Why Go Now: Escape to one of Florida’s last wild places

Most visitors to Central Florida are drawn to the area’s theme parks and beaches—but tucked between them is a green oasis. The southernmost national forest in the continental United States, Ocala is home to manatees, black bears, and rare plants, along with 600 lakes and natural springs spread across 387,000 acres. The National Forest Foundation has further expanded recreation opportunities for visitors with new fishing piers and improved trails, while also working to restore the preserve’s longleaf pine ecosystem by removing invasive species and planting seedlings.