17 minute read
Day trips
Travel … we hardly knew ye? The concept of a spontaneous weekend getaway got stomped by the pandemic; now it feels like the equivalent of moving house, what with the herculean level of pre-planning and reservation-wrangling. And yet, we in Central Florida are blessed by our, well, centrality in the nation’s most tourist-centric state, and thus we have access to a number of charming yet low-impact destinations. Here are 10 prime spots that require only you gas up the flivver.
DELAND
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DeLand is just so damn charming, and it makes you feel like you’ve ventured “a ways up north,” while only requiring a quick burst eastward on I-4. The handful of gently rolling hills never cease to soothe, and the downtown area is the golden mean of “fetching” and “happening.” Plenty of great shops to hop in and out of; dining/drinking stops like Cress (103 W. Indiana Ave.), Cafe DaVinci (112 W. Georgia Ave.) and Persimmon Hollow Brewing (111 W. Georgia Ave.); and a surprisingly good art museum to boot.
GAINESVILLE
Head up I-75 and take in the delights of the home of the Florida Gators. Rest assured, there’s way more to this town than just predictable college trappings. The main street downtown houses fantastic food spots like Flaco’s (200 W. University Ave.), bars like the Dime (4 E. University Ave.), or hybrids of both like the Top (30 N. Main St.). Thusly sated, you should perhaps head over to the Florida Museum of Natural History (3215 Hull Road), or if you want to get truly wild there’s the truly amazing Paynes Prairie (100 Savannah Blvd.) nearby, where you may hobnob with actual, literal American bison and wild horses.
MOUNT DORA
Despite a reputation as a quieter burg (as if that’s a bad thing these days, sayeth our blood pressure), a quick trip up 441 to Mount Dora could land you a packed itinerary. You must visit the Mount Dora Flea Market and Renninger’s Antique Center (20651 U.S. Highway 441), no question — the sprawling markets will yield a unique treasure or three. After that, hit the quaint downtown for an old-timey stroll. You’ll no doubt be hungry and thirsty after this expedition, so hit up Backhaus German Bakery (2355 W. Old U.S. Highway 441), 1921 Mount Dora (142 E. Fourth Ave.) or Pisces Rising (239 W. Fourth Ave.). Annual events like the Festival of Arts & Crafts and the Blueberry Fest make a trip even more mandatory.
TAMPA/ST. PETE
OK, so maybe the trek to Tampa Bay can be a little stressful if you time it wrong, but it’s more than worth it. This is an area on a roll: Super Bowl champs, Stanley Cup champs, St. Pete Beach was even named the Best Beach in America by TripAdvisor. Downtown St. Pete, Ybor City and Seminole Heights in Tampa are each worth individual trips in their own right, with a wealth of small businesses and delicious vittles and potables. The historic Tampa Theatre (711 N. Franklin St.) just started showing films again, Armature Works (1910 N. Ola Ave.) is cleaning up, and for our money you’d be hard-pressed to find a better record store in Florida than Steelworker (708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.).
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville has come a long way from the overpowering smell of paper mills by the St. Johns River. “The bold new city of the South” now has a solid backbone of independent spots that make the somewhat harrowing trek up I-95 worth it. No stop in Jax is complete without a visit to either location (or both!) of Chamblin’s Book Mine. The overstuffed used-book empire is an absolute treasure of the state, and the downtown location (215 N. Laura St.) includes a cafe with great coffee and vegetarian options. If you’re already downtown, stop by the Museum of Contemporary Art (333 N. Laura St.) or the nearby Cummer Museum in Riverside (829 Riverside Ave.). From there you can either check out the laidback Jax Beach area, or settle into the more hip neighborhoods of Riverside, Avondale and San Marco.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Possibly hot (or at least above roomtemp) take: St. Augustine beats out Daytona in the Central/North Florida beach stakes. A little closer on the I-95 run northward than Jacksonville, St. Augustine mixes the beach experience with a deep sense of history that is hard to match. Mandatory non-sandy sites include the Castillo de San Marcos (1 S. Castillo Drive) and the Fountain of Youth (11 Magnolia Ave.). Make sure to spend some time downtown, either taking it all in with a trolley ride or hoofing it. Don’t miss Tonevendor Records (81 King St.), the Ice Plant (110 Riberia St.) or — we promise — the delightful oddity of Potter’s Wax Museum (31 Orange St.).
