Home to the world-famous glass bottomed boats, there are a number of rides and attractions at Silver Springs to keep you and your family entertained and filled with wonder. Offering a glimpse of what life was like 10,000 years ago, Silver Springs still continues to pump out 550 million gallons of crystal clear water every day. There are wildlife exhibits, river cruises, botanical gardens, concerts, and educational programs for visitors of every age. Explore the stunning natural beauty of Florida and enjoy the diversity of animals and nature, found nowhere else.

Silver Springs Nature Park,
5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd.,
Silver Springs, FL 34488.
Telephone: 352-236-2121
Fax: 352-236-1732
Distance: 10 MI/16.09 KM

Adjacent to the natural beauty of Silver Springs, the Wild Waters Water Park is a great way to spend the day. Along with its latest attraction - the 40-foot-tall "Alligator Ambush" flume ride, the park also has five additional slides and speed flumes-including Osceola's Revenge, Bunyan's Bend, Hurricane, The Silver Bullet and the child-sized Mini Monster-and a 50,000-gallon wave pool.There is a special Cool Kids Cove for younger children, specialty shops, championship volleyball, picnic areas and lots more.

Wild Waters Water Park,
5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd.,
Silver Springs, FL 34488,
Telephone: 352-236-2121,
Fax: 352-236-1732
Distance: 10 MI/16.09 KM

A good place to start to explore Ocala is its historic Downtown Square or ‘the Square’, as is known by the locals. With an array of eateries, pubs, and shops, several storefronts surround the Square, and it’s where most town events take place. Favorites among these are the holiday lighting ceremony, Light Up Ocala®, and the Symphony in the Park. During Light Up Ocala® (from beginning November to end of December), you can walk under a canopy of holiday lights suspended from the park’s oak trees.

Distance: 1 MI/1.61 KM

For a great way to spend the day with the kids, head out to Ocala’s family fun spot. The Easy Street Family Fun Center has an 18-hole miniature golf course, go-karts, an arcade, and a special KidZone. But what really gets the crowds is the award winning giant ice cream sundae available at its famous ice cream parlor.

Easy Street Family Fun Center.
2727 SW 27th Avenue,
Ocala FL 34474,
Telephone: 352-861-9700
Distance: 2 MI/3.22 KM

Fans of motorsports and especially of stock car racing can indulge their passion at the speedway and motor cross facilities available in Ocala/Marion County. Another must-see destination is Don Garlits Drag Museum of Drag Racing where you can view the classic car collection and memorabilia of the drag racing great, Don Garlits.

Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum,
13700 SW 16TH Avenue,
Ocala, FL 34473,
Telephone: 877-271-3278 or 352-245-8661
Distance: 10 MI/16.09 KM

Spread over 100,000 square feet of beautiful landscape, this museum was the vision of Arthur I. Appleton, an art collector enthusiast, who built the public museum in 1987 because of his love for Ocala/Marion County and art. Here you can find workshops, walking tours, a library, and a 250-seat auditorium along with the five galleries displaying works of art.

Appleton Museum of Art,
4333 E Silver Springs Boulevard,
Ocala, FL 34470,
Telephone: 352-291-4455
Distance: 5 MI/8.05 KM

For a live theater experience at an affordable price, make your way to the Ocala Civic Theater located within the Appleton Museum’s Cultural Center. It produces 12 performances a year and also has a youth program for students interested in the performing arts.

Ocala Civic Theater.
4337 E Silver Springs Boulevard,
Ocala, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 236-2274
Distance: 5 MI/8.05 KM

For an evening out for the whole family, the Regal offers 16 screens and the best that Hollywood has to offer.

Hollywood 16 Movie Theater,
2801 SW 27th Avenue,
Ocala, FL 34471,
Telephone: 352-861-2699
Distance: 2 MI/3.22 KM

The Ocala National Forest offers 383,573 acres of ecological sites, trails, and natural springs. You can choose from hundreds of camping sites dotted throughout the forest whether you prefer full-service campgrounds to more rustic sites. There are also designated trails for horseback riding. Hunting is permitted in designated areas but do remember that the enforcement of state regulations is very strict. Recreation areas for the entire family include Alexander Springs, Fore Lake Recreational Area, Juniper Springs, Lake Eaton Loop Trail, Lake Eaton Sink Hole, Mill Dam Recreation Area, Salt Springs and Salt Springs Trail. Some of these areas have specially marked walking/hiking trails as well.

