{"id":2507,"date":"2023-06-29T19:30:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T19:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aikenadventures.com\/?p=2507"},"modified":"2023-07-04T20:26:15","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T20:26:15","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-ocala-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aikenadventures.com\/best-things-to-do-in-ocala-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Things To Do In Ocala, Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ocala, Florida is one of the major thoroughbred breeding centers in the world, one of only four such facilities. Ocala became one of the first towns in Marion County in Florida in the early 1800s. Located in northern Florida, the last census reported approximately 63,500 people making it the 54th most populated city in Florida.  It has over over 400 thoroughbred farms, and was named the Horse Capital of the World in 2007. Many of Ocala\u2019s unspoiled natural beauty has been used in Hollywood movies.  Notable places to see are Silver Springs State Park, World Equestrian Center, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center, and the Petting Zoo Ocala. You can find all sorts of nature adventures from hiking to kayaking or even interesting museums, shopping or dining. It is definitely worth a day trip for a visit. But we are going to touch on the following attractions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Silver Springs State Park<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. World Equestrian Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Petting Zoo Ocala<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n


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    Silver Springs State Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Silver Springs State Park is home to one of America\u2019s clearest, largest natural springs. Here you can rent glass bottom boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, or camp, hike, dine or shop as well. In the 1820s, adventurous travelers made their way here after the annexation of Florida, and it soon became a hub for shipping and cargo, a commercial distribution center for Central Florida. Soon, steamships were traveling up the Silver River and Ocklawaha River, moving crops and supplies, leading to the rise of plantations growing vegetables, tobacco, and oranges along the river. Right after the Civil War, steamboats started giving tours to Silver Springs, with it becoming the \u201cmust see\u201d location. After the creation of the glass bottom boat by Jones and Morrell in the 1870\u2019s, then the start of glass bottom boat tours began. In the 1930s, Hollywood took an interest in Silver Springs, filming several films there, such as Rebel Without a Cause <\/em>and 6 Tarzan <\/em>movies there. 2013 saw the Florida Park Service taking over Silver Springs, working hard to preserve the the cultural and environmental resources of the 4,000 acres of the park area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Ocala<\/a><\/blockquote>