It sounds like Silver Springs is the same run down sort of attraction that it was 10 years ago when we went (it might have been longer than that....when we first moved to Florida).

I felt the same way about Cypress Gardens. My mother and I went, and the only good part was the "historical side" where the beautiful old gardens were with the boat ride through them. Now Cypress Gardens is closed, and has been turned into Lego Land. I don't know if they kept the gardens.

I would go back to Silver Springs just for the glass bottomed boat and the beautiful scenery around there. I often hear about entertainment there, did you see that?

We had a season pass for silver springs but will not renew it for this year. Very disappointed in the park. The concerts were full of teenagers roaming around and a lot of drunks. The car shows were ok but I think the ones in Spanish springs square in the villages were better and the food more to our budget. The park needs updating. I remember the park back in the 70's where the boat rides were much longer. They had a jungle cruise that took you way back into the forest. Not much there any more.

See post #80

Pasco County Florida Giraffe Farm

Can't wait to go here see a bit on youtube search using the name above

Quick get aways
 

Cedar Key - very "old" Florida - nice - take the boat excursions, also lots of "dog friendly" places.

Lido Key/Longboat Key (near Sarasota & Ringling) - very nice beaches, nice atmosphere & shop St Armands Circle. We stayed at Lido Island Resort - get the studio or 1 bedroom - walking distance to St. Armands Circle, short ride to Mote Aquarium, walk to great beach with optional pool, nice area. Short ride to kayaking, bird watching, etc.

According to the Silver Springs web site, the only things left there are the glass bottom boat and the gardens. The rides and animals are all gone. Admission to the grounds is free and the glass bottom boat ride is $13 for adults and $10 for seniors/children.We will be entertaining our 2-year old grandson next month. He might enjoy the boat ride, but am not sure if that is sufficient to warrant the long drive (which, for a 2-year old probably feels like an eternity). Any thoughts?

Don't forget the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot in the fall... (I'd recommend going on a weekday if you want to avoid crowds) They also have free concerts during the F&W festival and well as during Flower & garden in the spring.

There are several state parks within an hour or two.

Type "Saint Augustine Florida Historical Landmarks" into your search engine........
Use BING if you can..........great number of historical buildings, fort, etc., etc.
Old city on Atlantic Ocean side of Florida............go in cooler weather if you can.

St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's most charming. Whether you're a longtime resident or visiting the area for the first time, we've gathered all the resources you need to find where to stay, what to do and other community information about our unique little village.

http://www.oldcity.com/medlib/Aviles...0thumbnail.jpgKnown as the "Ancient City," Saint Augustine is located between North East and Central East Florida and is convenient to Jacksonville, Orlando, and Daytona airports. North Florida boasts a year-round mild climate perfect for strolling Saint Augustine's delightful historic district, with its cobblestone streets, quaint cafes, bars, unique shops and bed-and-breakfast inns. Experience the beauty of an early morning that slowly comes alive with locals and tourists setting out on foot to explore significant landmarks including the Castillo de San Marcos, Lightner Museum, Flagler College and Fort Matanzas. CLICK ON THESE HYPERLINKS FOR ECO TOURS AND MUCH MORE......

Whether you're interested exploring the city's rich history or the tranquil natural settings of this beautiful North Florida coastal area, Oldcity.com offers all the resources you need to plan your trip - in fact, you may find so much here, that you'll be planning your next visit before the first one ends!


St. Augustine Area Accommodations

Near the sea, beneath the stars or close to attractions and historic sites, St. Augustine has a variety of lodging options for your next vacation. Depending on how long you plan to visit and what you want to do when you get here, St. Augustine offers accommodations sure to suit your needs. Check out our Where to Stay section to find listings for all the accommodations options in St. Augustine including hotels, bed and breakfasts, condominiums, resorts, campgrounds, marinas and vacation rentals.
http://www.oldcity.com/medlib/st%20a...elebration.jpgSt. Augustine Attractions

Sun, fun, history and mystery—St. Augustine has it all! From the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum and everything in between, St. Augustine is an ideal locale for family fun and adventure. Check out our listings under What to Do for details on St. Augustine's most popular attractions
Local St. Augustine Information

OldCity.com has the inside track on what's happening in the St. Augustine community. We've got all the details on local happenings including community events, listings for local places of worship, real estate listings and links to other businesses around town. Browse through the Calendar and other features in our Community section to get the latest scoop on what's happening in St. Augustine.
St. Augustine Weddings

St. Augustine's beautiful beaches and historic buildings have served as the setting for weddings for centuries. We have all the local resources you need to plan your special day in St. Augustine, whether you grew up here or you're bringing the whole family in from afar for a destination wedding. Our St. Augustine weddings section will put you in touch with local caterers, venues, florists, photographers and vendors who can provide everything you need to complete your perfect day.
St. Augustine Recreation & Sports

If you love to golf or play tennis, St. Augustine is the place for you! There are many golf courses and tennis resorts located in the area. Ponte Vedra, home of The Players Association (PGA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), is a 20 minute drive from the downtown historic district. The many marinas dotted around the area make boating access ultra convenient by sea, river or Intracoastal waterway. Fishing, diving, surfing, parasailing and other water sports are abundantly accommodated. Visit our sports and recreation section for more information.
St. Augustine Beach

