| Florida Small Town Treasures | Add To Favorites | | Print | |
 Undiscovered Florida..
Florida's downtown's invite you to add some adventure to your Florida vacation. Take a new look at the Sunshine State and you'll discover that the revitalized downtown's and small towns are worth the trip. Just ask the locals. Family adventures are right around the corner in Florida's downtown's, where some of the best museums and interactive science centers are located. One-of-a-kind boutiques, shops, galleries, restaurants and more line the streets. Florida Beaches, zoos, aquariums, amusement parks and theme parks are just minutes from Florida's downtown's and small towns- making them the perfect starting point for your next Florida escape.
DeLand, Florida Deland, less than 25 miles west of Daytona Beach lies the town of DeLand, the administrative seat of Volusia county. DeLand is defined by stately homes nestled amongst an oak-tree canopy, a nationally recognized, award-winning Main Street, scenic roads, bubbling springs, Stetson University and Southern hospitality. Stetson University, established in 1876 is Florida's oldest private college. The Stetson University Campus Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, blends comfortably into downtown along Woodland Boulevard where visitors enjoy a fine selection of specialty and antique shops, outdoor cafes and bistros. The Downtown DeLand Historic District, National Register listed in 1987, includes the DeLand Mural Walk illustrating local history with colorful portrayals of early settlers in horse drawn carriages, steam locomotives and grand homes of yesteryear. DeLand museums include the African-American Museum, the DeLand Museum of Art, the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum, and the Henry A. DeLand House Museum . On the Stetson campus, the Gillespie Museum of Minerals boasts the largest private mineral and gem collection in the world.
Bungalow houses, narrow streets and spirit encounters define the intriguing town of Cassadaga. The Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp was established in 1894 by George P. Colby. During a seance, Colby was told he would someday establish a Spiritualist camp in the South. In 1875, Colby's spirit guide "Seneca" led him to the Cassadaga site, a Seneca word meaning "rocks beneath water." One of the few religious communities founded in Florida during the 1890s to remain in existence today, Cassadaga now encompasses 57 acres. More than half of its more than 80 residents are mediums and healers. The town was designated a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Today, the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association is the oldest active religious community in the southeast. The streets of the town are narrow, and the homes date back to the turn of the 20th century. Although residents own their homes on Camp grounds, the Camp retains ownership of the land.
DeBary, Florida Beautifully restored DeBary Hall is the late 1870s winter hunting estate of famed New York wine importer and sportsman, Frederick DeBary. The 8,000-square-foot, Italianate-style mansion was a popular destination for quail hunting, fishing and unforgettable parties, enjoyed exclusively by DeBary's guests, affluent northerners who traveled by steamboat up the St. Johns River. Today the mansion and exhibits offer a glimpse of life during Florida's 19th century tourism boom, the local citrus industry, and steam boating up the St. Johns River. The property includes stables and farming artifacts.
Vero Beach, Florida Vero Beach is a gentle, sophisticated and unpretentious town which, since 1948, has been the smallest city in the nation to have its own professional baseball team - the Dodgers. In recent years, this area has become home to America's cultural and corporate elite. It's a place where high level business deals are made on a handshake during a round of golf... new friends are easily met at the many and diverse area activities... and spirits are renewed through abundant recreational opportunities available in this lovely tropical climate. Homey, yet casually elegant, Vero Beach and Indian River County attracts visitors and residents because of the cultural wealth and inherent natural beauty of the area. Vero Beach was rated the "Best Small Town in Florida & 12th in the Nation" and was named one of "The 100 Best Art Towns in America." Known as the "Gateway to the Tropics," Vero Beach is located in a climatic transition zone that offers an unusual mix of vegetation found in the coastal Carolina's - ancient oak trees and pine forests - blended with swaying palms and colorful blooms typical of the tropics.
