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Ocala. Travel Guide
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Everything Ocala..
Ocala is surrounded by some of the most beautiful horse farms in the world.
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Ocala is a magical land of gurgling mineral springs, carpets of emerald-green grass that the springs feed, and handsome thoroughbred horses that feed on the grass. White corral fences neatly divide its rolling countryside, where foals romp and rambling ranch houses command. Some of the ranches allow visitors in to tour or ride horses and learn about how the thoroughbreds are trained for racing.
Downtown Ocala, a quiet, compact district surrounded by modern-day stores and hotels, preserves the commercial buildings and ornate Victorian homes from its boom era in the 1930's. Delis, pubs, and other shops take up residence behind brick facades around a pretty little gazebo park. In the residential historic district along Fort King Avenue, more than 200 wooden, steamboat-era mansions range in style from Queen Anne Revival to Italianate.
Other attractions in Ocala include the Appleton Museum of Art, an eclectic collection of priceless treasures; the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, honoring a local citizen who made it big on the oval track, with classic dragsters and other antique automobiles; and Discovery Science and Outdoor Center, with hands-on indoors and outdoors exhibits.
The Ocala National Forest spreads at Ocala's backdoor, providing recreational access to the area's pristine spring lands and preserving vast acreage of pine forest laced with rivers, streams and the lakes they form. The forest is immense, more than 383,000 acres, 19 developed campgrounds and two day-use recreational areas. Most popular among the camping recreational areas, Juniper Springs is beautified by an old waterwheel and mill at its refreshing swimming hole, naturally climate controlled to 72 degrees year around. Alexander Springs is best for canoeists. One of its hiking trails takes you down the path of ancient civilizations, explaining how the Timucuan Indians used different plants for food, clothing and entertainment. Other trails in and around the forest are part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Cyclists can pedal along the 22-mile-long Paisley Woods Trail, which connects Alexander Springs in the north to Clearwater Lake in the south.
Since 1878, the biggest attraction in the area has been Silver Springs, actually considered Florida's first tourist park. It attracted folks with its sparkling spring waters and the first-ever glass-bottom boats for spying at the fish and archaeological artifacts at the springs' bottom. Many a movie and TV show have used the lush location for filming, including Tarzan, Sea Hunt and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Today, live animals, a Jeep safari, boat tours, a tots play land and top-name country entertainment keep the park lively. Next door, Wild Waters Water-Park adds to the excitement during the summer, with slides, flumes and kiddie fountains.
Along the way, campgrounds, a pioneering eco-lodge, endearing bed and breakfasts, and small lakefront fishing resorts welcome travelers to stay in this part of Florida, removed from bustle and ensconced in rural heartland lifestyles.
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Theme Parks 
