Things to do in Ocala, FL

Backdrop for the 1941 film "Moon Over Miami" — and many other cinematic showpieces — Ocala is distinctly beautiful, thanks to trailing Spanish moss and rolling pastureland. The Marion County town has even been ranked one of Forbes magazine's top twenty best small towns in which to live. Ocala sits in the middle of Florida horse country and is home to more than 400 farms, many of which are dedicated to thoroughbred breeding and training. As a result, the city has produced six Kentucky Derby winners and annually showcases hunting and jumping competitions during the Horse Show in the Sun festival. Flanked by undulating bluegrass fields and lush forests, Ocala offers genteel Southern charm. In town, the Ocala Historic District features a 55-block stretch of Victorian homes; other easily accessible attractions include Silver Springs, Ocala National Forest, Appleton Museum of Art and Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. Plus, oceanside fun is only 80 miles away in Daytona Beach, and Orlando is little more than a hour distant.

Backdrop for the 1941 film "Moon Over Miami" — and many other cinematic showpieces — Ocala is distinctly beautiful, thanks to trailing Spanish moss and rolling pastureland. The Marion County town has even been ranked one of Forbes magazine's top twenty best small towns in which to live. Ocala sits in the middle of Florida horse country and is home to more than 400 farms, many of which are dedicated to thoroughbred breeding and training. As a result, the city has produced six Kentucky Derby winners and annually showcases hunting and jumping competitions during the Horse Show in the Sun festival. Flanked by undulating bluegrass fields and lush forests, Ocala offers genteel Southern charm. In town, the Ocala Historic District features a 55-block stretch of Victorian homes; other easily accessible attractions include Silver Springs, Ocala National Forest, Appleton Museum of Art and Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. Plus, oceanside fun is only 80 miles away in Daytona Beach, and Orlando is little more than a hour distant.