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72 things to do

Ideas for anybody who ever said “There’s nothing to do here.”



1. Visit Shalom Park 
 www.hapi-info.org/main.html

2.  Take a ghost tour 
 www.ocalaghostwalks.com

3. Indulge in culturally 
 diverse cuisines
 www.10best.com/Ocala,FL/Restaurants/

4. Go on the Cross Florida
 Greenway Trailhead  
 www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.org/cfg

5.  Visit Silver River
 State Park and hiking trails on Silver River
 www.floridastateparks.org/Silverriver/

6. Enjoy an afternoon of
 shopping and lunch downtown
 www.shopdowntownocala.com/

7. Take a walk in
 Historic Ocala 
 www.ocalacc.com/

8. Jump in Juniper at Juniper Springs
 www.camprrm.com/

9. Find your inner self through yoga at the Yoga Institute
 www.amrityoga.org/

10. Bike the Santos Trail
 www.omba.org/

11. Take your favorite
 pup to the Millennium Dog Park
 www.millenniumdogpark.com/

12. Support the arts through the CFCC Visual and Performing Arts Series
  www.cf.edu

13. Enjoy FAFO events
 like the Ocala Arts Festival and Symphony Under the Stars
 www.fafo.org/

14. Find your inner equestrian at the
 Florida Horse Park
 www.flhorsepark.com/

15. Go on a guided horseback ride
 courtesy of Cactus
 Jack’s Trail Rides
 www.thefloridapoloclub.com/

16. Experience Brick City Center for the Arts, Open Mic Night and Woodsongs Coffeehouse
 www.mcaocala.com/

17. Have fun at Girls’ Night Out in downtown Ocala

18. Enjoy the local art exhibit, “Horse Fever”
 www.horsefever.org/index.html

19. Discover the Discovery Center’s daily, weekly and monthly activities 
 www.ocalafl.org/

20.  Visit the Appleton Museum of Art
 www.appletonmuseum.org/

21. Go tubing and swimming at
 Ginnie Springs
 www.floridacaves.com/ginnie.htm

22. Support your favorite team! Join Marion County Gator Club or Marion County Seminole Club
 http://marioncounty.gatorclub.com, www.marionseminoles.org /

23. Take a H.O.P.S
 Home Tour
 http://mariongenealogy.tripod.com/

24. Stop by the CFCC Webber Center Gallery
  www.cf.edu

25.  Experience horse country at the Austin Horse Carriage Park
 www.fcmr.org/wordpress/

26.  Hurry over to Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing
 www.garlits.com/

27.  Cool off with natural
 attractions at Silver Springs
 www.silversprings.com/

28.  See performances and local talent at the Ocala Civic Theatre
 www.ocalacivictheatre.com/

29. Tour our beautiful
 horse farms

30. Be a spectator at the Florida Polo Club 
 www.thefloridapoloclub.com/
 352.978.POLO

31. Get fit at Brick City Bicycles
  www.brickcitybicycles.com/

32. Enjoy gourmet food and wine shopping and dining at Stella’s Modern Pantry  
 www.stellasmodernpantry.com/

33.  Visit The Villages
 www.thevillages.com/index.htm

34. Enjoy Ocala Municipal Golf Course, “Muni”
 352.401.6934

35. Splash around the Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center
 352.624.2410

36. Relax on the Rainbow River 
 www.therainbowriver.com/

37. Be serenaded by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra
 www.ocalasymphony.com/

38. Experience the talent at Circle Square Cultural Center
 www.csculturalcenter.com/

39. Tap into Ballroom Dancing at Dancing Around the Studio
 www.danceocala.com

40. Check out fun activities for small and big kids alike at one of the nine Marion County Public Library locations 
 library.marioncountyfl.org/

41. Enjoy city and county public parks and recreational facilities 
 www.marioncountyfl.org/Parks/Pr
 www.ocalafl.org/recreation_and_parks.asp

 

free fun from your friends at Ocala Recreation and Parks

42. Play to your heart’s content on one of the playgrounds at area parks.

43. Stroll or jog on one of our walking trails at Jervey Gantt, Martin Luther King Recreation Complex or Lillian Bryant Park.

44. Go fishing at Lake Tuscawilla, Ritterhoff Park or Nature Park.

45. Visit Santa on the Square during the month of December.

46. Enjoy a nutritious lunch at select community centers in the summer (children only).

47. Enjoy the annual Fishing Derby held at Tuscawilla Park in April.

48. Try your hand at cards — Pinochle, Bridge and more.

49. Access computer labs at local community centers.

50. Picnic at one of Ocala’s 31 parks.

51. Participate in a variety of court sports — Basketball, volleyball, racquetball, tennis and shuffleboard.

52. Discover science and the wonder of the outdoors at one of the Discovery Science and Outdoor Center open house days (held several times per year).

53. Enjoy a nature walk at one of several city nature trails (you’ll see our wild side!) — Heritage Nature Conservancy and Scott Springs.

54. Participate in the annual Easter egg hunt.

55. Go see a local Little League game (it’s as American as apple pie!).

56. Help kick off the holiday season at “Light Up Ocala” in November each year.

57. Receive tutoring on school work at local community centers.

58. Obtain information on local services at the annual Parade of Senior Services.

59. Join in daily for a variety of board and table games available at all of our community centers.

60. Watch the latest video releases at community centers.

61. Get free tax help.

62. Receive a health screening.

63. Improve your cardiovascular health — participate in exercise classes.

64. Fly a kite.

65. Show off your artistic talents — join in a variety of arts and crafts programs.

66. Can’t bounce? Take lessons to improve those basketball skills.

67. Take dance lessons.

68. Read a book under a big oak.

69. Soak in some rays at Lake Tuscawilla (soak safely — use sunscreen).

70. Fine tune your golfing skills — Pine Oaks offers a free 4.5 acre practice area which includes 3 greens and 2 sand traps or Pine Oaks and Ocala Golf Club both offer free putting greens.

71. Get the guys (and gals) together for a game of pick-up baseball at an area park.

72. Trick or Treat at Safe Halloween in October. O



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