Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Ocklawaha Prarie-my favorite hike!

There is a beautiful place to walk called The Ocklawaha Prarie Restoration Area.  It is managed by St. John's Waterway and is also on the Florida Birding Trail.   It is a trail for biking, walking and horse back riding.   Once you cross the Ocklawaha River, there is a land bridge that goes over the wetlands to view the birds in their habitat and just sit and enjoy nature.

I personally find this one of my favorite places to walk and also just sit and enjoy nature.

For more info., go to www.floridawater.com and pull up Ocklawaha Prarie Restoration Area.
This is the North entrance.   The South entrance is also pretty, but I prefer this entrance.

Directions from Lake in the Forest Resort.

 Take 40 west (turn left at 40) to 314A and go south until 137th avenue, turn right and look for the entrance.   Once you pass the map and get to the main trail, I take the path to the right to get to the River and the Land bridge.   Make sure you look at the map because the area is pretty large and you may end up on another path and miss the land bridge.

Camper Recommendations from Lake in the Forest Resort


Campers' favorite things to do/Lake in the Forest Resort

19175 SE 44th Street Ocklawaha, FL 32179 352-625-6275



For Current and Upcoming Events in Ocala;www.ocala.com/section/Events



ATV Rentals—ATV offroad adventure tours Ft McCoy 1866-670-8503



ATV Trails in ONF-make sure you read rules online first about registration, children drivers and double riding

-Centential Trail Take 40 going East and it is on the south side off of 40. Before

you reach the turnoff for shooting range.

-DeLancey Trail From Salt Springs intersection of SR 19 and CR 316 take SR 19 north 4.5 miles Turn left on Forest Road 66 Travel 3 miles and turn into Delancy West



Bait and Fishing Gear

-Fat Daddy's 15770 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 352-625-1047

-Walmart 4980 East Silver Springs Blvd 352-236-6669 Ocala FL



Beaches

-Atlantic Ocean -Ormond Beach 40 East @ 1 hour and drive right on beach

-Atlantic Ocean-Datoyna Boardwalk 40 East to A1A, south on A1A until you see skywalk from garage to beach. Parking on right. Also movie theatre, Datoyna Lagoon Water Park, Beach, resturants, bathrooms, shops. Parking validated for some resturants and movie theatre, otherwise $8.

-Gulf-Crystal River

-Lake Weir -Hampton Beach 14600 SE 134 St. Rd. Ocklawaha FL 352-671-8560

-Lake Weir -Kiwanis Beach 15380 SE 140th Ave. Rd, Lake Weir, FL 352-821-2450

-Mill Dam Turn right East on 4o pass Mill Dam mobile home park. Look for forest signs to Mill Dam and half

moon lake Mill Dam on left Half Moon on right

-Lake Weir Carney Island 13275 SE 115 Ave Ocklawaha FL 352-671-8560



Boat Rentals-Pontoon Boats

-Salt Springs Marina 25711 NE 134th PL Fort Mc Coy FL32134 352-685-2255

-Lake Weir Boat Rental 12850 SE Hwy 25 Ocklawaha FL 32179 352-288-1301

Boat Rentals-Kayak and/or Canoe Rentals

-Alexander Springs Turn right on 40 East and so past 19 (@12 miles) immediately look for turnoff on right to road to Alexander Spring

-Juniper Springs Turn East on 40 go @ 10 minutes on left before you come to 19

-Silver Glen Turn East on 40 turn left on 19 and continue to signs on right side

-Salt Springs and Salt Springs Run Go East (right) on 40 turn left at shooting range sign (Route 88 or Route 11/same road) Go 10 miles to first ssign 314 Turn right and you will merge into 19 going North 1st Salt Springs Marina 2nd Salt Springs Rec Park

-Silver River State Park 1425 NE 58th Ave Ocala FL 34470 352-236-7148

-Wilderness RV Park-canoes on Ocklawaha 10313 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 352-625-1122



Boat Tours or Chartered Trips

St. John's River in Astor Fl East on 40 407-463-8961

Silver River Capt Nick Bozman 352-236-3955 or817-7818 www.slickcharters.net

Deep Sea Fishing-see updated referral list in office

Swimming with Mainitee 267 NW 3rd St Crystal River Fl 34428 352-795-1



Churches(within 5-10 minutes)

St. Joseph(Cath) 17301 East Hwy 40 (turn left on 40)352-625-4222 sat 4 & Sun 9am

Luthern Forest church 1663 SE 183rd Ave Rd 352-625-8700 Sun 10

Methodist Forest United 17635 East Hwy 40 (left on 40) 352-625-4004



Fishing – Ask for our list and map of fishing lakes in the area.



