Carolyn’s guidebook

Carolyn
Carolyn’s guidebook

Road trips suitable for cars or motorcycles

If you want to see the area's sites, here are my recommendations. Although it isn't a driving/riding route, you might want to visit SILVER SPRINGS PARK, which offers rides in glass-bottom boats if you like seeing gators and wildlife.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ocala/recreation/scenicdrivinginfo/recarea/?recid=40311&actid=105
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Ocala National Forest
Florida 40
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https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ocala/recreation/scenicdrivinginfo/recarea/?recid=40311&actid=105
CR-475 is a lovely drive with rolling hills and horse farms.
South Highway 475
South Highway 475
CR-475 is a lovely drive with rolling hills and horse farms.
Highway 27 west of I-75 is a lovely drive with rolling hills and horse farms.
U.S. 27
US Highway 27
Highway 27 west of I-75 is a lovely drive with rolling hills and horse farms.
Highway 326 is a lovely drive with rolling hills and horse farms.
Florida 326
Florida 326
Highway 326 is a lovely drive with rolling hills and horse farms.
If you like historic mansions, Ocala has a bunch -- Fort King Street and the two to five blocks south of it.
East Fort King Street
East Fort King Street
If you like historic mansions, Ocala has a bunch -- Fort King Street and the two to five blocks south of it.
If you take 441 North from Ocala, you'll pass through two charming towns: McIntosh and Micanopy. You might want to explore their streets and antiques shops. (But beware of speed traps on 441.)
North US Highway 441
North US Highway 441
If you take 441 North from Ocala, you'll pass through two charming towns: McIntosh and Micanopy. You might want to explore their streets and antiques shops. (But beware of speed traps on 441.)
Lake County was named "Lake" County for a reason! :-) Every back road you try will take you past a lake. It's pretty cool.
Lake County
Lake County was named "Lake" County for a reason! :-) Every back road you try will take you past a lake. It's pretty cool.
Speaking of lakes, the RIVER LAKES HERITAGE CORRIDOR is fairly close to Ormond: https://floridascenichighways.com/our-byways/central-region/river-lakes-heritage-corridor/
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Ormond Beach
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Speaking of lakes, the RIVER LAKES HERITAGE CORRIDOR is fairly close to Ormond: https://floridascenichighways.com/our-byways/central-region/river-lakes-heritage-corridor/
Ormond Scenic Loop: https://www.floridarambler.com/northeast-florida-getaways/ormond-scenic-loop-and-trail-rare-ride-through-old-florida/
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Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail
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Ormond Scenic Loop: https://www.floridarambler.com/northeast-florida-getaways/ormond-scenic-loop-and-trail-rare-ride-through-old-florida/
Heritage Crossroads is a little north of Ormond: http://www.heritagecrossroads.org/
Heritage Crossroads
2535 North State Street
Heritage Crossroads is a little north of Ormond: http://www.heritagecrossroads.org/
The Ocean A1A Byway: https://floridascenichighways.com/our-byways/northern-region/a1a-scenic-historic-coastal-byway/ and it continues northward on the OCEAN ISLANDS TRAIL: https://floridascenichighways.com/our-byways/northern-region/a1a-ocean-islands-trail/
Highway A1A
Highway A1A
The Ocean A1A Byway: https://floridascenichighways.com/our-byways/northern-region/a1a-scenic-historic-coastal-byway/ and it continues northward on the OCEAN ISLANDS TRAIL: https://floridascenichighways.com/our-byways/northern-region/a1a-ocean-islands-trail/
"Millionaire's Row." Just another pretty road through Ocala's horse country.
County Road 25A
County Road 25A
"Millionaire's Row." Just another pretty road through Ocala's horse country.
Cedar Key is a tad less than an hour-and-a-half from my house. The drive there is lovely, through miles and miles of very quiet country roads running through Levy County and all the way to the Gulf. Cedar Key itself is a charming small town with lots of quaint shops and restaurants, bridges and views.
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Cedar Keys
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Cedar Key is a tad less than an hour-and-a-half from my house. The drive there is lovely, through miles and miles of very quiet country roads running through Levy County and all the way to the Gulf. Cedar Key itself is a charming small town with lots of quaint shops and restaurants, bridges and views.

