With our trek back North we find ourselves back in a State Park, Silver Springs State park north of Ocala FL.

This park has some different activities than any State parks we have been in. They have a restaurant and host concerts. They have a glass bottom boat tour on the Silver River, along with kayaking/canoeing, bike and walking trails.

These sites are very big and well spaced, all about 60′ long.

Nicely tucked into our spacious site at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala Fl.

Ocala is the seat of Marion County which is considered the horse capital of the world and the Triple Crown winner Affirmed  was born and bred here.There are more then 1,200 horse farms and 900 of them are thoroughbred farms. They have 10 painted ponies throughout the city. Below are 3 of them.

Painted Ponies

Took the glass bottom boat tour on the Silver River/Crystal Springs. Many films and TV shows have been filmed here, including the Tarzan films with Johnny Weismueller  and the series Sea Hunt with Lloyd Bridges, The springs go to a depth of 80′, and many interesting artifacts lie below, including the people gathering below, leftovers from another film

The water was so clear, these statues were 20 – 80 feet down

This shot is taken through the glass

Our captain on this little cruise had been working on the boat since 1957 (wow)

Other wildlife hanging out.

We appreciated the peace and quiet and a State Park after all the hubbub of the resorts.

Very relaxing!