WINTER GARDEN
Tucked away in the western side of Orange County, just a mere 14 miles from downtown Orlando, is Winter Garden, offering a throwback oasis of calm from the hustle and bustle of the City Beautiful. The historic downtown strip is abuzz with activity and unique vendors and restaurants, and on Saturdays there’s the added attraction of the very good Winter Garden Farmers Market. To get your cultural fix, take in a show at the Garden Theatre (160 W. Plant St.), which is going full steam ahead with a season heavy on classic productions. Make sure you stop at the French Café (16412 New Independence Parkway) for some truly magnificent pastries.
NEW SMYRNA
TripAdvisor aside, the winner of the “Best Beach” in our 2020 Best of Orlando readers’ poll, New Smyrna, offers sandy thrills aplenty without the sometimes over-exuberant revelry of Daytona Beach. And it’s just a quick hop up I-4 and then over to the east coast. Not only can you have a “beach day” with a better-than-average chance of peace and quiet, you can flip the script completely and check out the boundarypushing gem that is the Atlantic Center for the Arts (1414 Art Center Ave.). The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum (4931 S. Peninsula Drive) is also a great outing if you want to keep your trip more exclusively “beachy” and maritime. Of course, make sure to pop in to JB’s Fish Camp & Restaurant (859 Pompano Ave.) for a delicious taste of Old Florida.
WEEKI WACHEE
You have to do this. No question. If you want — and you should — to take a trip back in time to the days before Disney dominated the Florida landscape, Weeki Wachee offers timeless and time-tested thrills. The Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (131 Commercial Way) has finally reopened after a prudent period of closed doors during the pandemic. This park is steeped in Old-Florida gimmickry, and it holds up! Mermaid shows throughout the day are much the same as they were in the 1940s, with some freshening-up of the music and costumes, but the focus is still on the classic underwater choreography. Other than that, you can while away the day walking the grounds, availing yourself of the small water park, and taking a glass-bottom boat ride. You could also take in a meal at some of the local seafood emporia, but this is very much a mermaid-focused excursion.
SARASOTA
This Gulf Coast city just beyond Tampa Bay is a fabulous road-trip destination if you want a completely unique vibe, but one weekend day is all you can manage. Sarasota is home to a busy local arts scene, and how could it not, given that the Ringling College of Art and Design (2700 N. Tamiami Trail) is also in the city limits? Speaking of Ringling, please don’t miss the chance to scope out the Ringling Circus Museum (5401 Bay Shore Road). Sarasota has your choices of beaches to soak up some Vitamin D, and after that, patronize some local restaurants like C’est La Vie (1553 Main St.) for French cuisine or Five-O Donut Co. (2241 Ringling Blvd.) for “arrestingly good donuts.” Happy driving!
Outdoors
PARKS
Barnett Park
4801 W. Colonial Drive orangecountyfl.net The crown jewel of Orange County’s parks department can be overlooked because it can’t be seen from Colonial Drive. But it boasts two disc golf courses, a BMX track, a fitness center, a dog park, golf areas, softball fields and more, making it an essential location for any outdoors enthusiasts.
Bill Frederick Park
3401 S. Hiawassee Road, orlando.gov The biggest park in Metrowest covers 183 acres situated around Turkey Lake, one of the most popular fishing lakes in the area. The park offers canoeing, kayaking, nature trails, volleyball courts and other amenities and diversions.
