Let’s be real for a minute… July is just plain hot. If it doesn’t involve splashing around in the water, nighttime outdoor entertainment, a cool treat or air-conditioned activities, we’re sitting this month out. Thankfully, we’ve found plenty of these types of activities for your enjoyment. Check out all the following ideas for plenty of hot spots around Central Florida that are perfect for cooling off.
Written By Melissa Peterson
Outdoor Pursuits
Central Florida is chock-full of ways to stay cool even while enjoying the great outdoors. Here are 14 ways to battle the soaring temps this summer.
Paddle Silver River. If you’re looking for a nearby escape, Silver Springs State Park is perfect for a scenic paddle through Florida’s heartland. The state park offers multiple paddling opportunities, including an hourly paddle excursion near the head spring, a five-mile adventure from the headwaters to Ray Wayside Park with return transport to the park or a guided paddle tour complete with a fun history lesson of the area. Kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available, or you can bring your own for a small launch fee. silversprings.com
Tube the Ichetucknee. If you’re looking for a relaxing day on the water, traveling the pristine waters of the Ichetucknee River at Ichetucknee Springs State Park by innertube is the perfect outing. For your convenience, tubes are available for rent within the park, or you can bring your own tube (as long as it doesn’t exceed 60 inches) or rent from outside vendors that are plentiful nearby. There are two launch points within the park accessible by tram service (wristband purchase required), with floats lasting 45 minutes to two hours. The midpoint launch only allows 3,000 tubers each day, so it’s recommended that you get to the park early, as entry lines into the park can get long. ichetuckneesprings.com
Surf Daytona. As one of Ocala’s closest beaches, Daytona is typically the go-to destination for a quick daytrip. And lucky for us, Pure Life Surf School, located in Daytona Beach Shores, is one of Florida’s most unique and sought-after surf schools, offering both private and group surfing lessons for all ages and a top-rated kids’ summer surf camp. With consistent 1-to-3-foot waves pretty much all year, the goal for lessons at Pure Life is to have you up and riding the waves in the first lesson. purelifesurfschool.com
Explore the Homosassa River. If you don’t have your own boat, no worries—there are plenty of pontoon boat rentals in the area. In the summer months, you can make your way down the river toward the Gulf to go scalloping, or take an easy 15-minute ride to Homosassa Springs, where the manatees gather in the winter. The Bay Scallop season in Levy, Citrus and Hernando Counties is July 1 through September 24. Fishing opportunities are also plentiful in the area, with redfish, snook, ladyfish, snapper and more calling the Homosassa home. A quick internet search will turn up multiple rental companies in the area.
Ride Aquatica’s newest waterslide. Get ready for a stunning new twist on waterslide thrills with Aquatica Orlando’s all-new Tassie’s Underwater Twist attraction. Take the plunge into an incredible aquatic setting just below the surface of the ocean. Keep an eye out and you might just spy a school of fish grazing in the meadow. aquatica.com/orlando
Tour the Bayou with Tiana. The all-new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, where the old Splash Mountain once thrilled guests, opened at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on June 28. As guests float through the cypress trees and Spanish moss of a beautiful Louisiana bayou, keep an eye out for Princess Tiana, Louis and Mama Odie. Between Disney’s iconic storytelling, technologically advanced audio-animatronics figures and a thrilling 50-foot drop that’s sure to cool you off, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has enough fun for everyone. disneyworld.disney.go.com
Take the kiddos to the falls. Castaway Falls at Tampa’s Adventure Island water park, that is! This brand-new interactive splash and play area is open now and offers multiple levels and more than 100 distinct play elements. With three giant tipping buckets that dump over 1,300 gallons of water combined with four thrilling slides, soakers, flow pipes, hose and spray jets, water curtains and tipping troughs, it’s an ideal spot for kids of all ages—even the littlest adventurers! adventureisland.com
See life underwater. While many imagine snorkeling in the open ocean, in Central Florida, our natural springs offer the perfect setting to explore the underwater world. Magnificent springs form the basis for swimming holes in the Ocala National Forest, where the crystal-clear water is a constant temperature year-round, and excellent for snorkeling to see fish and other freshwater marine life. Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs, Salt Springs and Silver Glen Springs are just a few of the spots you’ll want to check out. fs.usda.gov/main/florida
Dive with sharks. Yes, you heard that correctly—sharks! There are opportunities for both cage and free dive adventures right off the Florida Atlantic Coast, depending on your comfort level, and SCUBA certification is not required. A quick internet search will provide several businesses operating in Central and South Florida. For a tamer experience, Orlando’s Discovery Cove offers a Shark Snorkel deep-water free swim. discoverycove.com
Plan a lagoon day. It’s a sight like no other. With acres of beach-lined crystal-clear water, these manmade, chlorinated, humongous pools are popping up throughout Central Florida. One of the closest lagoons is Epperson Lagoon, located in Wesley Chapel. This location is open to the public for a fee and offers a 30-foot water slide, floating obstacle course, bumper boats, and kayak and paddle board rentals. When you’re ready for lunch, The Reef Café is the go-to spot for guests to fill up and recharge, serving a wide variety of salads, snacks, and sandwiches, while the swim-up tiki bar serves tropical drinks. metrolagoons.com
