Things to Do in Ocala, Ocala, Florida

Ocala, located in North Central Florida, has a growing population of 63,000+ and counting. With hundreds of horse farms and the famous World Equestrian Center, Ocala is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Though Lexington, Kentucky would argue that claim. While the horse industry in the area is substantial, there are other things to do in Ocala.

Anyone who loves to hike will appreciate the Cross Florida Greenway. It is a 110 mile linear park that spans from the Gulf of Mexico

to St. John’s River. There are many trailheads, but one close to Ocala is the Land Bridge Trailhead.

The trails in this area are designated specifically for hikers, bikers, or horseback riders. There are also a few multi-use paths too. The trails pass beneath the hammock, so they remain shaded in Florida’s hot sun. I was grateful to find a 3.3 mile shaded loop for hikers only.

Another lovely park in Ocala is Silver Springs State Park. This park is best known for its glass bottom boat tours. The first glass bottom boat tour was in the late 1870’s when Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell fixed a piece of glass to the bottom of the rowboat. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).