About Ocala

Beautiful Ocala is a landscape of sweeping green pastures, leafy, tree-lined streets and crystal-clear mineral springs. Ocala's residents pride themselves on the city's mix of metropolitan comforts with small-town community. The downtown district has undergone a recent revitalization, with a growing number of restaurants, shops, galleries and special events, while the Ocala Historic District consists of neighborhoods of stately Victorian homes. Ocala's culture treasures include the Appleton Museum of Art, with its collections of African, Asian and Pre-Columbian art, the Marion Performing Ballet and the Ocala Dance Theatre. Ocala also hosts several major festivals throughout the year, including several dedicated to the history and community life of the city.

More than anything, though, Ocala's main draw is provided courtesy of Mother Nature. Silver Springs, long considered Florida's earliest theme park, has glass-bottomed boat tours that allow visitors to catch glimpses of a long-hidden underwater world, as well as Jeep tours and live music entertainment. The Ocala National Forest is just three miles away from Ocala, and is home to over six hundred lakes, twenty mineral springs and innumerable plants and animals who make their homes there. Several canoe and hiking trails, as well as two established camping grounds, allow for human access to this tremendous natural treasure. Finally, the lush green pastures of Ocala are home to several horse farms, where sleek, muscular thoroughbreds are bred, raised and trained. Those with a passion for the equestrian arts will find that some of these farms and ranches offer tours and rides for visitors.