Located roughly midway between Gainesville and Orlando, Ocala is a quiet city brimming with historic character and natural beauty. Nicknamed the Horse Capital of the World, Ocala is renowned for its successful horse industry, which includes breeding, training, and more while providing thousands of jobs for many residents. Ocalas historic charm is pervasive but especially evident in its downtown district, which touts rows of specialty shops, restaurants, offices, and bars in architecturally significant buildings. The city offers many apartments, condos, townhomes, and houses available for rent in quiet residential communities teeming with oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Ocala provides plenty of suburban amenities at Paddock Mall, in addition to ample opportunities for outdoor recreation at Ocala Tuscawilla Park, Jervey Gantt Park, and the sprawling Ocala National Forest. Direct access to I-75 connects Ocala to Gainesville, Tampa, and beyond.