For further information, call 352-236-0288.
Distance: 15 MI/24.14 KM

Paddock Mall is a light-filled, airy complex and Ocala's primary shopping destination. You can find big retailers such as Sears, Belk, Macy's and JCPenney here along with stores like Gap, Victoria's Secret, Aeropostale, Casual Corner, Foot Locker and Kirkland's. Accessories, jewelry and sporting goods are available as well along with a food court to take care of the hunger pangs. Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun noon-5:30pm

Paddock Mall Shopping.
3100 College Rd,
Ocala, FL 34474,
Telephone: 352-237-1221
Distance: 2 MI/3.22 KM

Ocala / Marion County have the highest number of horses and ponies in residence in America. Spread over more 70,000 acres, you can find virtually every breed of horse here, including the American Quarter Horse, Paso Fino, Arabian and Warmbloods. If you love horses, there is no limit to the equine activities to choose from. You can opt for recreational rides on the trails in the Ocala National Forest or scenic horse drawn country carriage rides through some of Ocala’s most beautiful horse farms.

At the Florida Horse Park, you can enjoy Olympic-level equestrian sports, international competitions, show jumping, polo and special events. The Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) Ocala Winter Circuit is also a highly respected series of horse-jumping competitions held over a seven-week period at HITS Post Time Farm on U.S. Highway 27. Approximately 3,500 horses and 7,000 horsemen from around the world attend each year. Throughout the year, you are sure to find a special event that suits your fancy, so keep checking to discover what’s going on.

Distance: 2 MI/3.22 KM

Archaeological evidence indicates that people have been using this spring for nearly 10,000 years. Rainbow Springs is Florida's fourth largest spring and, from the 1930s through the 1970s, was the site of a popular, privately-owned attraction. The Rainbow River is popular for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, and kayaking. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the headsprings. A picnic area at the spring includes tables, grills, and pavilions. For large gatherings, private pavilions can be reserved. Tubing is not allowed in the headsprings area of the park. Tubers can launch at the Tube Entrance on SW 180th Avenue Road. The Campground Entrance with a full-facility campground is about nine miles from the day use area. The Headsprings Entrance is located three miles north of Dunnellon on the east side of U.S. 41. The campground is located on S.W. 180th Avenue Road about two miles north of County Road 484 and two miles south of State Road 40. The Tube Entrance is located 1.4 miles south of the campground Entrance on SW 180th Avenue Road.

Distance: 21.6 MI / 34.76 KM

Dakotah is a family business operated by Rob Rittgers and his father Max Rittgers.Max established the vineyard in 1985 with a planting of 200 muscadine grape vines. The first grapes produced were sold onsite from a board across two five-gallon buckets. Today Dakotah Winery is a 12-acre site with over 6,000 grape vines. A large, comfortable wine-tasting room welcomes visitors. A temperature-controlled wine cellar is the most recent addition. A visit to Dakotah provides not only an opportunity to buy Florida wine but an opportunity for self-guided innovational wellness walks through the grounds while viewing the grapes, sheep, geese, wood ducks, koi fish, and other species.

Distance: 56.4 MI / 90.77 KM

The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center (Center) is a program of the Marion County Public School system (MCPS). The Center is located within the Silver River State Park and works in close cooperation with the Florida Park Service. While school is in session, on weekdays, the Center serves the school system and the grounds are closed to the public. On weekends, the museum is staffed by park service personnel and volunteers, and is open to the public. Additionally, throughout the year, the Center hosts various educational events and visitors have access to the research library with prior notice. No admission fee is charged to students enrolled in Marion County public schools when they attend a scheduled class field trip. Weekend and summer visitors are charged an admission fee to the museum. Charges also apply to private and home school groups, and out-of-county classes for class trips to the Center. The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is a unique and effective educational program. The Center serves as a model for other public school systems and exemplifies the strong commitment to education in Marion County. It is an exciting blend of Florida's natural and cultural history, and hands-on education.

Distance: 7.5 MI / 12.07 KM

Stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the St. Johns River, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway occupies much of the land formerly known as the Cross Florida Barge Canal. This 110-mile corridor encompasses a variety of natural habitats and offers an array of trails and recreation areas where visitors can experience Florida’s premier greenway.

This portion of the greenway is best known for mountain bike trails. Over 30 miles of trails with three levels of difficulty are available to accommodate beginners to experts. The Santos trailhead draws riders from all over the state and country to experience what many call the best bike trails in Florida.

In addition to bicycle trails, the FTA hiking trail and equestrian and wagon trails are marked and maintained between Santos and 475A.

Distance: 21.4 MI / 34.44 KM

• Disney World®
• Disney® Epcot Center
• Universal Studios®
• SeaWorld®
• The newest theme park Aquatica (SeaWorld Waterpark®)
• Daytona Beach and the Daytona International Speedway®
• Busch Gardens®
• Cypress Gardens®
• St. Augustine - the oldest city in America (82 miles)
• Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art
• Dali Museum
• Florida International Museum
• Florida Holocaust Museum
• Go Fishing with Slickcharters