In the event you love horses, likely you’ve already heard of the World Equestrian Middle. It’s the most important equestrian middle on this hemisphere, spanning some 380 acres in Ocala, Florida, just a bit over an hour north of Orlando. The property has its personal fuel station, basic retailer, chapel, laundromat, retailers, and 23 arenas the place you’ll discover all the pieces from volleyball tournaments to automotive reveals to concert events. And horse reveals. Tons and many horse reveals.
However whereas Ocala and Marion County are well-known because the Horse Capital of the World, the WEC isn’t only for equine lovers. Because of The Equestrian Lodge, which opened in 2021, it’s a vacation spot for riders and their households in addition to on a regular basis of us trying to take pleasure in its signature model of luxurious.
Curious? Test into The Equestrian to see what it’s all about. Right here’s a sneak peek inside.
Luxurious Aptitude and Effervescent Enjoyable
World Equestrian Middle Foyer at Night time. Picture Credit score: Ethan Tweedie
Whenever you enter the resort’s luxurious foyer, you recognize you’re in for a deal with. There’s an unmistakable sense of stylish: hovering ceiling, glittering chandeliers, the gleam of mahogany and porcelain. A grand piano performs softly within the nook whereas the scent of fresh-cut flowers wafts ever so delicately by means of the air.
One factor that can undoubtedly catch your eye, and positively delight any youngsters in your social gathering, is the art work lining the partitions. They’re dozens of portraits of canines. The well-bred pups add a refined appeal to the grand room. Certainly, it’s this juxtaposition — studied class with a touch of caprice — that’s discovered all through the resort, making it not like wherever else I’ve ever stayed.
Working example, as I turned down the hallway, passing Lugano Diamonds, the place bespoke jewellery sparkled within the home windows, I got here to an outsized purple teddy bear sitting beneath a portray of an eagle sporting a swimsuit. This space of the resort was designed particularly with kids in thoughts, however extra on this under.
Creature Comforts
World Equestrian Middle VP Suite. Picture Credit score: Ethan Tweedie
The rooms present simply as a lot consideration to element, from the interlocking bridle sample within the hallway right down to the bit handles on the nightstands. The toilet, particularly, with its marble flooring, frameless bathe with two bathe heads, and luxurious cleaning soap and hair care merchandise from the on-site Calluna Spa. On the finish of a busy day, falling into the European linens on the plush mattress was bliss. And I might solely think about what the view from our room overlooking the 145,000-square-foot Grand Enviornment could be like with horses and riders leaping hurdles under.
There’s equestrian and animal artwork on the partitions within the rooms and all through the resort. On the seating space simply off the elevator, for instance, there’s artwork that rotates out. Once I obtained off on the second ground and observed the model of artwork was completely different than on our ground, I visited each subsequent ground to see it. It’s cool. And the health middle, which we used, was very nice.
Talking of consolation, the spa, additionally on the second ground, is the right place for pampering. They do every kind of massages in addition to hair styling, skincare, manicures and pedicures with classes as transient as 50 minutes or so long as 5.5 hours for those who so select.
Eating on the World Equestrian Middle
Emma’s Patisserie. Picture Credit score: Ethan Tweedie
There are eight eating places on the property with extra on the way in which. The present lineup contains:
- Stirrups Restaurant, the high-quality eating possibility on the bottom ground of the resort
- Yellow Pony Pub & Backyard, that includes a horseshoe-shaped bar the place beer, bourbons, whiskeys, and cocktails move freely and reside music performs on patio
- Emma’s Patisserie, each French and acquainted sweets (like doughnuts) plus breakfast sandwiches
- Horse to Water Pool & Bar, for poolside drinks and snacks like a virgin daiquiri and a tuna quinoa energy bowl
- Filo’s Mexican Cantina, serving Mexican favorites, together with breakfast, in an informal indoor and outside venue
- Viola & Dot’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria, by the slice or by the pie
- Ralph’s Burger & Sandwich Store, the place you possibly can’t go flawed with a burger, shake, and fries
- Miss Tilly’s Lollipops, for ice cream cones and home made fudge with old-timey candy store vibes
I attempted the primary three on this record, starting with Stirrups — and what a starting it was! This Southern steakhouse focuses on prime steaks and chops in addition to recent Florida seafood, and the grasp sommelier will help you discover the right pairing to your meal from 6,000 bottles of wine.
Stirrups Restaurant. Picture Credit score: MAVEN Picture+Movie
Dinner right here is an expertise, not not like the competitions within the Grand Enviornment, which the restaurant’s terrace overlooks. Like an occasion unfolding in acts, every course makes you excited for the subsequent. We started with an amuse bouche from the chef, a heat chew of freshly made agnolotti. Then biscuits and rolls got here with honey butter and blueberry jam. Bread is one in all my love languages, and people rolls had been beautiful.
