I will be attending a conference in Kissimmee then Wednesday afternoon driving to Tampa for business, back Friday Afternoon to fly out on Saturday morning from Orlando. I really don't know Florida. I understand the drive will be about an hour and one-half each way, so I'll have a little time if I want to make any quick stops. Does anyone have some interesting quick stop sights I could see?

The thread on the long weekend in Orlando inspired me to write this. There were two really cool suggestions there near Orlando (besides amusemenb parks) but they were north.

Thanks for any advice!

Don't know which weekend you're down there, but the Florida State Fair is just outside Tampa Feb. 9-20.

Thanks Weasel, I'll be driving to Tampa the 8th of Feb back the 10th, so will look up the state fair.

Two ideas -

1 - If you want to see an "Old Florida" attraction of the type that preceded Disney, stop by Cypress Gardens.

2 - Definitely stop by Plant City and have the best strawberries of your life. When traveling in the area for business, I'd skip lunch to have a huge strawberry shortcake! Take a peek =
http://www.rvliving.net/plantcity.htm

I also checked the dates and you'll be there in the midst of the Strawberry Festival. I've never done that, but take a look at the website -
http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/

On the way back, if you wanted to take a detour, Mount Dora is a neat little town full of shops. They also have a big festival every year, but don't know when it is.

Here's a better link to Parkesdale Farms & their strawberries -

http://www.parkesdale.com/strawberry..._shortcake.htm

Cypress Gardens -
http://cypressgardens.com/gardens.asp

You will have just missed a big arts festival, but info on Mt. Dora @ www.mountdora.com

The Plant City Strawberry Festival is quite packed so I don't know if you could make it a quick stop. You would have to deal with traffic to get there, parking, walking into the festival grounds from your parking, getting in line for your tkt., etc. I'm not sure if Parkesdale or any of the other farmers have shortcake at their roadside stands but it would be worth a stop if they did.

There is a dinosaur world type place that I've not been to but someone said it was very kitschy. Near Plant City.

Personally, I'd just make the haul into Tampa.

Wow, you guys are quick! Thanks again

http://www.boksanctuary.org/

Check out this link It's for the Bok Towers and Gardens near Lake Wales. When you exit Tampa on I-4 take the exit for hwy 60 to Brandon. It's a divided hwy and intersects with Hwy 27 at Lake Wales. Turn left(north) then follow the signs to the towers. I believe there are directions on the link. As you'll see there's a garden, carrillon and restaurant all on the property. I think the admission is about $8.00. When you leave the gardens go north on Hwy 27 and you'll pick up I-4 about 40 miles north, and will only be about 15 miles south of Kissimmee. 27 is also a divided Hwy and traffic is usually not bad.

I just got back from Florida. As so often is the case on business trips, I ended up not having as much time as I would have liked. However, on the way over to Tampa I did stop at Parkedale Farms (sp?) in Plant City and have the shortcake

Thank you for the suggestion! The shortcake was great, and it was fun browsing with all the retirees in the tent! The only problem was I wanted to take away a flat of strawberries with me and that was just not going to fly at the Marriott in Tampa.

We did stop at the Columbia restaurant in Ybor City on the way back from Tampa. We had lunch, and I really wish we had had time to have dinner the night before.

The restaurant is gorgeous---dark old wood, tiles, stained glass windows--and oozing history. The food was great. I had the Cuban Combo lunch plate which was a great way to taste several different things, and my co-worker had a shrimp dish (the name of which escapes me).

Ybor City also looked fun and funky, but alas, we had to continue to the client location.

Toucan, thanks for the post. I guess we should consider Ybor as a stop btwn. Orl/Tpa when one asks for that. Frankly, I like Ybor better during the day time. Once they put in all those bars it got downright snarly. The road was closed off and alot of drunks were walking the streets. But now they've re-opened the streets to cars and it's becoming civilized again. And, yes, the Columbia is beautiful.

The berries are really sweet right now. And the best ones are always at those roadsides or at the Fair. Not much better than that!

I am so glad you got a chance to enjoy the strawberry shortcake! Wasn't it amazing. I know that folks looked at me funny when I told them I planned to stop "in the middle of nowhere" to eat strawberries for lunch! Yum!

The original Columbia is wonderful. Glad you had a chance to enjoy that too. The ones is Celebration is just surreal - but then again, I find Celebration surreal.

Hope you have safe travels home!