In 2016 alone, 112.8 million tourists visited Florida. There are many advantages to vacationing in Florida. For one thing, Florida has a notable amount of theme parks to visit, like Universal Studios and Disney World. Florida also is known for having, in general, good weather — it stays warm for much longer in Florida than it does in other states, allowing for more vacation time. Of course, we can’t forget the beaches in Florida — it doesn’t matter where you go in the state. You’ll always be about 60 miles from a beach. With that being said, in recent years many people on the hunt for family vacation spots have decided against going to the typical Florida sites like Orlando and Miami. This is in part because not all people want to vacation in a city. Some want to go camping and take part in outdoor activities. This has led a lot of people to consider Ocala, a place with all the conveniences of Florida, and plenty of campgrounds to offer. Say you decide to visit Ocala campgrounds with your family this summer — what kinds of activities should you take part in? There are plenty of things to do in Ocala, indoors and outdoors. Below, we’ll look at some of the things you might want to while camping in the area.
1. Visit Horse Farms
Did you know that each year, 7 million people ride horses in the United States? There are plenty of horse farms near Ocala campgrounds, and many of them offer activities to tourists. You don’t have to be an experienced rider to take a casual ride at a horse farm. Most of the time, professionals choose mounts for their clients depending on their level of experience. If you don’t know what you’re doing, the horse will. You could easily take a gentle ride on a trail, which is a fun activity for families to participate in together. Alternatively, some people visiting horse farms don’t want to ride at all — and they don’t have to. Taking in the sights and visiting with the horses will be a thrill for kids in particular. Of course, you might want to visit a horse show if it’s happening while you’re in Ocala. Horse shows are surprisingly entertaining, especially when they involve show jumping or even barrel racing. It’s definitely not an activity that you could participate in just anywhere.
2. Zip Lining
To begin with, we should make clear that zip lining might not be the best activity for very young children — but it could be an amazing experience for older kids and parents. Zip lining is the kind of activity that is thrilling, but isn’t actually that risky at all. Usually, zip lining companies will operate fairly close to campgrounds, making this something you could easily do while on vacation. Does it offer a thrill? Absolutely — but it also isn’t on the level of sky diving or bungee jumping. An experience zip lining company will make absolutely sure that you and your family are safe, and for that matter that you don’t become too overwhelmed. Whether or not you sign up for zip lining — nobody is going to force you to do it if you back out at the last minute. But you should know that it’s a once in a lifetime experience, and you likely won’t regret it.
3. Museum Browsing
Ocala offers a wide variety of museums for those who want to take part in more intellectual activities while on vacation. The Appleton Museum of Art, for example, offers a great collection of Asian and European art. The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center, on the other hand, has a number of cool fossils — including a mastodon skeleton. And if you want to go off the beaten path, there’s always the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing! No matter what you choose, you’re sure to find something up your alley.