Take to the seas. Royal Caribbean’s newest mega ship, Utopia of the Seas, is making its way to Central Florida starting this month, with Port Canaveral as its homebase. Making only three- and four-night trips, this ultimate short getaway features more pools than the days to count, with a trio of adrenaline-pumping waterslides and the FlowRider surf simulator. Plus, the adventure continues at private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, with everything from long stretches of beach to the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean and 14 waterslides. royalcaribbean.com/utopia-of-the-seas
Take a lesson. Summer is the perfect time for the littlest tikes in your family to familiarize themselves with the water. Learn to swim with the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at either the Hampton or Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Centers. The program consists of six lessons over a two-week period. Students are placed in groups according to their swimming levels and will learn how to stay safe around water, floating, strokes, how to be efficient swimmers and additional aquatic skills. Cost is $55 per participant. ocalafl.gov/aquatics
Visit a top-rated beach.Dr. Beach, one of the world’s foremost beach experts, ranks beaches around the world each year—and Florida beaches undoubtedly make the list year after year. For the 2024 rankings, two Florida beaches made the top 10 list: Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples. Both beaches are, of course, located on the Gulf side of Florida and, thus, have the white-sand beaches and clear, calm water we all love. floridastateparks.org
Book a stay at the lodge. We’ve all heard the rumors—Great Wolf Lodge is opening its newest location in Florida. Slated to open in September in Naples, this uber family-friendly resort will boast 500 suites and a sprawling 100,000-square-foot indoor water park. In addition to the water park, the resort offers a wide variety of family entertainment, including a bowling alley, gem mining, ropes course, mini golf and arcade. The resort is offering fantastic grand opening packages up to 30 percent off, and reservations are currently being accepted. greatwolf.com/naples
Summer Nights
There’s nothing like summer when the sun goes down. Check out these “cool” ideas for enjoying the outdoors while under the stars.
Ocala Drive In
Showing newly released, first-run movies, the Ocala Drive-In features two screens, and movie-goers can view two films for one low price. During the summer, the first movie starts later in the evening, so make sure you check out the website for the exact times. The drive-in is open seven nights a week, and admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. facebook.com/ocaladrivein
Summer Nights Lecture Series
The Fort King National Historic Landmark will host the Summer Nights Lecture Series during select dates in July and August. Each week different topics will be presented by professionals in the natural and historical resource fields. Lectures will take place on July 11, 18 and 25 and August 1, 8 and 15. Topics include foraging skills, Central Florida’s history, citrus and fruit trees, Marion County’s prehistory, civic youth engagement and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Events are free for ages 13 and over and take place from 6-8pm. ocalafl.gov/recpark.
The Pavilion at Green Gaits
Green Gaits is a boutique feed store for equine enthusiasts founded in 2021 and located in Ocala on West Highway 40. Building on their company’s exceptional reputation, the business recently opened The Pavilion at Green Gaits, a fun, family-friendly food and event space, complete with a covered pavilion, custom-built stage for live music and entertainment, and enchanting fire pits. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, hosting an event or simply looking for a unique space to unwind after a long day, The Pavilion offers rotating food vendors, a custom-built food truck and a one-of-a-kind, self-serve beer and wine trailer—both with rotating menus. Open Thursday through Saturday from 5-9:30pm. greengaitsocala.com/thepavilion
Rocket Launches
If you haven’t stood outside at night and watched a rocket launch from the comfort of your backyard, are you really even a Central Florida resident? Although it is possible to see the launches during the day, the dark night sky makes the event a lot more dramatic. Even though Cape Canaveral is 130 miles to our southeast, the firepower under the rockets can easily be seen if the cloud cover cooperates. You’ll want to find a location that offers a fairly open view of the horizon where trees will not block your view and look in the correct direction. You can find upcoming launches at spaceflightnow.com.
Bioluminescent Kayak Tours
During warm summer months, the waters of the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and Indian River Lagoon on Florida’s East Coast light up with bioluminescence—and nighttime kayaking tours are the perfect way to experience this unique sight. Dinoflagellates and pulsing Comb Jellies create these light shows that you’ll want to see for yourself. Pro tip: Book your tour during a new moon so the night is as dark as possible. There are plenty of tour operators to choose from, and a quick internet search can get you started. visitspacecoast.com
Sweet Treats
Sometimes we just need a little cold and creamy ice cream to cool us off on a hot day. Here are five of our favorite local spots.
Sweet Jane’s Candy Store
2774 NE 102nd Ave. Rd.
Silver Springs, FL
With a twist on the traditional ice cream sandwich, Sweet Jane’s Candy Store not only offers a wide selection of nostalgic candy brands but fantastically yummy homemade ice cream whoopie pies—vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two cookies. Options include chocolate chip, sugar, pumpkin, chocolate and red velvet cookies.
