sl54321

We'll be vacationing in Florida in mid-June, staying in the Tampa area for a bit and then heading to the Daytona area. I'm looking for suggestions on a place to stop for a few hours on the day we drive across the state. We're not looking for a major attraction, but perhaps some hidden treasure, whether it's a good place to eat, a bit of nature, an interesting town, etc. We're open to any and all suggestions. Thanks!

a2zmom

Just be careful -- some of those towns are speed traps. Check w/ AAA for more specific details.

bnbtraveler

Winter Park is great, with a wonderful shopping/dining area named Park Avenue. See - www.winterpark.org. Also, Leu Gardens in Orlando is fabulous - 52 acres of wonderful gardens and an historic house to tour. See - www.leugardens.org . Our city - Maitland, has a Bird of Prey Center, Historic Art Center and Historical Museusm. See - www.itsmymaitland.com for all info. The area just east and north of downtown Orlando offers some beautiful areas! We live there and is is a bit less than one hour to Daytona from there.

Wayne

There's no doubt that Orlando has many things to see and do. If you want something a little less hectic, you might go north from Orlando to Mount Dora, a neat little town on the shores of Lake Dora. The old inn on the hill is a good place for lunch, with a view out across the lake.

Farther north along scenic highway 19 out of Mount Dora, you will intersect with highway 40 between Ocala and Daytona. Going east on 40 you will find the Blackwater Inn on the St Johns river near Astor. Blackwater is one of those old-fashioned Florida places where you can have a fish sandwich and a beer overlooking the local fishing boat traffic on the St Johns.

Of course, if you leave Tampa on I-275 or I-75, whichever is closer, go north on I-75 all the way to Ocala and stop to enjoy Silver Springs on the east side of Ocala. It's a tourist place, but the wildlife and the acquatic life that you can see from one of their glass-bottom boats in really quite interesting.

Any of these might be worth a stop. If you do stop in Orlando and don't have a lot of time, I would agree that you get off the interstate at Winter Park and enjoy a nice town. Just be aware that the traffic in and around Orlando can be very hectic any time of day.

sl54321

Thanks for the ideas! We're most interested now in Wayne's suggestion of taking I-75 north to Ocala and then going across on Highway 40. According to a AAA map, that stretch of Highway 40 would be about 75 miles right through the Ocala National Forest. Can anyone describe that stretch for me? (ie; 2-lane highway with lots of curves? rest places if we want to stop?)

Wayne

That stretch of higway through the Ocala forest is, for a Florida native, very scenic. Small rolling hills, lots of smaller trees in reforested areas, and a couple of small towns along the way. Yes, the highway is 2 lane, with periodic passing lanes added to compensate for people who are driving even slower than the allowed speed limit (which I believe is 50 mph, so not so bad).

There is one rest stop on that stretch where I always pull over. There is a public rest room in a small auto parking area right on the shores of a nice lake. Wish I could recall the name of the lake -- I believe it's Wildcat Lake, and there's a sign warning of the rest stop as you approach.

I always take that route from Tampa to Daytona, and I really enjoy the drive along highway 40. There's a bit of traffic in Ocala until you get clear of the city, but then it flows very well.

Wayne

Of course, the Blackwater Inn that I mentioned earlier is another place to stop for a little refreshment or a snack. The dining area of the inn is upstairs overlooking the St Johns river, and it's fun to sit at one of the tables by a window and watch the river traffic.

zzzot2

"Wayne" hit it dead on, if I intrepreted your wishes correctly. Can't tell what part of the U.S. you're from, but to us Natives, driving through Ocala N.F., palmetto scrub, is neat. His suggested stops are neat, too. Just remember, this ain't Disney, it's Florida, like it use to be. If you haven't seen a Florida spring, then a stop a Silver Springs and a ride on the glass bottom boat is definitely worth while. On 40, don't be tempted to speed, the FHP is there. If you drive it at night, definitedly don't speed, deer, wild hog and bear kills on 40 are heavy and they can hurt you, too. If you need info on Daytona area, I'll be glad to give some insight depending on what you are into.

sl54321

Thank you, Wayne and zzzot2! Highway 40 sounds like just what we were looking for...we have no interest in anything Disney-ish right now.

zzzot2: We have vacationed last June in Ormond Beach because we have access to a property there. We like nature and history and are certainly open to any suggestions you may have for the larger Daytona area. We explored a lot last time, going as far north as St. Augustine, but we didn't go any farther south than Ponce Inlet. Please feel free to share your expertise.

zzzot2

Ormond Beach is the most up-scale area of "Daytona Beach" ("Daytona Beach" actually is an area from Ormond, to the north, and Ponce Inlet, to the south). The Daytona Beach Shores area is also a nice area to stay in, and its beach, is arguably the best in the area. Tomoka State Park on the mainland side of Ormond is really nice, I think you can rent canoes, kayaks, etc., there, but not sure. It is on both the Tomoka River and the Intercoastal Waterway. If you like fishing, think about chartering a guide/boat for inland, saltwater fishing for redfish, trout and snook. St. Augustine is always good for a day trip, Florida's Marineland south of there, is the original Florida "theme park", small, worthwhile and located on the ocean -- I like it. South of Ponce Inlet (see a map) is New Syrmna Beach, a neat, oceanfront town, kinda artsey/craftsy town. If you stay in Ormond, again, and have access to a kitchen and like seafood, go to Hull's Seafood Market on Granada, near the bridge -- they sell fresh (really) local seafood. We always buy there when we're in town, since -- believe it or not --fresh seafood is hard to get in Florida. If you are a diver or snorkeler, there are beautiful springs not too far away. Hope that helps.