Ocala has wonderful options for fun things to do. Located in North Central Florida, there's a lot of fun, interesting things to see and do with friends and family!
Silver Springs State Park, which opened in 1878, has the largest group of artesian springs in the word and is the oldest tourist site in Florida! There are plenty of ways to explore the springs from canoeing and kayaking, even riding in one of their famous glass-bottom boats! Venturing through the waters, you'll be glad you took this trip! Open every day of the year from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., you can spend your whole day soaking up this beautiful park!
Take the kids for a fun, educational day at Discovery Center! Here, the whole gang will have a hands-on experience discovering all there is to learn at exhibits, classes, and special events. There are options to become a member so you and your family can visit Discover Center year-round!
Enjoy strolling around and looking at beautiful, unique pieces of art? The Appleton Museum is a gorgeous, contemporary museum that shows vast collections of American, Asian, and European art. In addition, they also have African, Islamic, and Pre-Colombian collections so you can experience all of the world's different cultures. Along with all of their art to view, they also have many events that gear towards specific interests you may have!
If you enjoy the performing arts, Reilly Arts Center has variety of talented, professional artists who perform comedy, recitals, sing-a-longs, and much more. The auditorium seats seven-hundred people and is the home of Ocala Symphony Orchestra. The arts center is conveniently located just minutes from Ocala's Downtown Square. Enjoy a concert or comedy show at the Reilly Arts Center and you'll see why visiting this arts center is one of the top fun things to do in Ocala.
Ocala Ghost Walks & Historical Tours
Want to do something eerie and exciting? Try out a ghost walk with Ocala Ghost Walks & Historical Tours! They will take you around historical places in Ocala while sharing ghost stories along the way. Your tour knowledgeable guide will provide give you plenty of information about Ocala's history and give you goosebumps with ghost stories at the same time. This is a night event, of course, so you can go on a tour between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., and tours can take between one to two hours. So grab a daring friend or family member and make a reservation to experience a spooky night in Ocala!
For a more family-friendly activity, we recommend the Ocala Petting Zoo! Your whole family will enjoy a day of viewing, petting, and feeding friendly farm animals. With a barn full of animals like goat, llamas, monkeys, camels, and more, there isn't a dull moment at this petting zoo. You can pack your own lunch and have a picnic at their designated picnic areas. They also have a bounce house and play area for the little ones. In addition, they also have pony and camel rides! Pick a day (except Tuesday) and take your family for a fun day on the farm they won't forget.
Another fun thing to do in Ocala is go to the Sholom Park, guaranteed to provide a tranquil and relaxing day. This park is a wonderful location to talk a calm walk, sit and read, photograph the scenery, and enjoy the beautiful flowers. It's a nice place to go alone to reflect, gather thoughts, and leave refreshed or meet up with friends. Either way, you'll want to visit again and again after walking around this park! From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. come and enjoy a peaceful get-a-way for yourself at Sholom Park.
At Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, you'll find yourself spending hours on end in the huge botanical garden with views of hundreds of species of flowers and plants. There is so much to see from waterfalls to unique quarry walls, making this one of the most uniquely-designed botanical gardens you'll ever see. Adults tickets are $7 each, and children's tickets are the same price unless they a five years-old and younger (their admission is free). After experiencing such a wide variety of nature in Ocala, you'll definitely be telling your friends all about it!
These fun things to do in Ocala won't disappoint because there's something for everyone!
Find more fun things to do in Ocala and register on 352area, the ultimate free guide to everything in North Central Florida.
Cover photo courtesy of Unsplash
