| Ocala lies in the heart of Marion County with a | | | | Water Park. You can hike, camp, picnic, swim, canoe, |
| population of roughly 50,000 people. It's a city rich with | | | | scuba dive, and anything else you can think of to do in |
| history. It was established in 1846 near Fort King, which | | | | this natural wonder. Silver Springs also has the |
| was extremely important during the Seminole Wars | | | | distinction of being the largest artesian spring in the |
| and was also a stopping point for Hernando de Soto | | | | world. Nature lovers appreciate the Ocala area |
| during his expedition through the southeastern United | | | | because it is situated in the heart of horse country. |
| States. It was there he met the people of the Timucua | | | | Also nicknamed the "Horse Capital of the World", |
| village of the Seminole and told him that the place he | | | | Marion County is one of the largest thoroughbred |
| was in was called "Ocali," or, "Kingdom of the Sun." | | | | horse areas in the world. There are over 600 |
| Kingdom of the sun is absolutely right. Because Ocala | | | | thoroughbred farms and over 1,200 horse farms. |
| is located in the center of Florida, it sees more | | | | What about the theme parks? It's just a short drive |
| sunshine than any other city along the coast. Ocala | | | | away from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and |
| also has two very distinct seasons. The wet season | | | | Sea World so it's easy to make a day trip to any of |
| lasts from June to October and is characterized by | | | | your favorite theme parks. Ocala's proximity to the |
| daily afternoon thunderstorms. Unofficially, Ocala has | | | | parks is what boosted its economy back in the 1970's. |
| more sky to ground lightening than any other place in | | | | Right now, Ocala is experiencing one of the highest |
| the state. Morning temperatures are in the 70's while | | | | growth rates in the country for a city of its relative |
| the daytime highs are in the 90's. From November to | | | | size. This is partly because Ocala is one of the premier |
| May is the dry season. During the dry season, Ocala is | | | | retirement places in the country and also because of |
| known for its sunshine. Morning temperatures are | | | | the increase in building in the area. The formation of |
| often in the 40's and it warms up to the mid-70's by | | | | The Villages nearby, part retirement community, part |
| the afternoon. | | | | major shopping district, draws people to Ocala from all |
| Finding Ocala is easy because four major highways | | | | over the country. |
| run through it. Interstate 75, US Highway 27, US Route | | | | Thinking of purchasing some Florida real estate? |
| 301, and US Highway 441 all converge in Ocala and | | | | Ocala, Kingdom of the Sun, is the perfect place to live, |
| can take you to any destination you want to go. | | | | visit, retire, or build. If recent growth in the Ocala area |
| Where do you want to go once in Ocala? That's easy | | | | shows its potential then Ocala will be booming for |
| enough to answer: Silver Springs. It's just a short | | | | years to come. Each year brings more business, |
| distance from Ocala and is a 350 acre "natural theme | | | | families, retirees, and housing to Ocala than ever |
| park" consisting of Silver Springs and the Wild Waters | | | | before. |