Blue Jacket Park
2501 General Rees Ave., orlando.gov Blue Jacket Park was once the Orlando Naval Training Center, the home of service personnel known as “Blue Jackets.” Today, its 75 acres have been designated as a historic site that’s popular for hosting baseball, soccer and softball and events like weddings.
Central Park
251 S. Park Ave., Winter Park cityofwinterpark.org You’re smack-dab in the middle of Winter Park’s downtown shopping district and you want to experience a little greenery and nature, so you cross the street and are immediately surrounded by fountains, landscaped plants and the oak tree canopies of Central Park’s 11 acres.
Dickson Azalea Park
100 Rosearden Drive, orlando.gov Along with neighboring Langford Park, Dickson Azalea provides a shaded oasis just outside of downtown. WPA-era bridges, pavilions and walkways crawl around and over the stream that trickles through the leafy park.
Greenwood Urban Wetlands
1411 Greenwood St., orlando.gov Surrounded by beautiful cypress trees, with leaves that blend lively shades of orange and yellow during Florida’s short-lived autumn, Greenwood Urban Wetlands’ 19 acres is a sight to be seen any time of the year. And these wetlands adjoin Greenwood Cemetery, a can’tmiss piece of old Orlando.
Lake Eola Park
512 E. Washington St., orlando.gov The center of downtown Orlando life, Lake Eola Park hosts farmers markets, cultural fairs, entertainment, foot races, white swans, black swans and more, along with a .9-mile walkway that orbits the signature fountain in the middle of the lake.
Lake Lily Park
701 Lake Lily Drive, Maitland maitland.recdesk.com Popular among dog walkers and birders, this picturesque, pocket-size park is located in the heart of Maitland, surrounded by some of the city’s gorgeous historical buildings.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 N. Forest Ave., leugardens.org These historic gardens nestled in Audubon Park boast a spectacular collection of native and exotic flora, including a rose garden, a butterfly garden and the largest documented camellia collection in Eastern North America.
Mead Botanical Garden
1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park meadgarden.org A garden oasis with bike paths and a picnic area bursting with natural fauna and wildlife. Take a hike near forested wetlands, and if you’re quiet enough, hear the hawks and wading birds.
Orlando Wetlands Park
25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas orlando.gov With more than 20 miles of roads and trails threading through mostly undeveloped marshes, Orlando Wetlands Park is the place to go if you’re in the mood to get in touch with nature. Wildlife sightings — including alligators and bears — aren’t uncommon, to say nothing of the prime birdwatching.
Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area
3365 Taylor Creek Road, Christmas myfwc.com Head east on Colonial Drive until the road forks, then steer right to take State Road 520 until you see the small brown sign beckoning you to turn left and discover Tosohatchee WMA. It’s off the beaten path, but its 60 miles of trails offer a rare solitude. Once inside, enjoy hiking the rugged Florida landscapes — quaint ponds, open fields of wildflowers, canopies of hanging moss — populated in the early morning hours by wild turkeys, boar, deer and more birds than Audubon Park documents on its street signs.
BIKING AND HIKING
Cady Way Trail
Entrance is 1/4 mile north of State Route 50 on Herndon Avenue This 7.2-mile paved path, popular with bicyclists and stroller-pushing moms alike, connects Orlando and Winter Park and the Cross Seminole Trail in Seminole County. The trail features water fountains, rest stops and mile markers, as well as a cool 685-footlong suspension bridge that crosses Semoran Boulevard.
Little Econ Greenway
Dean Road just north of State Road 50 This ever-expanding trail in East Orlando begins at Jay Blanchard Park and extends all the way to Alafaya Trail. It runs alongside the Little Econlockhatchee River, which offers pretty views and plenty of good spots to fish, canoe or just sit in the grass and enjoy a riverside picnic.
Orlando Urban Trail
orlando.gov The nearly 3-mile long trail near downtown Orlando is a hidden pocket of peace and scenic quiet cutting through the heart of town. This trail runs from Lake Highland through Loch Haven Park, all the way to Mead Gardens in Winter Park.
