Ocala, FL is a beautiful city known for its historic downtown area that is rich with culture and great places to visit. The city is home to a variety of attractions, including the iconic Silver Springs State Park which offers visitors activities such as fishing, swimming, camping, and kayaking. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Appleton Museum of Art, which houses collections of European and American art. In addition to all these attractions, Ocala enjoys a vibrant nightlife scene with plenty of bars and restaurants. The downtown area has been recently revitalized making it an even more attractive destination for travelers looking for an authentic experience in central Florida.
Reviews of Ocala are overwhelmingly positive. Visitors rave about the friendly atmosphere and abundance of things to do in the city. Tourists find plenty of activities from nature trails to art galleries and everything in between. Those who visit report that they feel safe walking around town during both day and night time hours as there are numerous police officers patrolling the streets. With its unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant downtown life, and abundance of activities, Ocala has quickly become one of central Florida's most popular tourist destinations.
based on 56 ReviewsGet to know Ocala with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Ocala
Moving to Ocala - 5/18/2018
My husband and I are moving to Ocala. In reviewing the comments, I see a very mixed group. We spent a weekend there looking at real estate and it seems there is a lot of things to do. Hiking, historical tours, great restaurants, museums, parks for recreation and of course the equestrian life.We both hate the cold and we have horses. We are really looking forward to being in Ocala. My husband grew up in Florida, so he is familiar with the weather which seems to be a constant source of complaints. We don't mind driving, so the beaches are easy for
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If not for the weather... - 11/3/2017
The oppressive heat ruins this place for me. Additionally, I don't drive and it was so isolating and depressing. I spent most of my years there in front of an AC unit miserable and trapped, with my animals depressed too. If you had a car, it's still rough. No beaches nearby.... the summers, and even spring and much of fall, are just god awful. The town itself is nice, and the local countryside and the nearby forest are gorgeous. If you have real money, good cars, and a pool, it could be pretty nice.
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peaceful life - 6/27/2017
Ocala ( unincorporated, not the city of Ocala ) has a great variety of stores especially since Earth Fare arrived recently. There is nature here, less traffic, and a good amount of wildlife. The community I am in ["Pine Run"] is like a bird sanctuary with even ibises flying around. Homes are less than $80,000 and some less than $40,000. Air conditioning is not necessary if one slowly accustoms oneself to the heat. The heat is less bothersome if you have a healthy , vigorous lifestyle. The body adjusts if it is in a healthy condition. Most communities have pools. If you don't have a pool here you can go to the local college and swim in their Olympic sized pool for a very low cost. The best thing is having flowers blooming all year round ( if you plant some ). Come on down. Why pay thousands of dollars on house taxes when you can pay around $700 a year instead.
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Not a bad place to live luxuriously on the cheap. - 3/4/2017
Pro's: No state tax, no yearly inspection fees for cars, the homeowner's homestead exemption is excellent, low cost of living in general. In Ocala, I rented in 2015 a 3/2 3,000 SQFT luxury condo with armed security, gated access, every possible country club benefit you could dream up at Fore Ranch. God, that place is like living in the lap of luxury. I paid $1,000/month rent. The gym, pool and clubhouse was worth it on it's own, absent the rent! It's like living at one of those grand hotels you never want ot check out of and Ocala has way more than just Fore Ranch! Tuscany is another, the list goes on. I moved to an equally small town in Longmeadow, MA and $1,000 a month got me a one room studio in a horrible section of town. In Ocala the only expensive thing is utilities. In any other place, your utility will be 70% less. In Florida, utility companies are privately owned and they charge whatever they like and pad the bill. But it's worth putting up with in exchange for 3 pks of
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mixed review - 7/4/2016
I have to say car collisions seem to be an issue here. And the heat. The heat is oppressive, and I LOVE the heat.
the economy is oppressive too. I'm 34, technically educated, and looking to leave.
The first thing I notice after arriving in 2015 was the collisions. Just when i think to myself: it's been a little while since I saw one. Bam. there it is again. Some look incredibly violent too, rollovers, tilt overs, multi directional pileups, T bones. People just don't care about one another here.
I went to school in Gainesville. I love north central florida in general, but this summer is really hot, the rain is not even a cooling rain anymore. I'm married and trying to raise a family on one income. It's not really possible here, I am finding; is that the new reality? Or is it still possible in the north or mid-atlantic? My benefits in Ocala seem singularly crappy, I have to say. Ihave had jobs before... before the crisis, and this is the lowest
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Goodbye Ocala - 6/27/2016
I have lived in Ocala for the past 23 years. I have watched this town go to crap. I am finally leaving in a couple of months and couldn't be happier about it. Murders are an every week occurrence, jobs are non existent, and the traffic will make the most patient person crazy. This town is too dang small to accommodate all these people. You guys can have
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crime - 4/5/2016
I just need to know how its possible the crime in Ocala is up and where ? 2014, 2015 its statics is not there
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quality of life. - 8/18/2015
I lived in Ocala, Florida last year for 1 year. I recently moved from Philadelphia, Pa. I wanted to experience to see how the quality of life was in this recent town. Well, I say the cost of living is affordable but the town is too quiet. No conversations from individuals,kind of people are into themselves, no social activity whatsoever. Well what can I say,im a city guy who comes from a big city, I thought this was a place for me, but unfortunately it was not. The place is nice, beautiful, very laid back. I almost turned crazy with a depressed life. No jobs here, unemployment is crazy here. It's up to 13%. This place is for a retirement community. If you like a place that is very laid back,then this is a place for you. If you come from a big city, don't come here because it's not a place for you to settle. Try other big towns as well. I have second thoughts to come back to Florida probably through Kissimmee or
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