Port Saint Lucie to Ocala coach

Map out a Florida vacation and it will most probably lead you to Port Saint Lucie. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline of southern Florida, the city includes long ribbons of pristine sand beaches that are an ideal escape from it all.

Head inland, and you'll find a heart ringed by stunning waterways and roughly 20,000 acres of a nature reserve that are just waiting to be discovered. There are various opportunities to try your luck on a fishing adventure, strike out with a rucksack on a day's hike, or ride horses at full gallop in the shallows. Should you prefer, there's also ample opportunity to take to the saddle of a mountain bike to raise the heart rate or enjoy a sedate round of golf at PGA-level facilities.

Neatly positioned between Miami to the south and Orlando to the north, Port Saint Lucie makes for a great way to break up a journey. Buses make frequent arrivals at Port Saint Lucie Service Plaza at Florida Turnpike Mile 144, just two miles from the city center, as well as at 2031 SW Gatlin Blvd and La Bonita.

The ride to Orlando or Miami will take around 3.5 hours, while if you choose, it's possible to head as far afield as Philadelphia, too.

Ocala is where the Florida of theme parks and Gulf of Mexico beaches gives way to the other Florida where traditional southern charm continues to make itself known. Located in the north of the state, just shy of the Florida panhandle, Ocala was established in 1849.

Formerly rich in plantations and citrus fruit orchards, today Ocala is a gateway to Florida's natural landscapes, such as the Rainbow Springs State Park and the Ocala National Forest.

One of the state's largest areas of protected forest, the Ocala National Forest spans a mesmerizing 600 square miles of unspoiled woodland crossed by almost innumerable rivers, footpaths, mountain biking tracks, and horse trails. Learn how to bring your bike on the bus or train with you to save money on renting one there.

But that's not to say central Ocala is free of attractions. The Ocala Historic District contains a blend of residential and non-residential buildings worth exploring. For example, The Appleton Museum of Art has a collection stretching from pre-Columbian tribal objects to the latest in modernism.

If all this has you checking out tickets to Ocala, you'll be happy to hear the city is well served by both bus and train routes. You can catch a bus to anywhere from Tallahassee to Houston, while trains connect the area to places like Winter Haven and Baltimore.