Ice Cream King
9570 SW 62nd Ave., Suite 400 Ocala, FL
A local family-owned shop, Ice Cream King loves bold and delicious flavors. Offering Real Hershey’s Ice Cream, made with quality ingredients in a wide variety of flavors, try their special selection of extra creamy, ultra-premium ice cream packed full of flavor and inclusions.
Ocala’s Chocolates & Confections
104 E Fort King St.
Ocala, FL
Come for the homemade chocolates—stay for the refreshing ice cream cones. Located near the downtown square and offering gourmet, exotic and everyday chocolates, the shop also serves over 30 flavors of ice cream, with unique flavors like Rum Raisin, Calypso Crunch, Garbage Can, Dulce de Leche Cheesecake and Mexican Hot Chocolate, as well as all your traditional favorites.
Mr. B’s Big Scoop
8399 SW 80th St., Suite 16 Ocala, FL
Family owned and operated since 2008, Mr. B’s is a one-of-a-kind Ocala staple. This shop is based on the legacy of the owner’s great grandfather, who was in the ice cream business for 40 years, so you could say the love of ice cream runs in their family! Every day, you can find them serving up happiness by the scoop in a rotating variety of flavors for every taste.
Sprinkles Ice Cream
6675 SE Maricamp Rd.
Ocala, FL
Sprinkles is a cute roadside stop in Silver Springs Shores with colorful picnic tables for enjoying your scoops on the spot. With traditional flavors and fun extras, you’ll find something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Enjoy scoops in the cup or cone; sundaes with toppings like chocolate syrup, caramel, strawberry and pineapple, whipped cream, cherries and walnuts; or a nostalgic banana split.
Stay (Inside) Awhile
If you can’t take the heat… get out of the sun! Sometimes we just need a little A/C, right? That doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Here are some indoor events that both families and couples will enjoy.
Skillz & Drillz
Mondays, July 1-29
Ocala Recreation and Parks can help families unlock the potential of their child’s growth through the Skillz & Drillz program. Happening at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place from 5:30-6:30pm on Mondays in July, this unique class is the perfect blend of fun and learning, aiming to sculpt a solid foundation for both physical and cognitive sports development. The program is for kids ages 5-7 and costs $15 per player. ocalafl.gov/recpark
Free First Saturday
July 6
Visit the Appleton Museum of Art on the first Saturday of each month from 10am-5pm for free admission all day to see the special exhibitions and permanent collection and to make art in the Artspace. In July, The Donut Express and Grilled Cheese Emporium food trucks will be on-site from 11am-3pm. In combination with the special exhibition Outsider Aviary: Robert W. Smeltzer’s Birds of America, at 11am and 2pm, see a screening of the 2017 documentary Audubon. appletonmuseum.org
The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet
July 14-16
The Capitulates and the Monotones feel about each other the way Sam-I-Am feels about green eggs and ham. But, despite their feuding families, star-crossed youngsters Romeo and Juliet love each other like the Cat in the Hat loves trouble. Sublimely silly, this whimsical reinvention of Shakespeare’s romantic tale—as told by Thing One and Thing Two, in rhyming couplets—is a lot more magical than tragical. Oh, the laughs you will laugh when Seuss is on the loose in Verona! ocalacivictheatre.com
Taylor Shines –
The Laser Spectacular
July 19
It’s two hours of non-stop Taylor Swift hits seamlessly blended with the world-famous touring Laser Spectacular & Light Show. The show also features large-screen video projection, 3-D glasses and all the mind-bending effects the Laser Spectacular is famous for. DJ Tiff is an extraordinary on-stage presence that will have Swifties singing along with their favorite. Joined by DJ JC, the two performers propel Taylor Shines to a thoroughly enjoyable evening for moms, dads and all the Swifties in the family. reillyartscenter.com
Date Night at the Discovery Center
July 19
Located at Tuscawilla Park, the Discovery Center is Ocala’s local children’s science center that lets kids learn in a fun, hands-on way. On select nights, however, adult couples 18 and over are invited to the Discovery Center for a new way to do date night! Guests enjoy light appetizers, kid-free playtime in the current exhibit and hands-on activities like animal encounters and science experiments. In July, discover the wonders of Earth and end the night exploring the stars in the StarLab planetarium. Tickets are $30 per couple. Registration required. mydiscoverycenter.com
Candlelight: The Best of The Beatles
July 26
Experience the timeless music of The Beatles like never before. This enchanting concert series, happening at the Ocala Civic Theatre, celebrates the legendary band’s greatest hits, performed by talented musicians in an intimate and atmospheric setting. Candlelight offers a unique opportunity to experience the magic of their music in a whole new light. The event promises an unforgettable evening filled with beautiful harmonies, captivating storytelling and the timeless spirit of The Beatles. candlelightexperience.com