Nearby restaurants

Here are some nearby restaurants that I recommend. Our town rolls up early and many restaurants close at 9pm or even before that, so if you're looking for a late meal, call the restaurant to determine its hours. Also, most restaurants are closed on Sunday, so call ahead to see if they're open.
Excellent food and a great wine list. Don't miss the (very filling) mushroom soup! Moderately expensive.
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Mesa de Notte
2436 E Silver Springs Blvd
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Excellent food and a great wine list. Don't miss the (very filling) mushroom soup! Moderately expensive.
French food. Moderately expensive.
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La Cuisine Restaurant
48 SW 1st Ave
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French food. Moderately expensive.
Great food at reasonable prices (especially their fungi pizza), and a decent wine list. Inexpensive to moderate.
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Blue Highway a Pizzeria
204 Northeast Highway 441
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Great food at reasonable prices (especially their fungi pizza), and a decent wine list. Inexpensive to moderate.
Fairly good, reasonably priced Mexican food; inexpensive drinks. I recommend the queso sauce as an appetizer.
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El Toreo
3510 SW 36th Ave
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Fairly good, reasonably priced Mexican food; inexpensive drinks. I recommend the queso sauce as an appetizer.
Spectacular food and spectacular wines. The menu changes just about daily. I always order a soup and/or appetizer, which are always magnificent. The flights of wine are wonderful -- you get to try several different wines. Very expensive otherwise.
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Katya Vineyards
101 E Silver Springs Blvd
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Spectacular food and spectacular wines. The menu changes just about daily. I always order a soup and/or appetizer, which are always magnificent. The flights of wine are wonderful -- you get to try several different wines. Very expensive otherwise.
Sports bar with good food and lots of games/events always playing on the TV monitors.
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Beef 'O' Brady's
11100 SW 93rd Ct Rd
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Sports bar with good food and lots of games/events always playing on the TV monitors.
Good BBQ, inexpensive to moderate. The baby back ribs are a favorite.
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Sonny's BBQ
4102 E Silver Springs Blvd
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Good BBQ, inexpensive to moderate. The baby back ribs are a favorite.
A great selection of craft beers as well as food. Ping pong on Mondays, live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays. www.InfiniteAleWorks.com
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Infinite Ale Works
304 S Magnolia Ave
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A great selection of craft beers as well as food. Ping pong on Mondays, live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays. www.InfiniteAleWorks.com
Craft wine and beer, limited but great menu. Live entertainment Fridays and Saturdays. Wine-making classes.
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The Corkscrew Winery
16 SW Broadway St
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Craft wine and beer, limited but great menu. Live entertainment Fridays and Saturdays. Wine-making classes.

Things to do in the Ocala area

Recommended destinations and activities
If you're up for seeing gators, birds, and the underwater remains of the Tarzan films that were produced here, go to the Silver Springs State Park and enjoy a ride in a glass-bottom boat. The park also offers enjoyable and well-maintained walking trails.
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Πάρκο Πολιτείας Silver Springs
5656 East Silver Springs Boulevard
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If you're up for seeing gators, birds, and the underwater remains of the Tarzan films that were produced here, go to the Silver Springs State Park and enjoy a ride in a glass-bottom boat. The park also offers enjoyable and well-maintained walking trails.
The Appleton is a distinguished Florida cultural center that offers a permanent collection of American and European art, temporary exhibits of Florida and national artists, educational sessions, lectures, and receptions.
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Appleton Museum of Art
4333 E Silver Springs Blvd
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The Appleton is a distinguished Florida cultural center that offers a permanent collection of American and European art, temporary exhibits of Florida and national artists, educational sessions, lectures, and receptions.
Go to the symphony, a play, or a tribute band concert! Classic Albums Live performances are recommended.
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Reilly Arts Center
500 NE 9th St
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Go to the symphony, a play, or a tribute band concert! Classic Albums Live performances are recommended.
Go to a play at the area's leading community theatre.
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Ocala Civic Theatre
4337 E Silver Springs Blvd
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Go to a play at the area's leading community theatre.
This company offers zip-lining, horseback trail riding, and other activities.
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Το Canyons Zip Line και το Adventure Park
8045 NW Gainesville Rd
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This company offers zip-lining, horseback trail riding, and other activities.
It takes about an hour and a half to get there, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have a friendly and loving manatee silently appear in front of you to look you in the face.
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Manatee Tour and Dive
36 NE 4th St
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It takes about an hour and a half to get there, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have a friendly and loving manatee silently appear in front of you to look you in the face.
Many springs are in the area. This is just one of them.
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Alexander Springs
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Many springs are in the area. This is just one of them.
Lots of biking and hiking trails in the area including Santos and the Greenway.
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Santos Trailhead and Campground
3080 SE 80th St
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Lots of biking and hiking trails in the area including Santos and the Greenway.
Fun for kids from two to 82!
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Petting Zoo Ocala
11150 Florida 40
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Fun for kids from two to 82!
Fish Hawk Spirits Distillery
16350 SW 20th Ln
The Market features organic and local food, crafts, and more. Saturdays 9-2 rain or shine.
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Ocala Downtown Market
310 SE 3rd St
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The Market features organic and local food, crafts, and more. Saturdays 9-2 rain or shine.
Go golfing! Several golf courses are in the area.
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Λέσχη Γκολφ Ocala
3130 E Silver Springs Blvd
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Go golfing! Several golf courses are in the area.
Several kayak/canoe outfitters are in the area. The Rainbow River is a favorite. Some people even tube it, although I'd be terrified because of the alligators!
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Rainbow River
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Several kayak/canoe outfitters are in the area. The Rainbow River is a favorite. Some people even tube it, although I'd be terrified because of the alligators!
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Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing
13700 SW 16th Ave
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Miniature golf, rock-climbing wall, laser maze, batting cages, go-karts, water balloon battles, a toddler Kid Zone, and an indoor arcade.
Easy Street by Funworks
2727 SW 27th Ave
Miniature golf, rock-climbing wall, laser maze, batting cages, go-karts, water balloon battles, a toddler Kid Zone, and an indoor arcade.
This is a spectacular venue for horse shows, dining, and high-end shopping.
World Equestrian Center
1750 Northwest 80th Avenue
This is a spectacular venue for horse shows, dining, and high-end shopping.