Scenic Silver Springs
Sunday 01 February 2015 at 12:00 am.
Used tags: alya, flora, rafiq, travel, work_excursion
Tweet
While we were in Ocala, Florida on a work trip, the local colleagues recommended that we visit Silver Springs, Florida and try out the glass bottom boats. So that is what we did! It was not far from our hotel (one town over) and quite convenient, and as it turned out, it was really really amazing! We all loved it! So here are some pictures.
OK, here are a lot of pictures! We weren't there more than a few hours but it really was very cool. We would definitely go again if we had the chance, to experience the glass bottom boat again.
* Mouse over the pictures for captions
We start with some photos that we took while waiting for the next glass bottom boat tour to begin.
Some of the gorgeous swampy flora:
And then it was time to get on the boat!
Here is a section of the underwater photos. The water of Silver Springs is amazingly clear and these photos do not do it justice. It is by far the clearest water I've ever seen. These waters are potable (drinkable) and are even pumped out to make bottled water. The springs are fed by the underground aquifer and stay at a constant 72 F (about 21 C) all year round. Just one of these underground springs (I believe it was Mammoth Spring) puts out so much water every day that it is enough for half the population of the world to drink in one day. Plus did I mention how ridiculously clear these waters are? If it had been a warmer day, we would have braved kayaking these waters so I hope we get to go back here at some point so we can do just that. Anyway, here are the photos taken through the glass bottom of the boat:
Next, some of the above-water scenery while on the boat tour:
And then the tour was over. Sadness for everyone. Both children (even Adik!) were completely absorbed by what lay beneath the glass bottom boat.
This is what the boats looked like from afar:
We then walked around the main part of the park for a little while:
We really did enjoy this park and highly recommend the glass bottom boat tours. At bedtime that night, Adik said that his favorite part of the day was the glass bottom boat ride! Perhaps one day we will return for the tour and a day of kayaking on these lovely clear waters.
four comments