Our beautiful little town also boasts 43 pristine miles of beaches. There's the right type of beach for everyone: some permit vehicles and dogs while others allow only pedestrians. Some of the area beaches produce abundant shelling opportunities, while others are covered only in luxurious fine, golden sand. From single vantage points in town, you can experience both the joy of the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean horizon and the peacefulness of the sun setting beyond the salt marsh along the intracoastal waterway.

manatees are in Crystal River springs only in winter. guided tours allow limited swimming with them. they are gentle giants, totally harmless. I did a Fish and Wildlife ID program years ago where you ID the manatees by charting the propeller marks. Sad, poor babies. They have whiskers and very cute faces, some love to be scratched and probably huge poop that no one picks up on purpose. The water is 72 degrees year round in springs so is too cold for me even in a wetsuit.

go to AAA ON 441 near perkins.they have a slew of trips out of the caboose area in ss.try it out.also have casino trips to tampa!

There's a tractor museum in Leesburg.
Home - International Farmall Tractors

A trip to Tarpon Springs can't be beat Give yourself all day to see the shops and try all the Great Greek food. A trip out to the sponge sites and watch the divers is another great thing to do. Tarpon Springs is on US 19 about an hour or more from the Villages.

Silver Springs Update
 

[QUOTE=Bogie Shooter;579590][QUOTE=Dr Winston O Boogie jr;579577]We went to Silver Springs yesterday and I had very mixed feelings about this place. When I first got there I was very disappointed. The park is very old and run down. I like the feelings of old places as long as they are maintained and this place is not. There were very few patrons which may be why the place is so run down.

I just checked the Silver Springs website and found this update:
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PLANNING YOUR VISIT:
Dear valued guests, please note that Silver Springs nature park is being turned over to the State of Florida as of September 30th, 2013. In preparation for that, Silver Springs is undergoing significant renovations in order to bring it into a more natural state which emphasizes nature over rides and attractions. Accordingly, when you visit, you will find most if not all of our rides and attractions have been closed (and some may be in a state of deconstruction). However, the world-famous Glass Bottom Boats will continue to operate, so that guests may continue to experience the stunning wonders of these natural springs and the wildlife therein. The famous and wildly popular concert series is in full swing with an array of top talent, so attend as many as you can this season! This is your last chance to visit the park before it gets turned over to the State of Florida. Thank you for your patronage, and enjoy your visit!

Giraffe Ranch
 

[QUOTE=kagney123;679968]Pasco County Florida Giraffe Farm

Here's the website: Giraffe Ranch Farm Tours

I have not been, but will probably check it out with grandkids.

Giraffe Ranch
 

[quote=SanFranDianne;693459]We just came back from the Giraffe Ranch and had a wonderful time. Sort of a up close and personal mini wild animal park. Some extras are camel rides, behind the scenes tours and feeding the lemurs. I would recommend feeding the lemurs. It costs and extra twenty dollars per person, but it is well worth it. All the animals seem to be well treated and respond kindly to visitors. They normally only answer their phones between 08:30 and 09:30.

We just took a trip to fantasy of flight in Polk city. Great time. It is about 1 1/2 hours from the villages only open on Thursday,Friday,Saturday,and Sundays from 10:00 to 5:00. They have a nice restaurant on site good food.

When we visited the Villages recently we ended the trip with 2 days at Disney.
During our stay at Disney we saw the Cirque Du Soleil which was awesome. Definitely worth the trip to see the show. Though I would recommend searching for discount tickets. We paid full freight and it was to much.

We also ate at Raglands and watched the Irish dancers and music. The meal was amazing and the entertainment great. And we had a fantastic dinner at the bar area of the Flying Fish Cafe.

I was talking to the person next to me at the Flying Fish and mentioned our visit to the fabulous Villages and the couple near him overheard us. They were Village residents celebrating their anniversary!

day trips.
 

Here's one. My girl and i went crabbing near Tampa. We were the mates. We pulled traps, re baited them and reset them. We got a pile of crabs. Then you go back and get fresh cooked crabs, including soft shell, and eat till you cant. I think the web site is crabby joes. Or its on How to do Florida website. You will get dirty.

Float the Rainbow River at Dunellon. They rent tubes at the Rainbow River State Park and drop you at the starting point in a tram. A wonderful hot day lazy river experience, and a beautiful nature trip. Take several couples and do it together. $11 per person to rent tubes and get taken to the put in point. Safe parking as well. Takes a couple of hours.

Don't forget to take a walk through the park. Quiet, tranquil, waterfalls, gazebos, birds, butterflies.

Also, if in Gainesville around sunset, ask around for directions to the bat house near the University. We went just before dusk a few years ago, parked and walked over to the bat house and waited about 20 mins. Truly an unbelievable experience to see the bats leave the house at dusk. I was in awe at the shear number of bats (thousands) in the air just a few feet over your head as they fly out for their evening dinner of bugs. Perhaps not for the squeamish, but a very unique experience that one should see. :thumbup:

Great ideas. I have so many things to put on my to do list. Thank you

Can't say enough good things about Fantasy of Flight. Outstanding!!

There is a farm equipment museum in Leesburg. Any retired farmers would love this: Www.stewsihstuff.com