…More like Giraffes and Florida Panthers and Alligators, oh YEAH!
That essentially sums up our little excursion to Silver Springs, Florida. It is home of the Silver River, glass bottom boat tours and some of the friendliest animals down South, as you will see…..

Take for example, this, my favorite Giraffe – one you can feed Giraffe cookies to, who will eat them right out of your hand, snaking her big black tongue around it so delicately before she snaps it out of your hand and eats it in one gulp.
Or perhaps this, a beautiful Florida Panther who has a penchant for chewing on big hanging balls, rubbing her face up against tree trunks and pouncing on the glass that separates you from her – what a tease!.
Or maybe you like the Llamas the best with their rude behavior,

Or the Pot Bellied Pigs that kick their little hooves while they dream and snore in unison,

Perhaps the Deer who licks people…

or you, maybe YOU like the king of the Florida waterways, the Alligator or perhaps the American Croc.

Whatever you like, you will likely find it at Silver Springs, from Pink Flamingos to Kodiak Bears to the largest rodent in the world, the Capybara.

We really enjoyed our day at Silver Springs. We kind of felt like we were about 5 years old again, looking at the animals, going to the petting zoo, riding around in boats all day, eating ice cream, cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries and just having good old-fashioned fun. The only thing that really drew us out of this idyllic day was one of the captains of one of the boat tours we went on. He spent much of his commentary commenting about the state of the world, about the war and “getting the job done overseas”, praying for all of us and the soldiers and discussing his time in the military and the ministry. As we were walking out we saw a family sitting on a bench, the women were wearing burquas and we wondered how they would have felt had they been on that boat tour. We really felt that for a park where so many people come to have a good time, from so many places all over the world, that it is not a place to speak on religion or politics, especially when you have people trapped on a boat with you where they either have to listen to your views or take their chances with the gators.

But we left feeling good about the animals and the beauty of it all and planning our next trip back to childhood fun. I really think that is what Silver Springs is all about – it is an interactive amusement-type park for those of all ages who want to learn something about Florida’s great treasures: its native flora and fauna, with a few exotic relatives thrown in for good luck!

~*~For more pictures of these beautiful animals
and plants check out my gallery~*~

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