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Before theme parks took over Central Florida, families piled into station wagons and followed billboards to glass-bottom boats, mermaid shows, and towers you could ride to the top. A surprising number of those classic stops are still open near Ocala, and several now sit inside affordable state parks.
This list covers six of them, all within an easy day trip of Marion County. Pack a hat, grab some sunscreen, and get ready to see Florida the way your grandparents did.
1. Silver Springs State Park, Silver Springs, FL
Glass-bottom boats have been floating over these springs for generations, and they still leave from the docks right next to Ocala. The boat ride runs about 40 minutes and costs around $13, which makes it one of the easier old Florida bargains around.
Look down and you can spot fish, turtles, and even an old canoe resting on the bottom of the spring. Look up and you might catch alligators, wading birds, manatees, or the park’s famous wild monkeys along the river.
Kayak rentals, walking trails, a boardwalk, and a museum round out the visit. There are picnic tables, grills, a playground, and restrooms, and dogs are welcome.
The park is open daily from 8 AM to 8:30 PM at 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd. Weekdays are the calmer choice, since Saturdays and Sunday afternoons fill up fast.
2. Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala, FL
Chrome, horsepower, and more than 200 trophies. That is the short version of what waits off I-75 at 13700 SW 16 Ave in Ocala.
The museum belongs to Don Garlits, the top fuel drag racing legend, and it holds his own race cars alongside rails, funny cars, and machines dating back to the early days of the sport. A separate building houses classic and antique cars, so it is not only for racing fans.
Every display comes with detailed descriptions, and short films help explain how the sport grew. Anyone who grew up reading about drag racing in 1960s magazines will recognize plenty of names here.
Hours run 9 AM to 5 PM daily. There is a gift shop but no restaurant, so plan lunch before or after.
3. Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon, FL
About 20 miles southwest of Ocala, a former roadside attraction left behind something unusual for Florida: waterfalls. The stone terraces and cascades built for tourists decades ago still frame the paved and winding paths here.
The swimming area stays at 72 degrees all year, so it works in July or January. Kayaking, paddleboarding, and tubing on the Rainbow River are big draws, and the water is famously clear.
A butterfly garden, nature trail, and grassy picnic spots with grills make it easy to stay for hours. Kids get a playground, and dogs are allowed.
The park is open 8 AM to 6:45 PM daily at 19158 SW 81st Pl Rd in Dunnellon. I would aim for a weekday morning to skip the weekend afternoon crowd.
4. Florida Citrus Tower, Clermont, FL
Built in 1956, this 226-foot tower on Highway 27 is pure mid-century Americana. An elevator carries you 22 stories up to an observation deck with 360-degree views over Clermont and Lake County.
History panels at the top explain why the tower went up in the first place, back when citrus groves covered this part of the state. The view works during the day and again after dark.
Down below, there is a restaurant, a coffee shop, a gift shop, and an arcade. Parking is free.
The tower sits at 141 N Hwy 27, roughly 50 miles south of Ocala. It opens at 7 AM daily and stays open until 10 PM most nights and 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
5. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa, FL
Picture a small zoo built around a crystal clear spring, and you have the basic idea. The star feature is an underwater observatory where you can watch manatees swim at eye level.
Walking trails lead past alligators, native birds, and a bird enclosure, with educational signs along the way. The park also has a resident hippopotamus, a quirky holdover that fits right into the old Florida theme.
A boat tour, a small museum, and picnic tables add to the day. The grounds are well kept and easy for young kids to handle.
Find it at 4150 S Suncoast Blvd in Homosassa, about 45 miles southwest of Ocala. Hours are 9 AM to 5:30 PM daily.
6. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill, FL
Real people in mermaid tails, performing underwater in a natural spring. Few roadside shows feel more retro than that, and Weeki Wachee still puts it on.
The mermaid show happens in a submerged theater where guests watch through glass windows into the spring. It remains the reason most people make the trip.
There is more to do once the show ends. A natural lazy river, water slides, a lagoon, a kiddie pool, and a playground keep families busy, and a roughly 4-mile kayak route follows the clear river.
The park is at 6131 Commercial Way in Spring Hill, about 60 miles southwest of Ocala. It is open 9 AM to 5:30 PM daily, and weekends get busy.
Save this one for last on the list. It ties the whole old Florida road trip together with a show you really cannot see anywhere else.