Punta Gorda, Florida The county seat of Charlotte County is Punta Gorda, a charming waterfront community with State Historic District status. With a population of only about 13,000 in its 14.1 square miles of land, Punta Gorda has the charm of small-town living, with the amenities of Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, and Sarasota only a short drive away. The historic district of downtown Punta Gorda, a vital and growing area, offers a quaint, "Old Florida" feel, with its cobblestone streets and towering shade trees. The canals of Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles bring waterfront living to almost every resident of the neighborhood, with access to Charlotte Harbor and on out to the Gulf of Mexico. In Punta Gorda, historic preservation is a priority. Punta Gorda obtained State Historic District status to ensure that the old-time charm of the city is kept intact. Restored old wooden homes and Spanish-style homes with broad front veranda's are found throughout the tree-lined streets of the historic district. Golfing and tennis opportunities include nearly two dozen golf courses in the county and numerous tennis courts. Local fishing is some of the best in the county, with fishermen targeting the abundant snook, grouper, snapper, trout, bluefish, and many others. Perhaps the best-known game fish in local waters is the mighty tarpon, which can be seen roiling the water at the mouth of the Boca Grande Pass.
Venice, Florida The City of Venice, incorporated in 1927, enjoys a rich and diverse heritage and is a designated Florida Main Street as awarded by the State of Florida for Historic Preservation. Venice's downtown ambiance is quite pleasant with dozens of businesses allowing people to shop while walking amid the shade of palm trees and cooled by the gulf breeze from only a few blocks away. Some of the finest Florida beaches that line the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico are right here in the Venice area. From a natural-state primitive beach to developed Florida beaches with conveniences and amenities recreational opportunities abound: sunbathing, boating, picnicking, fishing, hiking and the ever-popular hunting for prehistoric shark's teeth. A wide-ranging array of people and events blend together to make Venice one of the most charming and enchanting cities in Southwest Florida.
Mount Dora, Florida Mount Dora is a perfectly preserved turn-of-the-century Old Florida village, yet within a scenic 40 minute drive of Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Daytona Beach or the Ocala Forest. Visitor's can explore the fun Mt Dora parks, eat at several dozen upscale restaurants, take a carriage ride across the Bowling Green, shop at one of the many antique boutiques along cobble stoned Main Street or sip a cool refreshment from a white wicker rocking chair on the veranda of the Lakeside Inn as the sun sets over Lake Dora.... a quintessential Mt Dora experience for more than 100 years. How about a stroll down the lawn walk to the pool, beach and lake dock for swimming, to the Mt Dora Yacht Club for boating or to Palm Island Nature preserve for bird watching...or better yet gator watching!. Or just shop the irresistible antique stores of Main St or explore the cobble stoned back alleyways...the choice,,,is yours!
Flagler Beach, Florida Flagler Beach, one of Florida's new "hot" destinations, this 20-mile stretch of coastline and its natural sportsmen haven inland are just being discovered by visitors and relocators who value its proximity to resort and culture centers as well as its removal from the stress and fast pace of metropolises. A1A Ocean Shore Scenic Highway spans a seven-mile stretch of Flagler County's Florida beach between quiet Flagler Beach and Beverly Beach. A bicycle/pedestrian path parallels the scenic corridor and provides recreation for the cyclist, jogger, and peace-loving stroller. The A1A River & Sea Trail Scenic Highway takes in Palm Coast and the historic town of Marineland, site of the world's first "Oceanarium," opened in 1938 and fed by waters from the Atlantic Ocean. Mammoth sea turtles nest along this traffic-free, all-natural coastline. Anglers catch fish from Flagler Beach Pier and surfers catch waves. Two Florida state parks line the beach. Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area is cradled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway for the pleasure of campers, picnickers, swimmers, and shorebirds. Huge coquina boulders and peaceful ornamental gardens distinguish this Florida beach and Matanzas riverfront at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Once a plantation, its pedigree can be traced back to our first president's family. Bayside, marshlands, and estuaries harbor rare and endangered birds along Florida's Great Birding Trail, such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron, and osprey. Dolphins play in the wake of passing boats and manatees herd in the waterway during spring and summer. Eco-tours on water and land introduce you to the rife wildlife, or take you on one of the nature trails in local parks and preserves.
