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Silver Spurs Rodeo.
This is a fully functioning Rodeo. Sometimes televised on ESPN. It is a great place to visit with plenty of places to eat. It is situated in Kissimmee just off the Hwy 192. Check out their website here.
Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven
Cypress Gardens opened up on January 2nd, 1936 as a botanical garden planted by Dick and Julie Pope. Over the years, Cypress Gardens became the biggest attraction in Florida, known for its water ski shows and  Southern Belles. The park's popularity eventually died down, especially when nearby Walt Disney World opened up in 1971. In the early 1980's, Dick and Julie Pope retired and handed the park down to their son, Dick Pope Jr. It closed in April 2003 and Cypress Gardens reopened in November 2004 as a combination amusement park and botanical gardens. The park experienced a rise in attendance from tourists and locals, as well as the targeted customers of young people and young families.
With the success of the park, in Summer 2005, the park opened up its Splash Island water park and added another coaster, the Galaxy Spin. Also announced in summer 2005 was the purchase of Starliner, a classic wooden roller coaster from the defunct Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City, Florida. Starliner is set to open in 2007
Further Afield.
Rainbow Springs. From Orlando take Florida’s Turnpike North till you reach the I-75 for Ocala. Then, exit at the second Ocala exit onto State Road 40. Take State Road 40, west, drive until it reaches U.S. 41. Turn left, the park entrance is on the left-hand side of the road. See the map link below.
Rainbow Springs was known as Wekiwa Creek by the Seminole indians. It was known as Blue Springs until the 1930s, when the site was developed as a tourist attraction and the promoter sought a more distinctive name (there are several other springs in Florida named "Wekiwa" and "Blue"). To compete with the "glass bottom boats" of nearby Silver Springs, Florida, submarine tours were given of the springs. The tourist attraction was forced to close in the 1970s. The entire Rainbow River was designated as a Registered Natural Landmark in 1972, an Aquatic Preserve in 1986, and an "Outstanding Florida Waterway" in 1987. The land around the headwaters of the springs remained privately owned until 1990, when the State of Florida acquired the springs and saved them from development. Much of the work to open Rainbow Springs State Park was done by volunteers from the community. Archaeological evidence indicates that people have been using this spring for nearly 10,000 years. Rainbow Springs is Florida's fourth largest spring and, from the 1930s through the 1970s, was the site of a popular, privately-owned attraction. The Rainbow River is popular for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, and kayaking. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at both the headsprings and the campground. A picnic area at the spring includes tables, grills, and pavilions. For large gatherings, private pavilions can be reserved. Tubing is not allowed in the headsprings area of the park, but tubers can launch at nearby K.P. Hole County Park. The full-facility campground is about six miles from the day use area. The day use area is located three miles north of Dunnellon on the east side of U.S. 41. The campground is located on S.W. 180th Avenue Road about two miles north of County Road 484 and two miles south of State Road 40.
Silver Springs.
Tourists began visiting Silver Springs several years after the American Civil War. In the 1870s, the invention at Silver Springs of the "glass bottom boat" gave visitors a spectacular and unique view of the springs. Silver Springs gained national attention through journals and guidebooks, and became a mandatory stop on the "grand tour" of Florida. Former President Ulysses S. Grant visited the area in 1880. Other Presidents to visit the Springs included Calvin Coolidge in the 1920s.
Ocalans W. C. Ray and W. M. "Shorty" Davidson, owners of the land around the headwaters from the 1920s to 1962 were responsible for much of the development at Silver Springs. In the 1930s, Ross Allen's Florida Reptile Institute brought more notoriety to Silver Springs. Several movies and television shows were filmed at Silver Springs.
Today, Silver Springs is noted for its theme park, Here you can view the underground springs from our famous glass-bottom boats, where you’ll see fish, shellfish, turtles and alligators in water that’s up to 80 feet deep and 99.8% pure. Walk the beautiful grounds and experience the natural habitats of Florida’s largest alligators, endangered bears and panthers, Kritter Korral petting zoo, plus an entertaining variety of wildlife shows from Birds of Prey to snakes and reptiles. There are rides and exhibits for all ages in a natural setting of stunning beauty. Also located in Silver Springs is a water park, Wild Waters. Website Here
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