This Florida City Is Home to the Largest Spring in the US — and It's Nicknamed the 'Horse Capital of the World'

12.08.2024 - 14:09 / travelandleisure.com

You don’t hear about Central Florida very often, and when you do, chances are it has something to do with Walt Disney World. But just over an hour north of the famed resort complex is the mid-sized city of Ocala, a destination bursting with superlatives, including “America’s largest spring” and “horse capital of the world.”

The former is thanks to the Silver Springs, a series of springs with water so clear that it led to the invention of the now-popularized glass-bottom boat in the late 1870s. More than 150 years later, people still travel to Silver Springs State Park in Ocala to peer at the underwater world from a glass-bottomed boat. Manatee sightings are common between November and March when the creatures are lured to the area by the warm spring water.

In addition to unbelievably clear water and wildlife, the spring-fed Silver River allows kayakers and paddleboarders to paddle through ancient forests.

Courtesy of Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau

For more water-based fun, you need only head to the Ocala National Forest, which is the oldest national forest in the eastern U.S. (yet another superlative!). The protected forest land is home to more than 600 lakes and rivers popular for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, and boating. The national forest also has plenty of hiking trails.

In addition to being a water wonderland, Ocala is a horse community. It has a long legacy of producing champion Ocala horses, including six Kentucky Derby winners and 52 national champions. The city also has the largest equestrian complex in the U.S., the World Equestrian Center. A 2023 study by the American Horse Council Foundation found that the surrounding county is home to 75,000 horses and ponies, more than any other single county or parish in the U.S.

Andrew Ryback/Courtesy of The World Equestrian Center

The city is so horse-centric that it's established its own Hollywood Walk of Fame that honors equine champions connected to Ocala and the county. The “Walk of Champions” comprises 24 bronze plaques that pay tribute to past Kentucky Derby winners, Welsh ponies, and award-winning miniature horses.

From a different kind of saddle, mountain bikers can take on the Santos Mountain Bike Trails south of the city. The trail system is considered the best in the state and is the only ride center in Florida with an official designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (bronze level). Santos has over 80 miles of single-track for beginner to expert-level riders.

Ocala’s nearest commercial airport is in Gainesville, which is around 50 minutes away by car. However, flying into Orland is often the most cost-effective choice. From Orlando International Airport, Ocala is a 1.5-hour drive.