A travel magazine with millions of subscribers named Ocala among two dozen locations around the state of Florida that it described as the “most beautiful.”

Travel + Leisure published its list of the “Most Beautiful Places in the Sunshine State” on Saturday. To create the list, author Skye Sherman, who is a fourth-generation Floridian, and two additional lifelong Floridians sought places with abundant natural beauty.

Boardwalk at Ocala Wetland Recharge Park (Nov. 2020)

Ocala/Marion County came in at number 18 on the list, which included 26 locations from all across the state.

Among the reasons listed were the city’s abundance of horses and reputation for producing “some of the finest champions in the sport.”

That includes White Abarrio, who just claimed victory at this year’s Breeders’ Cup Championship. White Abarrio was purchased at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company in 2021.

The article goes on to cite the city’s parks, trails, and springs as must-sees when visiting the state.

“Ocala and Marion County boast miles of untainted nature, making it a great destination to experience natural wonders, outdoor adventure, world-class sporting facilities, and culture,” according to Dana Young, president and CEO of Visit Florida.

In addition to the Ocala/Marion County area, the magazine also named the Three Sisters Springs in nearby Crystal River as one of its most beautiful spots. The spring is regularly visited by dozens of manatees during cold weather.

Founded in 1937, Travel + Leisure is a travel magazine that is based out of New York City. The monthly magazine claims to have 4.8 million readers and is published by Dotdash Meredith.

The accolade is one of several that the city of Ocala has received this year from digital publications around the United States.

Earlier this year, Ocala was ranked as the most affordable place to live in the state of Florida by Redfin, a real estate website. The city also ranked among those with the most new residents over the past year, according to 247wallst.com, a financial website.

For the entire list of places named by the magazine, read Travel + Leisure’s Most Beautiful Places in the Sunshine State online.