Top Things to See & Do in Ocala
Just over 30 miles south of the college town of Gainesville and a little over an hour drive northwest of Orlando is an Old Florida destination that might not be on your radar.
Indigenous people first settled the area in the middle part of the state that would later become Ocala in the mid-19th century.
With a historic downtown area boasting shops and eateries around a shady square, a world-class art museum and glass-bottom boats at one of Florida’s original tourist attractions, Ocala offers many experiences that can keep you busy for a day or several days.
Fort King National Historic Park
3925 E Fort King St, Ocala, FL 34470
The park is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset or 7 p.m. (whichever comes first). The Visitor Center and Archeology Resource Center are open on Fridays-Saturdays from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM.
Sholom Park
7110 SW 80th Ave, Ocala, FL 34481
Sholom Park is a private natural space that’s open to the public with free admission.
Opened in 2004, creators envisioned a place where people could find their own symbolism in nature. A 44-acre oasis of introspection and meditation.
A favorite of locals, the park is a popular spot for weddings and other special events. The grounds also play host to a movie night, live concerts and fun educational events for the whole family.
Over two miles of walking trails at Sholom Park with plenty of areas accessible to those with limited mobility. Only working service dogs as defined by the ADA are permitted in the park.
Park Hours: Spring-Summer: 8AM – 7PM
Park Hours: Fall-Winter: 8AM-5PM
Open 7 Days a Week, Including All Holidays
Free admission
Flamingo Museum
4901 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ste 701, Ocala, FL 34470
We first featured Cindy Dunlow’s Flamingo Museum in 2019. Inside her frame shop at Six Gun Plaza is her personal collection of just about every kind of flamingo item you can imagine. Everything from stuffed animals and coffee mugs to glasses, ceramic figures and a flamingo toilet seat.
Cindy is always a great host and loves talking about her fascination with the pink bird that started in the 1960s.
A few years ago, she made the Guinness Book of World Records as having the largest collection of flamingo-related items. The record was set at 793, but today that number is well north of a thousand.
Tuesday - Saturday 10a-4p
Sunday & Monday Closed
Silver Springs State Park
5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488
The popularity of Silver Springs as a tourist attraction goes back to the 1860s. Journals and guidebooks during that time recommended this place as a “must-do” when visiting Florida.
People came here to experience the largest artesian spring in the world and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
The springs became commercialized with the introduction of glass-bottom boats in the 1870s, a tradition that continues to this day. There’s nothing like these one-of-a-kind views of this natural wonder.
The park has other activities like bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, camping and wildlife viewing.
Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center
1445 NE 58th Ave, Ocala, FL 34470
Located within Silver Springs State Park is the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center.
Operated by the local school district, it only serves student groups Monday through Friday and is open to the public Saturday and Sunday.
The museum features an outstanding Florida cracker pioneer settlement with a number of buildings dating to the 19th century.
In early November, the museum puts on Ocali Country Days as a fundraiser. Thousands turn out for this living history event that showcases what it would have been like to live in this part of Florida during the 1800s.
Appleton Museum of Art
4333 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470
A long reflecting pool leads to our next recommendation. Since 1987, the Appleton Museum of Art has been the crown jewel of Ocala’s cultural scene.
Set on 11 beautifully-landscaped acres, the museum includes six art galleries with a permanent collection of more than 24-thousand objects.
Works from local artists showcase the history and progression of Central Florida culture.
AppletonMuseum.org provides information on hours and pricing. Admission is free the first Saturday of each month.
Tuscawilla Art Park
213 NE 5th St, Ocala, FL 34470
A few blocks north of downtown Ocala is an outdoor creative space with plenty to do for the entire family.
Scattered across the three-acre Tuscawilla Art Park is a collection of larger-than-life outdoor sculptures. Some are permanent while other pieces are rotated out with new works of art.
There are two small lakes with walking paths, basketball and tennis courts and a playground.
A former Armory houses a top-notch Discovery Center where you can entertain and educate the kids while the Reilly Arts Center plays host to an array of events during the year
in a 705-seat, state-of-the-art venue.
Sweet Jane's Candy Store
2774 NE 102nd Avenue Road, Silver Springs, Florida 34488
Just outside of Ocala at the entrance to an RV resort is Sweet Jane’s Candy Store. Stepping inside is a step back in time to an old-fashioned candy shop that sells many of those sugary treats you grew up with.
In addition to nostalgic candy, there are all kinds of homemade goodies.
But there’s one big reason people go out of their way to visit this shop. That reason - Sweet Jane’s Whoopie Pies.
These homemade temptations come in a variety of flavors from vanilla and chocolate to red velvet and key lime. Also available, whoopie pie cookies and whoopie pie ice cream.
All it takes is one visit and one taste of these yummy treats to make this hidden gem a tradition when passing through the area.