BEST Destination in Florida....so far....

Bob at The Orlando LDS Temple

The RV took us on a sacred path to our Florida Temple.  We have been here many times...with the most special (and exciting!) trips being to see our two youngest sons married and sealed to their Karens.  Yes, their wives are both named Karen and have been good friends for a long time.  It was good to be back and to participate in sacred ordinances for deceased family members.  To read an explanation of marriage in a temple, click here.  If you want to read the rest of this story click here.  

If you want to drive to this temple get directions here. 

One of the first things we saw on this trip was a security man in a John Deere Gator like the one we use in our campground work.  You can see where it is parked in the bottom of the above photo.  The best-ever security person is pictured here, Wilber Alfaro, de El Salvador.  He was sealed in this temple to his wife, who is de Puerto Rico.  He will visit his mother in his homeland so she will soon have the blessings of the temple as well.  Joy!

The crèche....It's only 5 days to Christmas~!

No overnight parking at the Orlando Temple....sorry....but....
There's a campground just a few miles away that will astound, amaze and alter your mind!

Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is the formal name of this Orlando city park.  It's beautifully maintained with the best 18-hole Disc Golf Course I've ever seen.  The farm is darling, with activities galore for kids...and the impressive pool overlooks the lake.  We had to stay in overflow but it's the best value we ever had for $15.  It's only $19 for shaded camp sites with electric and fine showers.

Pie, a retired race horse at the park's Farm.



Overflow RV site with view of Turkey Lake

Miss Becky has fed the livestock at Turkey Lake for 12 years!  You can rent her (and the farm) by the hour for kid parties. Trails leave the farm to outdoor musical instruments, paved bike trails and playgrounds. 

It doesn't get any better than this!

Horses R-WELCOME at Silver River State Park

Water Pump & Kiosk at Trailhead

Lottie gets a drink from the hand pump.  A careful check of the trail map on the kiosk in the Silver River parking lot sets you up for the best of adventures. Trails are marked orange, green, pink and red; there is also a river trail...and the river is simply gorgeous...preserved from human harm and lined with mounds of flowers, monkeys swinging on branches, and alligators of all sizes ignoring you.  If you do all the trails and wiggles, the trail is 10 miles. 



Even people who don't own a horse can experience the trail on horseback. Silver River State Park has contracted with Cactus Jack's Trail Rides for guided trail rides seven days a week.   You have to make a reservation because the horses don't live in the park...they have to ride in their trailer to meet up with you.  The cost is $55 plus tax for 2 hours.   It is a wonderfully interesting and pretty ride.  The sounds and sights are all wild:  deer, hogs, hawks, owls.  Of the 151 state parks in Florida, only 32 have horse trails...and this trail system is new. 

I've decided my initial exuberant reaction to Silver River SP was well justified.  It has it all...!

The park not only preserves 5,000 acres of natural Florida but its natural history.  We were told that camp hosts love being in their park, but rangers don't.  We've seen enough at the 20 or so state parks we've stayed at to say that this is mostly true.  Rangers very often start out as volunteers.  But once they switch to the strict schedule and requirements of a ranger, they make the "sad change"...from pure enjoyment of their surroundings to "just another day at work".  Even the most enthusiastic volunteers will succumb once their freedoms are restricted and the pressure of constant evaluation and added requirements sets in.  We are happy to stay in the volunteer category.  You really do have to PAY for a pay check.

Need to save money on the best horse ride in the East?  Check out http://www.groupon.com/  Search for current coupons to this or any other great attraction.  Have fun!