Beyond Winter Park

[SimonV]

It seems the thread about visiting Winter Park has proved pretty popular, and it sparked a request for some more alternatives to the typical Orlando theme park experience, so here goes...

Mount Dora - this pretty and very community-spirited town to the north-west of Orlando is a great place for lovers of antiques, boat rides, local history and unique restaurants. You can take a Segway or trolley tour, take in the shopping and local winery, and have a really good meal at places like Pisces Rising, The Goblin Market and 1921. Plus the downtown area is as cute as it gets, and a great example of small-town America.

DeLand - to the north-east of Orlando (on the way to Daytona Beach) is another great slice of small-town life, with another compelling downtown area full of original shops and restaurants (again, no chain restaurants). Don't miss the Persimmon Hollow Brewery, too. This is also home to Stetson University and the brilliant Stetson Mansion (tours daily). And, yes, this is the place where the famous hat-maker made his home! Don't miss Blue Springs State Park and The Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant at Deleon Springs State Park - an absolute Florida original where you cook your own breakfast at the table! Nearby Cassadaga, a spiritualist community, is also well worth a visit, especially the 'haunted' hotel!

Gulfport - over on the Gulf Coast between the city of St Petersburg and Clearwater Beach is this artsy little town with a really happening vibe and lots of great little shops, galleries and cafes. There is an art festival twice every month (first Friday and third Saturday).

St Petersburg - talking of this thriving city, this is very possibly one of the most vibrant city areas in the state right now, with a huge array of downtown focus, from micro-breweries to coffee roasters and art galleries. Don't miss the Waterfront Arts District and the uber-bohemian Edge District along Central Avenue near Tropicana Field.

Winter Garden - not to be confused with Winter Park, this western Orlando city suburb also has a lot of history packed into its relatively small area. It's not as ritzy and upscale as Winter Park, but it does boast a lot of unique shops and cafes, a great little museum, a super community theatre and the Plant Street Market, which is the town's standout feature, with lots of great eateries and the superb Crooked Can Brewery. The Saturday Farmers Market is also a thriving weekly event.

New Smyrna Beach - not just a great beach (and often overlooked by the hordes heading to either Daytona or Cocoa Beach) but also another neat downtown area, with plenty of interesting shops and restaurants, plus the NSB Brewing Company (yet another in a great and growing series of local craft breweries). Art lovers should also head for The Hub on Canal Street, where a huge array of local artwork is on display, along with the artists creating it. You could easily spend several hours here perusing everything on offer.

Ocala - just over an hour's drive north of Orlando is this old-world Florida town that has a long equestrian history and another super-cute downtown area. Silver Springs State Park is also here, with a great look at one of the state's most compelling geological features, the many fresh-water springs that bubble up and create fabulous water activities.

Crystal River - drive 90 minutes north-west of Orlando to the coast and you reach this utterly beautiful area of natural wonders and down-home Florida charm. This is the place to come to swim with manatees year-round (highly recommended) go scalloping (in summer - also highly recommended) and enjoy the delights of places like wildlife-rich Homosassa Springs State Park and enjoy some more of those amazing freshwater springs. There is even a lovely secluded beach that very few people find (Fort Island Beach).

Stuart - going south-east brings you to this lovely seaside town that has a terrific array of eco-tours and other opportunities, as well as yet another super downtown area packed with shopping curiosities and restaurants. For Florida history there is the House of Refuge (for shipwreck victims) and the (free) Heritage Museum, as well as some nice riverfront walks.

Fernadina Beach - this is the longest drive from Orlando of all these suggestions so far, but it's worth it (almost 3 hours). Just north of Jacksonville on beautiful Amelia Island is this historic downtown that dates back to 1562 and has a host of great shops and cafes, plus a neat museum and a marina for some great sunset and eco-tours along the intracoastal waterway. Don't miss T-Ray's Burger Station, Espana and The Salty Pelican, plus the wonderful Blue Heron B&B.

I'll try to add some more as I think of them (each of Cedar Key, Sebring, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Micanopy and Anna Maria Island spring to mind. In fact, we wrote about AMI for the iPaper here: inews/inews-lifestyle/...nable-tourism/).

I'm sure plenty of DIBB regulars also have their own favourites to add, too, so have at it!

[greekgranny]

Originally Posted by SimonV

It seems the thread about visiting Winter Park has proved pretty popular, and it sparked a request for some more alternatives to the typical Orlando theme park experience, so here goes...

Mount Dora - this pretty and very community-spirited town to the north-west of Orlando is a great place for lovers of antiques, boat rides, local history and unique restaurants. You can take a Segway or trolley tour, take in the shopping and local winery, and have a really good meal at places like Pisces Rising, The Goblin Market and 1921. Plus the downtown area is as cute as it gets, and a great example of small-town America.

