— By Vanessa Caceres —
If your loved ones enjoys horses and getting out in nature, then the north central Florida city of Ocala makes for an ideal highway journey. Ocala is positioned about an hour and a half from each Orlando and Tampa, so you can also make it a day journey in case you’re staying in one among Florida’s larger cities. Alternatively, Ocala can also be an important vacation spot by itself.
A Household Journey to Ocala, Florida
Ocala’s declare to fame is that it’s the Horse Capital of the World. The town’s plentiful companies centered on elevating thoroughbred horses earned its title. In truth, there are greater than 35,000 thoroughbred horses dwelling there. Marion County, the place Ocala is positioned, is claimed to have extra horses than another county within the U.S. Many champion horses have lived in Ocala, together with six Kentucky Derby winners and 26 Breeders’ Cup champions.
So sure, Ocala has peaceful-looking horse farms that you just’ll drive previous, however you in all probability wish to go deeper than that. Whether or not you need your highway journey to Ocala to concentrate on #horselife or one thing broader, we’ve acquired a couple of concepts to share.
Listed here are six issues you are able to do with your loved ones when visiting Ocala, Florida.
Take a Horse Farm Tour
Ocala has a wide range of horse farm excursions, just like the Gypsy Gold Horse Farm Tour, the place you’ll uncover extra concerning the Gypsy Vanner horse from Nice Britain. Or, tour the Grandview Clydesdale Farm & Excursions to study extra about these well-known Clydesdales. Farm Excursions of Ocala takes you thru a number of horse farms within the space whereas touring with a small group.
Go to the World Equestrian Middle
The World Equestrian Middle is an enormous, new advanced with an upscale lodge and a wide range of arenas for horse reveals. You may test its web site upfront to seek out out what reveals shall be there. Make sure to funds further time to stroll round, try a few of the stunning and eccentric horse and animal sculptures, and seize a chunk to eat at onsite eating places just like the Yellow Pony Pub or Ralph’s Burger & Sandwich Store. You can too take a peek contained in the lodge.
Spend Some Time Downtown
Downtown Ocala continues to develop, and also you’ll discover a mixture of issues to see that may entertain all ages. Should you’re there on Saturday, try the Ocala Downtown Market for a mixture of agriculture, arts, and ready meals. Simply a few blocks away is Grandpa Joe’s Sweet Store, the place on-line reviewers affirm the choice actually brings out your interior “child in a sweet store.” Inside a couple of blocks, you’ve acquired a number of nice restaurant decisions, like Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille and Brick Metropolis Southern Kitchen. This useful map from Ocala Fundamental Road is usually a useful information.
Absorb All the Artwork
In a nod to the world’s equine heritage, you’ll discover a assortment of horse statues in downtown Ocala. The statues are a part of an artwork venture known as Horse Fever, painted with all sorts of completely different designs and infrequently giving a nod to the world’s historical past. Discover extra details about the horse statue areas right here. You’ll additionally discover a number of eye-catching murals round downtown.
And talking of artwork, one can’t-miss household exercise in downtown Ocala is the West Tuscawilla Artwork Park. Created in 2016, the three-acre park contains public artwork, botanical vegetation, strolling paths, and a scenic water view. It’s additionally positioned beside the historic Ocala Union Station. Let your younger ones run across the park whereas they select their favourite paintings.
Take a Glass-Backside Boat Tour at Silver Springs State Park
This pure gem has been round for many years; actually, a number of films had been filmed there within the Nineteen Fifties and Nineteen Sixties, together with, “Creature From the Black Lagoon.” Silver Springs is known for its glass-bottom boat excursions, which allow you to see proper into the park’s clear waters. Look out for manatees and gators among the many fish and vegetation!
Past the boat tour, you may get pleasure from a nice stroll across the park or go kayaking. Plus, maintain your eyes open for the rhesus macaque monkeys dwelling on the park.
Examine Out Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing
The Garlits’ Museum says that it’s been a “curator of motorsport’s previous” since 1976. If anybody in your fam enjoys watching or collaborating in drag racing or historic automobile tradition, be sure you cease by the museum.
Tuscawilla Artwork Park
Conclusion
As you may see, visiting all of Ocala’s sights and having fun with its horse tradition can simply take up a full day or weekend. Add in the truth that you’re comparatively near Orlando, Tampa, and Gainesville (house of the College of Florida), and it may make for an important household vacation spot in north central Florida.
Photographs courtesy of Vanessa Caceres
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