Ocala is blessed with unique geography and an abundance of protected natural areas that make it a perfect spot for ecotourism. If you love nature, Ocala is the heaven for you. You can enjoy the unadulterated, fresh and energizing beauty of nature at Ocala. A peninsula that stretches from the South's coastal plains toward the Tropic of Cancer. With the Gulf of Mexico on one side, the Atlantic Ocean on another side and the Caribbean Sea to the south -- Florida encompasses a variety of natural habitats from coastal dunes to limestone caverns, desert-like scrublands to prairie, saltwater marshes to subtropical forests. Its mild winter climate makes Florida a target for more northerly tourists during this time in particular, which is the best time to explore Florida.

The biggest ecotourism destination in Florida is Evergrades National Park, with more than a million visitors each year from around the world. Ocala National Forest has many beautiful springs that look as though they are lit up from underground. This forest contains the largest sand pine habitat -- a very endangered habitat -- in the world. Nearly three-quarters of the Ocala National Forest is in Marion County. The Forest offers 383,573 acres of unique ecological sites, trails, natural springs.