Tampa | Glass-Bottom Boat & Forest Hiking – Absolutely Unreal! 🤩

📍Silver Springs We had a free day last minute and decided to go boating—all the clear kayaks were fully booked for the week, so we ended up on a glass-bottom boat instead! 🚢 And we also randomly picked a state park trail nearby… Little did we know—the entire day turned out to be absolutely breathtaking!! 😍 ——— 1️⃣ Glass-Bottom Boat Tour They offer 30-minute and 90-minute tours. We took the 30-min one—only $13 per person! Park admission was an extra $2. About 20 people can fit on the boat. You look down through glass panels at the bottom to see underwater plants and wildlife 🌿🐠. The staff give fun facts and help spot springs and alligators 🐊. The water is unbelievably clear and magical on a sunny day ☀️💎—so worth it! Pro tip: Board last so you can sit near the door for better photos! We didn’t see manatees this time, but the crew said it’s because of the heat. In winter, you can see tons of them—even on the short tour! ——— 2️⃣ State Park Trail There are two main trails along the lake: One is a standard forest path 🌲, The other is a loop trail where you can see monkeys!! 🐒 And the river views are incredibly clear—perfect for photos! 📸 ——— 3️⃣ Swamp Trail This one is near Silver Springs—the entrance is next to the Silver Springs Museum. Cost was $8 for two of us. We had the whole trail to ourselves! The weather kept shifting between sun and light rain 🌦️—which made it even more atmospheric. One moment you’re walking through oak forests, then among tall straight trees, then through dense grassy meadows 🌾🛤️. You eventually reach the edge of the Silver River—so peaceful and beautiful. #Tampa #HiddenGems #GlassBottomBoat #Hiking #Florida