SPRINGS
Blue Spring State Park
2100 W. French Ave., Orange City, floridastateparks.org Volusia County’s Blue Spring, the largest spring on the St. Johns River, is notable both for the gorgeous spring run, but also the chance to have a close encounter with a manatee. The park is a designated manatee refuge (they’re drawn to the temperate 70-degree waters) in the winter. Canoeing, camping, snorkeling and hiking are also favorite activities.
Juniper Springs State Park
Ocala National Forest, Florida 40, Silver Springs, fs.usda.gov Juniper Springs is a bit of a drive — OK, it’s an hour and a half away — but oh, so worth it. From hundreds of tiny bubbling springs to massive springs gushing out of crevices in the earth, you will get your fill of water — all of it under a dense canopy of palms and oaks. The swimming area, campground and trails were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, part of the Depression-era New Deal that put millions to work (sounds like a good idea whose time has come again).
Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, floridastateparks.org You can canoe or kayak here (rentals are available), but this park also has 13 miles of pristine, wooded hiking, biking and horseback-riding trails. This park is very popular, particularly in summer when visitors like to swim in the clear blue spring, and when the parking lot fills, the park entrance closes. So get there early.
BEACHES
Daytona Beach
1 hour away Enjoy a crowd-free vacation at Daytona Beach. With 23 miles of white beaches to relax on, there’s plenty of space to take a break from reality.
New Smyrna Beach
1 hour away New Smyrna is known for its surfing and 17-mile white beaches, but if you happen to bring any four-legged friends, there’s a dog beach not too far away.
Canaveral National Seashore
212 S. Washington Ave., Titusville 1 hour, 30 minutes away This undeveloped shoreline is home to thousands of plants and animals. Keep in mind there’s a $20 vehicle entrance fee.
Cocoa Beach
1300 N Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach 1 hour away Cocoa Beach is home to four parks which all have a beach access point. The parks have plenty of picnic tables and showers to help enjoy a beach day.
Music & Nightlife
Orlando’s vibrant local music scene — bands, venues, and touring acts — has been mostly on pause since spring of last year. Local venues were among the first businesses to be shuttered during the pandemic, and they are only now beginning to reopen. Local musicians have doing the best they can to keep some momentum going with virtual shows and sporadic, socially distanced events, and the Frontyard Festival took a strong lead in presenting national acts in a controlled, outdoor setting. But we’re now at a point where Orlando’s promoters and venues are starting to book shows for the summer and fall, and big-name acts will be touring and — can it be? — playing Orlando later this year. Everything still seems a bit touch-and-go as of this writing, but here are the places that you may very well be checking out some great live music in 2021.
Ace Cafe
100 W. Livingston St. facebook.com/acecafeusa The former Edge space in downtown Orlando is hosting shows again, both within those storied walls and a more safety-conscious lawn space (Backyard at the Ace) which has seen all manner of local and national concerts and DJs.
Addition Financial Arena
12777 N. Gemini Blvd. additionfiarena.com The former CFE Arena on the UCF campus is more than just a student venue: It seats roughly 10,000 and hosts pop, rock and hip-hop, as well as comedy and other events.
Amway Center
400 W. Church St., amwaycenter.com Countless national acts have made the Amway a tour stop — not to mention a red-hot selection of young Latin music superstars and comedians — and this big-league arena is also home to the Magic and the Solar Bears, only a few steps from downtown.
The Beacham
46 N. Orange Ave., thebeacham.com The downtown concert venue provides a much-needed home for larger-scale shows and DJ nights in the center of the city. The open floor provides multiple pathways to edge your way up to the front, though good luck navigating the tightly packed crowds.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts
1905 Kentucky Ave., Winter Park, bluebambooartcenter.com Triple-threat performance space/art gallery/recording studio hosts the full sonic spectrum of jazz, classical and world music, as well as theater and literary events.
