Ocala Florida is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places to live within the United States of America. Local citizens, known as Ocalans, are extremely cheerful and friendly and we just love to welcome new folks to our lovely Florida town. Most people that live in Ocala have been here for decades if not their entire lives and there is a strong reason why they have not left the area. Ocala really is the perfect place to live and retire because it has a distinct flavor of rural America with a splash of modern living in the heart of Central Florida. One thing we know to be certain is that once you move to Ocala, you will fall in love with the hometown feeling and stay forever just like the many thousands who have been doing so each year since the 70′s when Ocala was a quiet rural community of around 70,000 people.
Ocala is nestled in a perfect location in Central Florida because it is approximately an hour’s drive to Orlando, the Western Gulf Coast, and the Eastern Atlantic Coast. To be more exact, the quaint little town of Ocala is located in Marion County which lies in the heart of Florida and is home to the Ocala National Forest which is the largest national park in the Southeastern USA. People who live in Ocala Florida have the blessed opportunity to live a quiet and serene lifestyle while still being able to take short day trips to some extraordinary places in the Sunshine State. Even if you decide not to travel out of Ocala, there is plenty to do locally including an abundance of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and water sports. One of the most well-known places is Silver Springs Nature Park which is an absolutely gorgeous 350-acre nature theme park built around one of the largest freshwater springs in the world. Silver Springs Park offers a wide variety of things to do such as glass bottom river cruises, various amusement rides plus wildlife exhibits and some of the most lush botanical gardens in Florida. Silver Springs is an amazing place with some rare animal species including the largest bear habitat in the country that will simply amaze you and the whole family.
In addition to all of these exciting activities the “Brick City”, as Ocala is known, has many preserved and historic homes and buildings in a unique and charming historic district located on East Fort King Street in Downtown Ocala. The tree lined rows of well preserved Victorian style homes add a touch of charm to this already sweetheart of a southern city and a look back in time to the Florida of old. Although Ocala is considered a city, It is country living all the way with more farms and rural activities than most cities in Florida but all the amenities of modern America.
Ocala is well known as a horse community and lays claim to the title “Horse Capital of the World” with some of the largest and most successful equine farms in America producing some of the finest thoroughbred horses in the world of horse racing. Being a horse lovers paradise is a nice bonus for the many fans and there a number of very popular annual equine events including the world famous H.I.T.S. and youth horse shows. People living in Ocala value their peace and tranquility and they know they can find sanctuary in this impressive farming community.
There is another big plus about Ocala, and that is the local economy and lower cost of living in comparison to many other cities in America. The economical state of this great city is ideal due to its location and inexpensive living. Ocala is located right smack in the middle of two major universities, next to a number of major international airports, and near major Florida attractions including Disney World, Universal Studios and the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This optimum location makes it a great choice for tourism, manufacturing, construction and other forms of commerce. The local workforce in Ocala is as diverse as the population of America and offers a wide range of skill sets for local employers. Local commercial businesses in Ocala Florida do well because of the moderate temperate climate, mild seasonal fluctuation and the diversity in the workforce pool.
For students of all ages Ocala offers excellent schools and educational opportunities from highly rated public schools, community colleges and universities to adult education, vocational and technical schools plus a diverse variety of special education programs, services and unique learning centers. The International Baccalaureate program conducted at Vanguard High is a rigorous pre-university course of study that offers accelerated classes to meet the needs of the highly motivated secondary school student. College of Central Florida is a world class education center with Undergraduate Programs, Masters Degree and Doctorate programs for long term higher education in all fields.
For any person who is looking for peace and tranquility they will definitely find it here in Ocala Florida. Because Ocala is located outside of major cities so the price of Ocala real estate is still very reasonable and large tracts of land are readily available for anyone who seeks their own farm or family estate. Living in Ocala can be fun and exciting with so many events and activities, but also calm, cool, and relaxing for those interested in finding peace, quiet and tranquility. The Central Florida city of Ocala is one of the best places to raise a family or retire and settle down to a life of peace, harmony, and serenity! These are the reasons to consider moving to Ocala Florida.
