This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ocala/Marion County VCB. All opinions are 100% mine.
I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. We had a wonderful time with family, food, drinks and minor explosions. I love the 4th of July but it is always sort of bittersweet because I feel like the holiday marks the halfway point of summer. It feels like summer is ending, not starting, once the fireworks burn out.
This is the time of year when I am always scrambling to add a few more fun things to the family calendar. I start looking for weekends where we can squeeze one more family trip in to make some more memories.
It is hard to find the right adventure that we can take with very little planning and time available. This is why I feel so lucky to live close to Ocala/Marion County and all that it has to offer. Situated in Central Florida, it is not too far of a trip no matter where you live in the state. It is also only about 2 hours from the Orlando Airport, so if you want to fly in from out of state, it is fairly convenient as well.
In addition to its central and convenient location, there is so much to do. You could make this destination several different mini trips over long weekends throughout the year. And each time you go, it would be like a completely different place. In the summer months you could go to Silver Springs and trail riding on horseback. You could visit again in the fall for its many fall festivals and the Pumpkin Run Car Show. Then in March you could go birding and play a round of golf.
Ocala/Marion County is perfect for horse-loving children, there are many equestrian activities. One place you could visit the Florida Horse Park. This park rests on 500 acres of beautiful Central Florida landscape. You can visit as a spectator, taking in the world-class competitors in international level competition courses. This site is now the host and training grounds of the United States Equestrian Team. If you want to see the best in all equestrian competitive events, this is the place to go. The Florida Horse Park includes hundreds of miles of gorgeous riding trails winding throughout the beautiful Florida Greenway.
Another animal-lover destination is Happy Acres Ranch. This is an actual working dude ranch that has activities for the whole family to enjoy. There are wonderful trails to ride, and it also has square dancing, hay rides, BBQs and clinics.
One of the things that make planning trips to Ocala/Marion County so easy is its website, which is easy to navigate, intuitive and informative. Florida Travel has never been so easy to plan. It’s easy to find the perfect Ocala/Marion County Activities. All of the activities are divided into easily navigated categories: Agritourism, Arts & Culture, Attractions, Dining, Golf, Outdoor Activities and Shopping.
Don’t forget to check out Ocala/Marion County Lodging to find the best place for your family to lodge at during your stay. Again, it has all of the options divided up for easy selection to make your planning as painless as possible. Whether you are looking for a romantic bed and breakfast or something that is pet friendly, this website will guide you to where you need to go.
Like all good things, summer WILL end. It is tough to admit, but true. But summer is not over yet. You still have time to grab that calendar and plan one last summer trip for the whole family. Ocala/Marion County is making it as easy as possible to do this. So go for it!
Ocala/Marion County Summer Decathlon
How would you like to win the ultimate family getaway in Ocala/Marion County including a two-night stay, a dinner voucher and entrance into a fun local activity? Enter the Ocala/Marion County Summer Decathlon content by sharing a photo of you and your loved ones doing one of these fun activities in Ocala/Marion County with the hashtag #MAR10NSummer.
- Kayaking
- Paddle Boarding
- Canoeing
- Zip Lining
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour
- Bicycling
- Horseback Riding
Contest runs through September 5, and each photo submission with the hashtag #MAR10NSummer counts as an entry. There are unlimited entries so challenge yourself to adventure in Ocala/Marion County and share those photos.
Still need more convincing? Check out these 3 reasons Floridians should visit Marion County.