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Altamonte Springs
Altamonte Springs – Spanish for “high hill” – is home to the legendary Altamonte Mall, a four-anchor indoor shopping mall with an 18-screen movie theater. Recent years have seen a surge in commercial and residential development in the central area of the city with the creation of Uptown Altamonte, a business and condo complex that marks Altamonte Springs’ Central Business District. Crane’s Roost Park is host to music festivals, concerts and other events throughout the year. It encompasses a 37-acre lake, a 900-seat amphitheater and a floating stage. Locals and tourists alike turn out daily to enjoy the park’s beauty, tranquility boardwalk/sidewalk for running, hiking and blading.
Arcadia
On Thanksgiving Day in 1905, Arcadia was destroyed by a massive fire that originated in a midtown livery stable. During its recovery, Arcadia was home from 1917 to 1922 to Carlstrom Field, a grass airfield of the U.S. Army Air Service named for aviation pioneer Victor Carlstrom. Today, the Wild West comes to life each year when the small town (population of 7,100) hosts three rodeos. Proceeds from the rodeos, held in the spring, summer and fall, benefit charities and college scholarships.
Bartow
Dubbed “the City of Oaks and Azaleas,” Bartow was named in honor of Francis S. Bartow, the first Confederate officer to die in the American Civil War. The city, incorporated in 1882, has a current population of just over 16,000. Snuggled between Tampa and Orlando, just south of Lakeland, Bartow is known for its historic downtown, large oak trees that form canopies over the streets, early 20th-century antebellum-style architecture and azaleas.
Dunnellon
The Dunnellon area offers a variety of eco-tourism opportunities for the whole family. Watersports, numerous trails and local history abound in this town with a population of less than 2,000. Stroll around the nationally registered historic district and step into shops that sell a wide variety of gifts and antiques. Rainbow Springs State Park is open daily and includes areas where visitors can canoe, swim, snorkel, picnic, observe nature or just relax. The park also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. Rainbow Springs State Park Campground is a favorite among campers. All campsites are available with water and electric, and some have septic hook-ups. Visitors can rent canoes or bring their own, go snorkeling or just sit around the campfire and enjoy friends and family.
Lake Buena Vista
Lake Buena Vista, home of the Walt Disney World Resort, is the largest recreational resort in the world, with four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Don’t miss Downtown Disney, a metropolis of daytime and nighttime fun for everyone. Let the kids play at DisneyQuest, a massive arcade and virtual theme park, while the adults shop, take in a movie at the AMC theater or a concert at the House of Blues, or enjoy fine dining at restaurants including Planet Hollywood or Wolfgang Puck’s.
Lakeland
Lakeland, rich with historic districts and distinctive communities, beautifully blends a small-town feel with the accessibility and amenities of a larger city. The town offers a mix of sports, entertainment, culture and education. With a population of 100,000, Lakeland has received the distinction of being on Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live in America” list. Lakeland is home to Florida Southern College, which hosts the largest on-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. History buffs and art lovers will enjoy the Polk Museum of Art, and sports enthusiasts will want to catch a Lakeland Thunderbolts indoor football game at Lakeland Center. Lakeland has served as winter home to the Detroit Tigers professional baseball team for more than 65 years, and is the hometown of R&B singer Faith Evans.
Mount Dora
Mount Dora, a quaint, lakefront town, is full of delightful boutiques, decorative art galleries and cozy outdoor cafes. Open nearly every day, each shop is a unique reflection of its owner. A mecca for antique collectors, Mount Dora hosts more varied antique shops and dealers per square foot than any other Florida town. Renninger’s Antique Market brings in thousands of visitors for its frequent weekend antique extravaganzas. Throughout the year, the Icehouse Theater presents plays, concerts and recitals, while the Mount Dora Center for the Arts hosts exhibitions and gallery openings.
Guests will find the Royellou Museum at the Old City Jail and glimpse firsthand Mount Dora life from the past to the present. The annual two-day Mount Dora Bike Fest features a number of supported bicycle rides with options for all skill levels and ages. Mount Dora’s annual Music Festival is dedicated to celebrating culture through the performing arts. If you happen to visit during Christmas, look for “Light Up Mount Dora,” a glorious festival and celebration of lights.