Celine
22 S. Magnolia Ave., celineorlando.com Downtown Orlando nightspot is a great destination for dancing and hosts a red-hot swath of touring hip-hop, EDM, drum & bass and techno heavy hitters.
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Frontyard Festival
445 S. Magnolia Ave. frontyardfestival.org First of its kind anywhere in the world, this pod-centric outdoor arts festival has been going since late last year on a specially built stage on the lawn in front of downtown’s Dr. Phil. FF features music, film, theater, touring acts, brunch events and even group exercise in the fresh air.
Gilt Nightclub
740 Bennett Road giltconcertvenue.com The lushly renovated, 10-bar, dualdancefloor nightclub Gilt is a significant upgrade from a previous incarnation as the Roxy, so put on your essential attire and check out DJs, hip-hop royalty and EDM.
Hard Rock Live
6050 Universal Blvd. hardrock.com/live Venture deep into the heart of Universal’s CityWalk entertainment complex for entertainment that straddles big-time, nostalgic and nextbig-thing all at once.
House of Blues
1490 E. Buena Vista Drive houseofblues.com Shows may start on the early side, but that’s the only overt sign that this concert venue and restaurant is nestled into family-friendly Disney Springs. The sightlines and sound system are recommended.
Independent Bar
70 N. Orange Ave., facebook.com/ independentbarorlando Downtown’s I-Bar is the destination of choice for those who want a little something more indie from their nightclub adventures. The dancefloor is spacious and multiple bars will melt away hesitations to dance on said floors.
Iron Cow
2438 E. Robinson St. facebook.com/ironcowcafe Milk District space steered by the people behind Sandwich Bar is an expanded space for live music and deep-cut club and DJ nights, further enticing the curious with a food and drinks menu.
The Plaza Live
425 N. Bumby Ave. plazaliveorlando.org This Milk District mainstay is run in partnership with the Orlando Philharmonic, hosting shows by the Phil’s smaller ensembles plus a wide-ranging slate of ’80s icons, guitar legends and comics.
The Social
54 N. Orange Ave., thesocial.org Mainstay downtown venue is the very definition of “intimate”; most nights this small room is packed to the gills with the devoted, straining to get as close as possible to their favorite touring artist.
Soundbar
37 W. Pine St. facebook.com/soundbar.orl The rebranded and restructured former Backbooth pulls off the deft balancing act of hosting all-ages shows across all genres, from hip-hop to deathcore to EDM to no-holds-barred wrestling.
Southern Nights
375 S. Bumby Ave., facebook.com/ southernnightsorlando Longstanding LGBTQ+ dance Shangri-la has been holding it down for years with a strong calendar of drag shows and dance nights. And the crowds keep pouring in.
Tier Nightclub
20 E. Central Blvd., tiernightclub.com Two-story, five-bar megaclub downtown gives you glamorous license to dress up and get wild on any number of DJ/dance nights.
Timucua Arts Foundation
2000 S. Summerlin Ave., timucua.com A truly unique live music experience nestled in an unassuming South Orlando neighborhood. The big white house (which is in fact a home) offers incredible acoustics, a near cathedrallike setting and an adventurous event slate.
Universal CityWalk
6000 Universal Blvd. universalorlando.com The bars and clubs tucked away within the Universal Studios sprawl offer plenty of opportunity for a little more grownup-oriented fun outside the province of Harry Potter and the Incredible Hulk.
The Vanguard
578 N. Orange Ave., thevanguard.live The storied former Firestone space is once again pulsing to the beat of live music, mostly of the EDM variety.
Wall Street Plaza
25 Wall St., wallstplaza.net Seven clubs congregate on one entire block of prime downtown real estate given over to the Wall Street complex, a nightly magnet for anybody ready for some drinking and mingling. Weekends are delightful madness.
Will’s Pub
1042 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org The Will’s/Lil Indies compound is an essential component of local scenebuilding as well as providing a stage to touring acts of all adventurous stripes. The booking calendar often reads like a genre collage, and that’s a very good thing.
