing change to visit a more relaxing park with a gentler pace set in some natural Floridian surroundings.

They also did the Alligator Farm scenes in James Bond's Live And Let Die and lots of other things like Creature From The Black Lagoon IIRC.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
Just to prove I know all sorts of useless information, Silver Springs is where they filmed the original black and white Tarzan movies starring Johnnie Weismuller.

We particularly enjoyed the Jungle River Cruise and the glass bottom boat there and it makes a refreshing change to visit a more relaxing park with a gentler pace set in some natural Floridian surroundings.
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Didn't know that John & Blott, that might have impressed our youngest son, he is a James Bond fan.[msnsmile2]

They have an exhibition on the left as you go in showing all the films and TV shows that have been done there - it's fascinating. They also did another James Bond one there too - Moonraker if I remember correctly.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
Didn't know that John & Blott, that might have impressed our youngest son, he is a James Bond fan.[msnsmile2]
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We will have to go back and check it out, the time we visisted was really to see the christmas lights, which to a 12 year old was "boring" but he would have enjoyed the James Bond bit.[msnsmile2]

I know Isaac (our 6 year old and a James Bond fanatic amongst other things) loved the James Bond angle and during the boat tours was looking out to see if he could spot the exact locations they used [msnsmile]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
We will have to go back and check it out, the time we visisted was really to see the christmas lights, which to a 12 year old was "boring" but he would have enjoyed the James Bond bit.[msnsmile2]
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