DeLand - to the north-east of Orlando (on the way to Daytona Beach) is another great slice of small-town life, with another compelling downtown area full of original shops and restaurants (again, no chain restaurants). Don't miss the Persimmon Hollow Brewery, too. This is also home to Stetson University and the brilliant Stetson Mansion (tours daily). And, yes, this is the place where the famous hat-maker made his home! Don't miss Blue Springs State Park and The Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant at Deleon Springs State Park - an absolute Florida original where you cook your own breakfast at the table! Nearby Cassadaga, a spiritualist community, is also well worth a visit, especially the 'haunted' hotel!

Gulfport - over on the Gulf Coast between the city of St Petersburg and Clearwater Beach is this artsy little town with a really happening vibe and lots of great little shops, galleries and cafes. There is an art festival twice every month (first Friday and third Saturday).

St Petersburg - talking of this thriving city, this is very possibly one of the most vibrant city areas in the state right now, with a huge array of downtown focus, from micro-breweries to coffee roasters and art galleries. Don't miss the Waterfront Arts District and the uber-bohemian Edge District along Central Avenue near Tropicana Field.

Winter Garden - not to be confused with Winter Park, this western Orlando city suburb also has a lot of history packed into its relatively small area. It's not as ritzy and upscale as Winter Park, but it does boast a lot of unique shops and cafes, a great little museum, a super community theatre and the Plant Street Market, which is the town's standout feature, with lots of great eateries and the superb Crooked Can Brewery. The Saturday Farmers Market is also a thriving weekly event.

New Smyrna Beach - not just a great beach (and often overlooked by the hordes heading to either Daytona or Cocoa Beach) but also another neat downtown area, with plenty of interesting shops and restaurants, plus the NSB Brewing Company (yet another in a great and growing series of local craft breweries). Art lovers should also head for The Hub on Canal Street, where a huge array of local artwork is on display, along with the artists creating it. You could easily spend several hours here perusing everything on offer.

Ocala - just over an hour's drive north of Orlando is this old-world Florida town that has a long equestrian history and another super-cute downtown area. Silver Springs State Park is also here, with a great look at one of the state's most compelling geological features, the many fresh-water springs that bubble up and create fabulous water activities.

Crystal River - drive 90 minutes north-west of Orlando to the coast and you reach this utterly beautiful area of natural wonders and down-home Florida charm. This is the place to come to swim with manatees year-round (highly recommended) go scalloping (in summer - also highly recommended) and enjoy the delights of places like wildlife-rich Homosassa Springs State Park and enjoy some more of those amazing freshwater springs. There is even a lovely secluded beach that very few people find (Fort Island Beach).

Stuart - going south-east brings you to this lovely seaside town that has a terrific array of eco-tours and other opportunities, as well as yet another super downtown area packed with shopping curiosities and restaurants. For Florida history there is the House of Refuge (for shipwreck victims) and the (free) Heritage Museum, as well as some nice riverfront walks.

Fernadina Beach - this is the longest drive from Orlando of all these suggestions so far, but it's worth it (almost 3 hours). Just north of Jacksonville on beautiful Amelia Island is this historic downtown that dates back to 1562 and has a host of great shops and cafes, plus a neat museum and a marina for some great sunset and eco-tours along the intracoastal waterway. Don't miss T-Ray's Burger Station, Espana and The Salty Pelican, plus the wonderful Blue Heron B&B.

I'll try to add some more as I think of them (each of Cedar Key, Sebring, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Micanopy and Anna Maria Island spring to mind. In fact, we wrote about AMI for the iPaper here: inews/inews-lifestyle/...nable-tourism/).

I'm sure plenty of DIBB regulars also have their own favourites to add, too, so have at it!

See more...

Brilliant list strangely enough I asked about Gulfport on here a couple of months ago.

Can I add Bokeelia and Matlacha, also Flagler Beach?

[mick]

Simon

Some interesting stuff there even for us "old timers" (in both senses of the word ) we're always looking for new places to explore.



Mick

[dannigizmo]

Thanks for this! We having a non park 17nights in July and looking for ideas. Fancy Mount Dora and St Petersburg! Cheers!

[Myakka17]

Are there any nice marina areas on the gulf coast nor either Venice or Naples?

Thanks

[Greyfriars]

We make a point of visiting Webster Westside Market on a Monday. It's 99% locals and the fruit and veg is a quarter the price of the supermarkets. Lots of really quaint stalls.

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by Greyfriars

We make a point of visiting Webster Westside Market on a Monday. It's 99% locals and the fruit and veg is a quarter the price of the supermarkets. Lots of really quaint stalls.

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OK, that's one we'll have to look into the next time we go out that way! Sounds good Fresh fruit and veg isn't always great at the supermarkets, hence any alternative recommendations always get out attention.

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by Myakka17

Are there any nice marina areas on the gulf coast nor either Venice or Naples?

Thanks

See more...

You can't actually go far without finding a good marina along that stretch of coast. Each of Clearwater Beach, St Petersburg, St Pete Beach, Bradenton, Sarasota and Bonita Springs have good marinas, as well as Naples.

[linder]

There are a few here I would like to visit thanks for the info

[Disney Planning]

This is a great thread, some of the places mentioned I've been to and some are on my list.