I attempted the soup of the day, a corn bisque that was simply essentially the most surprisingly memorable dish I had the entire weekend, brilliant and summery with layers of taste I couldn’t establish however didn’t must as I savored my bowl. The scallops I ordered had been pleasantly giant and completely scrumptious as was my husband’s burger. The dessert, really useful by our server, was a masterful mix of taste and artistry: a mousse injected with gelée and dipped in white chocolate, styled to seem like a complete lemon.
The Yellow Pony, the subsequent evening, was rather more informal. It is a place for convivial dialog and drinks late into the evening (they’re open until a minimum of midnight day by day). I can think about jockeys swapping suggestions or John Travolta, who’s been identified to cease in, grabbing a saddle seat at a excessive high.
Yellow Pony Pub & Backyard. Picture Credit score: Ethan Tweedie
They are saying their starters are shareable, and that’s no exaggeration. The smooth pretzel appetizer was the scale of my head, and the edges are beneficiant too — my lobster mac and cheese was creamy and decadent, and I used to be glad to separate it. The menu stars burgers, nevertheless it’s rounded out with world fare like fish and chips, flatbread, a bao bun, poke and extra. I wanted one thing veggie-centric after my indulgence the earlier evening, so the Cobb salad with avocado, peas and corn was good. You’ll want to ask what their pie of the week is. Or you possibly can’t go flawed with the citrus and berry crumble.
After which there’s Emma’s Patisserie. In the event you don’t go to Stirrups and order the epic Florida Citrus talked about above, strive one of many fruit mousse confections at this counter-service store. Like each different dessert on the resort, every merchandise was conceived by their on-site French pastry chef. They use the very best elements, like butter imported from France, to create a glistening pastry case to rival the wares at Lugano Diamonds throughout the hallway (effectively, relying in your proclivities — it did for me).
Raspberry Tart. Picture Credit score: Cheryl Rodewig
Throughout breakfast, they’ve sandwiches on biscuits, bagels, or croissants. Go for the croissants and assume you’ll need a minimum of a pair pastries, possibly an entremet or macaron. Order a number of to your social gathering and encourage sharing. It’s greatest with a latte. Seize-and-go choices like salads and sandwiches spherical out the menu.
Particularly for Households
Toy Store. Picture Credit score: Ethan Tweedie
This all would possibly sound very fancy, and it’s. However the resort’s creators had been pondering of their grandchildren all through its inception, and that shines by means of in particular touches of playfulness all ages will take pleasure in.
Listed here are a number of we liked:
- Mr. Pickles & Sailor Bear Toy Shoppe, the emporium of your childhood desires with an particularly huge choice of collectable Breyer Horses
- The 15-foot Geoffrey the Giraffe from the FAO Schwarz flagship retailer in NYC, positioned contained in the toy store
- A big singing bear and roaring lion, additionally within the store (Sure, they’re on the market.)
- Rainbow candies and colourful murals at Miss Tilly’s Lollipops
- An animal-themed splash pad subsequent to the zero-entry pool
- Topiaries formed like a dragon, bear, elephants, and extra
- Children’ actions at particular occasions, just like the inflatables and yard video games on the WEC Spring Competition the weekend we visited
World Equestrian Middle Splash Pad. Picture Credit score: Ethan Tweedie
There are additionally extra lodging choices on the property, together with an RV park and totally furnished House Away From House leases good for big households. Subsequent 12 months, a brand new resort is opening on the WEC that can provide much more rooms for households at completely different value factors, broadening your choices.
Occasions and Actions
Oktoberfest. Picture Credit score: MAVEN picture+movie
Earlier than you go, verify the calendar to see what’s on. It could be Arabian horses one weekend and girls in extravagant hats one other for Derby Day. There’s numerous canine reveals in addition to horse reveals — equestrian occasions are essentially the most frequent in season throughout summer time, fall, and winter. Lots of the occasions are free to attend, though in order for you the very best seat in the home for the Grand Enviornment, reserve a desk on the terrace at Stirrups. That is additionally the go-to spot for the Mom’s Day and Father’s Day brunch.
If it’s St. Patrick’s Day or every other vacation, you possibly can nearly assure they’ll have one thing happening. There are artwork reveals, spa reveals, bull driving, highschool marching band performances, and extra, relying on the day. Throughout Christmas, they placed on a gala Winter Wonderland.
In the event you really feel like buying, you possibly can browse greater than 25 boutiques on the WEC. There’s additionally a golf course subsequent door at Golden Ocala. Otherwise you would possibly cease by the statue of Sgt. Reckless to study concerning the Marine Corps mare’s army service.
Even for those who simply tour the grounds and gardens, maybe selecting up a rainbow lollipop the scale of your head at Miss Tilly’s, it’s a pleasing approach to spend the day.
In regards to the Creator
Cheryl Rodewig is storyteller, marketer, and award-winning characteristic author specializing in journey. Her Venn diagram contains minimalism, waterfalls, French, and the em sprint. Discover her at cherylrodewig.com or on Twitter at @cherylrodewig.
Function Picture Credit score: MAVEN Picture+Movie
