photo by: @sam_awat

About an hour and a half from Jacksonville, Silver Springs State Park is one of the most beautiful springs in Florida. The 4,000-acre Silver Springs State Park encompasses not only the springs, but the entire 5-mile Silver River and surrounding forest.

Silver Springs was founded in 1852. The main spring is surrounded by serene gardens and historic structures reminiscent of the days when Silver Springs was a major tourist destination with people arriving by steamship.  While at the springs you can go biking, bird watching, boating, camping, horseback riding, picnicking, and of course kayaking.

As one of Florida’s oldest attractions, the Glass Bottom Boats show the crystal-clear springs and the underwater life that lives below. It’s the perfect way to view the river's wildlife, vegetation and some interesting historical and cultural artifacts. Boat tours run every 30 minutes starting at 10 am.

Paddlers this truly your paradise. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at the Silver Springs headwater. You can paddle down the river with the current and then be shuttled back. They even have clear bottom tandem kayaks available.

Fifteen miles of forest trails can be walked or ridden on mountain bikes. Limited opportunities for bicycling on paved trails exist within the park. However, many trails are available for mountain biking. In fact, Silver Springs State Park has 4.5 miles of dedicated off-road bicycling trails suitable for fat tire bicycles. Additionally, Silver Springs boasts over 10 miles of hiking trails that can be ridden on.