Ocala, FL Anyone...

[L&Lfan]

I'll check for the welcome center when I get settled in and let you know if I find it!

It closed 13 years ago.

 

[low-key]

It's close to Disney too, I'm a happy gal!

and hot (I mean warm)

 

[Sabeking]

Don’t know much about the area but a close friend of mine acts in their community theatre productions so I know they do have that!

 

[hertamaniac]

Don’t know much about the area but a close friend of mine acts in their community theatre productions so I know they do have that!

I know of the theater on the east side of Ocala near Silver Springs (which is now owned by the State of Florida). It has gone downhill and is no longer a theme park (and they just took down their waterpark as it was an eyesore for years).

I see tons of new transplants in Ocala and many of the roads are stretched to their limits.

 

[hertamaniac]

As a horse owner - I love it but I'm not sure I'd move there. It does seem a little "sleepy" - but - that may be fine for your family. I live in NC now but one day I think I'll be retiring in Florida and I can't decide where. It's tough - a lot of places to choose from.

It is definitely equine and manufacturing heavy area.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Have you already bought a home there?

 

[HopperFan]

Three Sister Springs

Not far from Ocala and looks so cool! I follow them and the manatees are all arriving. Boardwalks so you can watch them.

If you have facebook follow their page otherwise here is the website.

http://www.threesistersspringsvisitor.org/

AND

St. Augustine

 

[Lynn CC]

It closed 13 years ago.

well that settles that lol

 

[Feralpeg]

Like any city, it has good and bad areas. John Travolta lives there! He flies his jet in and out of his own runway.

Not a bad drive to Orlando. Closer to Mt Dora which has a lot of things to do. It's a really pretty area. I love driving past the pastures of horses.

 

[NotUrsula]

Horsey, and becoming more so every minute. Marion Co. has always been horse/cattle country, but the establishment of the National Forest preserved hundreds of miles of woodland trails suitable for riding, and that drew horse people like a magnet.

It's also very popular with people who fly; there are lots of airshows and fly-ins in the area, and as a PP noted, housing communities that include runways. Travolta's is an odd one because that runway is 7500 ft. (large enough for his private 707), but there are 6 other private airports in the county as well, with much shorter runways that are used mostly by prop planes.

The closest beaches are Ormond on the Atlantic side, and Fort Island on the Gulf side, which is where Crystal River empties into the Gulf. (That area is prime for manatee-watching.) There are a lot of springs and lakes in that part of the state, and as long as you have a good live-and-let-live attitude about alligators, there is plenty of opportunity for freshwater paddling.

You are also fairly close to Gainesville, with the cultural activities associated with UF.

 

[Lynn CC]

Horsey, and becoming more so every minute. Marion Co. has always been horse/cattle country, but the establishment of the National Forest preserved hundreds of miles of woodland trails suitable for riding, and that drew horse people like a magnet.

It's also very popular with people who fly; there are lots of airshows and fly-ins in the area, and as a PP noted, housing communities that include runways. Travolta's is an odd one because that runway is 7500 ft. (large enough for his private 707), but there are 6 other private airports in the county as well, with much shorter runways that are used mostly by prop planes.

The closest beaches are Ormond on the Atlantic side, and Fort Island on the Gulf side, which is where Crystal River empties into the Gulf. (That area is prime for manatee-watching.) There are a lot of springs and lakes in that part of the state, and as long as you have a good live-and-let-live attitude about alligators, there is plenty of opportunity for freshwater paddling.

You are also fairly close to Gainesville, with the cultural activities associated with UF.

If you could explain the live & let live I’d appreciate it. I’m so afraid to do anything outside because of the alligators & i love hiking here in CA but I heard there’s alligators, bears & deadly snakes hanging from the trees in Ocala. I’m not sure I’ll ever leave our community to explore nature with this in mind.

 

[hertamaniac]

Travolta lives in Anthony at Jumbolair; I lived in Ocala about 15 years ago and he rarely makes a known public appearance.

The local springs/trails do have interesting wildlife. I've personally seen diamondback rattlers and alligators (when the trail is closer to bodies of water). It's not that the area is loaded with them, but we have seen quite a few snakes in our developments (aggressive black racers which are non-venomous). The spiders and palmetto bugs are a different story altogether. You just have to be prepared when riding/walking on the trails.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you could explain the live & let live I’d appreciate it. I’m so afraid to do anything outside because of the alligators & i love hiking here in CA but I heard there’s alligators, bears & deadly snakes hanging from the trees in Ocala. I’m not sure I’ll ever leave our community to explore nature with this in mind.

