Florida Carriage Museum and Resort

If you have an interest in horses, the Florida Carriage Museum and Resort near Ocala is a really neat place to visit. The museum is said to be the largest privately owned collection of antique horse-drawn vehicles in the country.
In addition to visiting the museum, guests can schedule a carriage ride, trail ride, riding lesson, or carriage driving lesson. If you have your own horse, you can rent a stall and ride around the 400 acre property, which is currently undergoing a name change to The Grand Oaks.
The royal carriage in this photo was owned by Emperor Franz Josef of Austria and was a wreck prior to being restored for the museum. The horses in the museum are wonderfully detailed models, but the resort also has a stable full of the real things.



The Grand Oaks is located at 3000 Marion County Road, Weirsdale, FL.  RV sites equipped with 30/50 amp electric and water are available.. For more information, call 352-750-5500 or visit thegrandoaks.com.

Map courtesy Florida Carriage Museum and Resort.  Photos by Lew Pinsker.