ParkerBill
12-03-2007, 05:11 PM
We used this state park during the November 15-18, 2007 FL-STOC event and everyone who stayed there (including me) liked it so much, many have recommended we use the same park again next year.
Here is a link to the park's web site (http://www.floridastateparks.org/silverriver/).
We found the rangers very motorcycle friendly and helpful, but not too interfering with our good time around the nightly camp fires. The camp sites we used were fairly large, clean and well maintained, with each having a picnic table, fire ring, grill, water and electricity included in the daily fee. I will not post the fees here since they are always subject to change, but you can get them by clicking on the parks web site link above.
This park is located just south of Silver Springs, FL, a well known tourist spot in itself and is just a few miles east of Ocala, FL.
Many (including me) were pleasantly surprised by some of the riding we encountered in horse country (huge expensive horse farms abound), the Ocala National Forest (I saw a live black bear a couple of weeks before FL-STOC while scouting rides), as well as St. Augustine (the oldest city in the USA) and the pleasant ride down along the Atlantic Ocean on famous A1A. In spite of what many think about Florida roads (including me) and while it's not Colorado or The Tail of the Dragon, some twisties can be found! Some of the routes many of us rode are listed in the 2007 FL-STOC thread (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29158).
I had no trouble sleeping because the park remained quiet during normal sleep times (except for us, of course, but we weren't too loud, at least not after 10 PM). It also has a "Cracker Village", museum, nature trails and a picnic/day use area, too. The park also has 10 "luxurious" cabins for those not inclined to camp.
The park is gated at night, but when checking in the park staff gives you the code to open the gate in case you are out of the park after it closes. A nice winding road leads back to the day use and camping areas and the camping areas are restricted to camping only.
While the park does not have a camp store on site, it is only a mile or so into Silver Springs where you can find several restaurants, gas stations and anything else you need.
Restaurant Recommendations--all located in Silver Springs, within a couple of miles of the park (from FL-STOC):
1. Pronto Pizza (very good!!)
2. Bob Evans (we had breakfast there every morning)
3. Denny's (located at the Inn & Spa Motel)
Oh, and one more thing--during FL-STOC 2007 we had temperatures below freezing one night!
Enjoy!!
Here is a link to the park's web site (http://www.floridastateparks.org/silverriver/).
We found the rangers very motorcycle friendly and helpful, but not too interfering with our good time around the nightly camp fires. The camp sites we used were fairly large, clean and well maintained, with each having a picnic table, fire ring, grill, water and electricity included in the daily fee. I will not post the fees here since they are always subject to change, but you can get them by clicking on the parks web site link above.
This park is located just south of Silver Springs, FL, a well known tourist spot in itself and is just a few miles east of Ocala, FL.
Many (including me) were pleasantly surprised by some of the riding we encountered in horse country (huge expensive horse farms abound), the Ocala National Forest (I saw a live black bear a couple of weeks before FL-STOC while scouting rides), as well as St. Augustine (the oldest city in the USA) and the pleasant ride down along the Atlantic Ocean on famous A1A. In spite of what many think about Florida roads (including me) and while it's not Colorado or The Tail of the Dragon, some twisties can be found! Some of the routes many of us rode are listed in the 2007 FL-STOC thread (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29158).
I had no trouble sleeping because the park remained quiet during normal sleep times (except for us, of course, but we weren't too loud, at least not after 10 PM). It also has a "Cracker Village", museum, nature trails and a picnic/day use area, too. The park also has 10 "luxurious" cabins for those not inclined to camp.
The park is gated at night, but when checking in the park staff gives you the code to open the gate in case you are out of the park after it closes. A nice winding road leads back to the day use and camping areas and the camping areas are restricted to camping only.
While the park does not have a camp store on site, it is only a mile or so into Silver Springs where you can find several restaurants, gas stations and anything else you need.
Restaurant Recommendations--all located in Silver Springs, within a couple of miles of the park (from FL-STOC):
1. Pronto Pizza (very good!!)
2. Bob Evans (we had breakfast there every morning)
3. Denny's (located at the Inn & Spa Motel)
Oh, and one more thing--during FL-STOC 2007 we had temperatures below freezing one night!
Enjoy!!