Sebring, Florida Sebring, from its historic downtown and circle to the modern Sebring International Raceway, is known around the world for its warm hospitality and welcome to all, from near and far away. Better known for its week long race activity in the fall and spring each year, the community offers many other activities and events for young and old to enjoy throughout the year. This charming community will capture your imagination and your affection to the point that many visitors return each year and some even return to live. Circle Park in historic downtown Sebring has been a focal point for community activities since the early 1900's when the City was founded by George Sebring. Historic preservation and restoration efforts of recent years have turned downtown Sebring into a Florida attraction in itself, and it is the source of great community pride. Recreation opportunities in the Sebring area abound for people of all ages including fresh water swimming in our many lakes, fishing, boating, water skiing and other water sports. Large mouth bass abound in area lakes and many are of trophy size. People can enjoy nature at its best in nearby Highlands Hammock State Park, the oldest in the Florida State Parks System. Golfers have many excellent courses to choose from that challenge skills of all levels. Many other opportunities to enjoy life in the outdoors also exist in the Greater Sebring area, including bicycling and bird watching. A dynamic business community supported by progressive city and county government, combined with affordable housing and convenience, are but some of the ingredients that make the Greater Sebring area an ideal place to visit
Marianna, Florida Marianna, is typical of the country-burg personality one encounters. Along its hilly streets you will find a Civil War battle monument, a Mediterranean-style post office, a quiet courthouse park and a number of homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Marianna serves as a doorway to Florida state parks and corridors of pure pine, dogwood and magnolia forests. Come spring, azaleas festoon the roadways with their bountiful blossoms. Gentle hills and scenic back roads make this a popular destination for cyclists. The closest park to Marianna, Florida Caverns State Park is the only place in Florida where you can spelunk without going under water. Rangers guide tours down 50 feet beneath the earth's surface to point out unusual limestone formations including stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, draperies and even a wedding cake surrounded by pipe organs, a popular site for wedding ceremonies. The one-third-mile cave walk provides a quick chill-out when it's hot - 65 degrees year 'round. During summer months, the park offers nighttime lantern tours on Friday and Saturday. Above ground there's also plenty to do, including hiking, camping, fishing, swimming in a sinkhole pond, golfing and canoeing on the Chipola River, one of Florida's loveliest paddling trails.
Dunedin, Florida "Delightful" Dunedin's village-like atmosphere, natural wooded and subtropical settings, three and a half miles of picturesque waterfront and a relaxed lifestyle has lured people for decades from around the world. Midway on Florida's west coast, in the heart of the popular Pinellas Suncoast, Dunedin is one of the few open waterfront communities from Sarasota to Cedar Key, Florida where buildings do not obscure the view
It may be the world's healthiest climate and all the year-round outdoor fun that only Florida can provide that lures visitors to Dunedin, but it is Dunedin's village quaintness coupled with its progressive vision and masterful planning that keeps them here. Dunedin is not surprised that many seasonal visitors elect to stay once they discover Dunedin is without the trappings and congestion of most Florida resort towns.
But Dunedin is also unique for its spectacularly beautiful natural setting. Boasting both the tropical flair of Florida and subdued wooded areas that somehow lend a Scottish flair to the area, Dunedin literally offers a little bit of everything. Its magnificent setting also includes over four miles of beautiful water frontage. Newcomers to the area are struck by how well the town is equally suited to singles, seniors, and families alike. Because of this, the town's population reflects a diversity of age and background, culture and interests. There is something for everyone here in Dunedin.
Florida Tourism Industry topics Featured: Florida Brochures ~ Florida Brochure Design ~ Florida Brochure Printing ~ Florida Brochure Distribution ~ Florida Brochure Services including Ocala, Tallahassee, Gainsvills, Bradenton, St. Petersburg and Sarasotaby the "Brochureguys!" ~ Florida Suncoast Tourism Promotions, Inc. |
|||
|
|