Alligators are actually pretty easy to avoid, as long as you don't deliberately antagonize them. For one thing, in the wild they smell VERY bad, partly because they like algae-ridden waters, and because they eat more carrion that anything else. Unlike crocodiles, American Alligators are rather lazy creatures, and they prefer prey that doesn't fight back. Unless they have been conditioned to believe that the presence of humans = easy food, they prefer to avoid us -- as a general rule we are way too noisy to suit them. These links should help you understand better about how to co-exist with them: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/facts/ and https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/gators/ They are most active and most aggressive during mating season in late spring/early summer, so that isn't the best time to hike wilderness areas in Florida, unless you are with someone who is experienced with the area and knowledgeable about the local alligator population.

Florida's wildlife and natural areas can be truly beautiful and fascinating to watch & explore. What I would suggest is that you join a club to hike until you get used to the local wildlife; there will be plenty of folks who know what's what and can guide you on safe practices. You might try these folks, http://www.floridatrail.org/about-us/chapters/sandhill/ Here is their safety recommendation page, BTW (you'll see it's pretty normal): https://www.floridatrail.org/hiker-safety/

Snakes are more commonly encountered than alligators, and I'm sure that if you hike in California, you're aware of snake safety. The "hanging snakes" you have heard about are Cottonmouth Moccasins, which do have a venomous bite, but for the most part they restrict that "hanging" habit to low-hanging branches over water, where they can see prey and drop down into the water after it, especially frogs, which they LOVE. (Full disclosure: I'm not from Florida, but S. Louisiana, which has much the same terrain and much the same assortment of critters and plants. I was taught to walk with a wooden staff, which is helpful for clearing your path.) Cottonmouths not only have that very noticeable white mouth lining that gives them their nickname, but they are pretty easy to identify even when their mouths are closed: they have large, thick, triangular heads on a narrow neck, and usually a very fat but relatively short body. http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/water_moccasin_watersnake_comparison.shtml

 

[Lynn CC]

Alligators are actually pretty easy to avoid, as long as you don't deliberately antagonize them. For one thing, in the wild they smell VERY bad, partly because they like algae-ridden waters, and because they eat more carrion that anything else. Unlike crocodiles, American Alligators are rather lazy creatures, and they prefer prey that doesn't fight back. Unless they have been conditioned to believe that the presence of humans = easy food, they prefer to avoid us -- as a general rule we are way too noisy to suit them. These links should help you understand better about how to co-exist with them: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/facts/ and https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/gators/ They are most active and most aggressive during mating season in late spring/early summer, so that isn't the best time to hike wilderness areas in Florida, unless you are with someone who is experienced with the area and knowledgeable about the local alligator population.

Florida's wildlife and natural areas can be truly beautiful and fascinating to watch & explore. What I would suggest is that you join a club to hike until you get used to the local wildlife; there will be plenty of folks who know what's what and can guide you on safe practices. You might try these folks, http://www.floridatrail.org/about-us/chapters/sandhill/ Here is their safety recommendation page, BTW (you'll see it's pretty normal): https://www.floridatrail.org/hiker-safety/

Snakes are more commonly encountered than alligators, and I'm sure that if you hike in California, you're aware of snake safety. The "hanging snakes" you have heard about are Cottonmouth Moccasins, which do have a venomous bite, but for the most part they restrict that "hanging" habit to low-hanging branches over water, where they can see prey and drop down into the water after it, especially frogs, which they LOVE. (Full disclosure: I'm not from Florida, but S. Louisiana, which has much the same terrain and much the same assortment of critters and plants. I was taught to walk with a wooden staff, which is helpful for clearing your path.) Cottonmouths not only have that very noticeable white mouth lining that gives them their nickname, but they are pretty easy to identify even when their mouths are closed: they have large, thick, triangular heads on a narrow neck, and usually a very fat but relatively short body. http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/water_moccasin_watersnake_comparison.shtml

That’s very helpful info, thank you so much for taking the time to let me know all this. The hiking clubs sound like a great idea!

 

[AnnaS]

I can only say old time neighbors of mine moved there about 8 years ago. They had visited others places to retire to in Florida and settled in Ocala. They are very happy.

 

[Lynn CC]

I can only say old time neighbors of mine moved there about 8 years ago. They had visited others places to retire to in Florida and settled in Ocala. They are very happy.

Music to my ears!

 

[Lynn CC]

Have you already bought a home there?

Yes
We moved here 10 months ago & love it!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Yes
We moved here 10 months ago & love it!

I'm happy for you.