Fishing License

-Tag Office West 40 to Winn Dixie mall tag & tax office not open on weekend

-Walmart 4980 East Silver Springs FL 352-236-6669

-Online at FWC website http://myfwc.com/License/



Flea Markets and Fruit Markets

Market of Marion 12888 SE US Hwy 441 Belleview FL 34491 (friday-sun mornings)

Ocala Produce-Downtown Ocala =Saturday (40 west until you come to town square)

U pick -See Office for current pickings

314A-accross from Winn Dixie-small fruit/veggie stand



Hiking and Biking

-Marshal Swamp Greenway -40 west to 314 amd on the left after the bridge

-Ocklawaha Prairie- 5 miles east of Ocala Marion county southwest of CR 314 A and

-Sunnyhill Restoration North of County Rd CR 42 stretching along 9 miles of the Ocklawaha River in Marion County east of Lake Weir

-Yearling Trail 40 east to 19, turn left on 19 across from Silver Glen

-Silver River State Park 1425 NE 58th Ave Ocala FL 34470 352-236-7148

-also see Springs under Swimming Springs and Boat Rentals

-short walk around park and through the woods( for Lake in the Forest guests only)



Horseback Riding

Making Tracks (Swimming with the horses) 15901 NE 137th Ct Fort McCoy FL 32134 352-236-3929

Private Lesson at the farm-arrange with office in advance



Lake in the Forest Resort( for paid guests only)-While you are in the park, you can arrange to help with our animals(ponies, llama, donkey, horse, turtles), swim in our pool, arts and crafts(1 class a day), short hiking, sunrises, canoe or jon boat rental to go on our Forest Lake/Half Moon Lake, fishing, campfire at your cabin or site and any other activies posted depending on occupancy of park.



Movie Theatre

Ocala Six 2021 East Silver Springs Blvd Ocala FL 34470 352-624-8797

Marion Theatre 50 South Magnolia Ave Ocala FL 34471 352-629-6600

Regal Cinemas 16 & 12 2801 SW 27th Ave Ocala, FL 34471 844-462-7342

Villages, FL-various movie theatres



Ocala National Forest Lake George Ranger Station-for more info and brochures-

turn left(west) on 40 and it be be on north side in 1-2 minutes



Resturants

Jan's Riverside Cafe 10313 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 352-625-1120

The Damm Diner 9685 SE Hwy 464c Ockalawaha FL 32179 352-288-8332

Eaton Beach 15790 SE 134th Ave Weirsdale, FL 32195 352-259-2444

Gator Joe's 12431 SE 135th Ave Ocklawaha FL 32179 352-288-3100

Castaways 1575 W. State Rd Astor FL 32102 386-749-0187

Alfie's Prime Rib 11677 East Hwy 25 Ocklawaha FL 32179 352-288-9771

Big Bob's Italian and Pizza 12909 E. Hwy 25 Ocklawaha FL 352-288-4200

Kickin Back 14400 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 352-289-4069

Lena's Seafood 18478 Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 352-625-6489

Blackwater Inn 55716 Front Street Astor FL 32102 352-759-2802



Resturants/carryout and/or delivery

Snappy Pizza -(delivery) 14320 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 352-625-8888

China King 15924 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 352-625-5558

Subway15877 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs FL 34488 Inside Kangroo 352-625-0044

Winn Dixie Chicken and deli 15912 East Hwy 40 352-625-6253



Shopping

-4 Corners-Winn Dixie/CVS/dollar stores/Advance Auto/Big Pines Hardware

Take our main roat to 40 -turn left on 40 and go @ 2 miles -CLOSEST

-Walmart-14 miles west on 40(accross from Bob Evans)

-Publix-past Walmart and 36th street, on left

-Six Gun Plaza- Past Walmart and on right( Bealls, Bealls outlet, Ross, Outback,etc)

-Paddock Mall-3100 SW College Road Ocala, Fl 34474 (30-45 minutes)

-Villages-{Best Buy, Starbucks, Michaels, Target, etc.-552 N Hwy 27/441 Lady Lake 32159 and all along 27/441)(30-45 minutes away)





Swimming Springs

(The National Forest Springs charges @5.50per person and State Park charges @$8 per car)

-Juniper Springs Ocala National Forest -see listing under boat rentals for directions

-Alexander Springs Ocala National Forest -''

-Silver Glen Ocala National Forest -''

-Salt Springs Ocala National Forest -''

De Leon Springs/(state park 601 Ponce DeLeon Blvd DeLeon Speings FL 32130 386-985-4212



Thrifting-ask office for thrifting list around Ocala (15+locations)



Tubing

Ichetucknn Springs 12087 US-27 Fort White, FL 32038 352-497-4690(@75 min)

Rainbow Springs SW 180th Ave Rainbow Springs State Park 352-465-8555(@75 min)



Theatre and Music

Old Orange Opry in Weirsdale 16439 Se 138th Ter Weirsdale FL 32195 352-821-1201

Ocala Civic Theatre 4337 East Silver Springs Blvd Ocala Fl 352-236-2274

Villages, Florida -Music each evening at their various square.



Urgent Care and Hospitals

Family Care Sprcialist 2415 SE 17th St Ocala FL 34471 352-732-5365

Monroe Hospital 1500 SW 1st Ave Ocala FL 352-351-7200



Wildlife Parks, Refuges and Preserves-Pls ask office for current list on arrival



Zip lining- Canyons Zip Line 8045 NW Gainesville Rd Ocala 34475 352-351-9477