Ocala
Campers and nature lovers, unite. The Ocala National Forest, with its plethora of lakes and multiple trails, is a wonderfully remote spot where friends and family can hike, camp and commune with nature. Take the kids to Discovery Science Center, a hands-on exhibit. Every family member will enjoy Silver Springs, a 350-acre nature theme park at the headwaters of the beautiful Silver River. The park offers a petting zoo, exquisite natural habitats for Florida wildlife and glass-bottom boat rides in crystal-clear, natural hot springs up to 80 feet deep and 99 percent pure.
Other attractions include the Appleton Museum of Art and the Ocala Civic Center. Kentucky Derby winners and prize horses from around the globe are bred in this farming town of 48,000. The Ocala area is one of the major Thoroughbred centers of the world, with more than a thousand horse farms in total, of which 600 are Thoroughbred farms.
Orlando
Head here to find Wet ‘n Wild, Universal Orlando, Universal Islands of Adventure and SeaWorld Orlando. (Walt Disney World Resort is technically in Lake Buena Vista.) If you love nightlife, head back to Universal CityWalk after dark for live concerts and a vibrant social atmosphere. Don’t forget downtown, centered on Lake Eola. Around the lake is a walking loop; look for swan boats and a historic fountain.
Oviedo
Famous for chickens that roam the downtown area freely, Oviedo has roots dating back to just after the Civil War in 1865, when homesteaders settled along the shores of Lake Jesup. Today, it’s a growing city with a population of nearly 30,000, and a historic downtown that steadfastly maintains its charming, small-town appeal. Oviedo shares a sister relationship with Oviedo, Spain, and is host to the Oviedo Marketplace Mall, a giant, naturally lit shopping mecca with a 22-screen theater. Locals and tourists alike come out annually for the town’s Taste of Oviedo festival. Oviedo, which was incorporated as a city in 1925 with a population of 800, was once a mass producer of citrus and celery.
Sanford
In 1870, General Henry Shelton Sanford bought 12,548 acres to the west of a town then called Mellonville, and planned the community of Sanford with the hopes of making it a transportation hub. He dubbed it “The Gateway to South Florida.” Seven years later, the town was incorporated with a population of 100. By 1883, Sanford had absorbed Mellonville, had become a stop on the South Florida Railway and was the largest shipper of oranges in the world.
Today, flea market lovers come from miles around to the legendary Sanford Flea Market and the Sanford farmer’s market. This town of more than 47,000 is the home of the Central Florida Zoo, the Sanford Museum and the Museum of Seminole County History. The city still boasts much of its older commercial and residential architecture, with streets shaded by live oaks hung with Spanish moss. Its charm has made Sanford a setting for major Hollywood movies, including My Girl, Passenger 57, Rosewood and Monster. Sanford is also the childhood home of author and cartoonist Doug Marlette and comedian Larry the Cable Guy.
Sebring
Sebring, home of the Sebring International Raceway and host of the 12 Hours of Sebring, was founded in 1912 by George Sebring, a pottery manufacturer from Ohio. The town is dubbed “The City on the Circle” in reference to Circle Drive, Mr. Sebring’s design for the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District.
Winter Haven
Cypress Gardens, Florida’s first theme park, is located in Winter Haven. The park boasts dazzling water ski shows, and has seen a surge in interest and attendance since its recent renovation and reopening, adding a variety of new thrill rides. Known as the “Chain of Lakes City,” Winter Haven is also home to many water and barefoot ski schools. Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes Park has been the spring training location for baseball teams including the Boston Red Sox (1966-92) and the Cleveland Indians (1993-2007).
Winter Park
Winter Park has a healthy mix of arts, museums, nightlife and upscale living. The outdoor cafés along posh Park Avenue are the perfect place to enjoy lunch while shopping, or indulge in a romantic evening. Visitors enjoy the annual Winter Park Art Festival, a fun and casual outdoor weekend exhibit. In the evening, stop by Beluga, a seafood restaurant and nightspot for the professional crowd.
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