Suggestions for Day Trip
 

I was looking to take a day trip in Florida (maybe an hour or hour 1/2 away). Just looking for some suggestions. Also a good place to eat around the area. Thank you.

Winter Park is a great small town. There is the Morse Museum with the most comprehensive collection of Tiffany Glass anywhere. It is beautiful. There are many restaurants on the Main Street to to select. My favorite is Thai Orchard. The food is excellent and a beautiful display of orchards.

Crystal River, 75 mins west, Port Marina restaurant, on the water with a great view. View manatees in season at several locations.

THE FREEZER, Homosassa

Tarpon Springs. Lots to do, good eats.

Interesting day trips:
1. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park; to see the manatees
2. Crystal River area; to see the town, manatees at Three Sisters Springs, and the Gulf at Fort Island Beach
3. Weeki Wachee Gardens; to see the original mermaid Florida attraction before Disney came to Orlando
4. Tarpon Springs; to see the old town that was famous for sponge divers
5. Silver Springs; to take a ride in the original glass bottom boats Florida attraction before Disney came to Orlando
6. Micanopy; to see what the "old Florida" towns were like ("the town that time forgot")
7. Deland; take a boat ride up the St. Johns river from Blue Heron River Tours (near corner of 42 & 44)
8. Sanford; take a lunch or dinner cruise boat ride up the St. Johns river from St Johns Rivership Company

if you like animal activities, try LunaSea Alpaca Farm. i even got to kiss one :faint:

Great list I would also add Cedar Key and Ozello. Ybor City and St Pete pier.

Add Saint Petersburg, Lakeland, and Mt Dora.

Add winter garden , small train museum, a food building, Ocala and Gainesville both have museums, restaurants, and one has a great zoo .

Marjorie Kinan Rawlings State Park. Check state park website first about which days and hours her house is open for tours. She won the Pulitzer for The Yearling. For food, drive outside park boundaries, and next door there is a restaurant called The Yearling. Sometimes at lunch they have live guitar music.

If you are into the outdoors, Ichetuknee Springs State Park. Go for a leisurely tubing trip! Tube rentals outside park only $5!! Or visit Rainbow River State Park.

Here are my two favorites
 

I highly recommend Homossassa, there are a lot of things to do and my favorite place for steamed shrimp at “The Freezer” come early to avoid long waits, the best steamed shrimp in the planet, however all cash, no credit cards. After you leave, take 15 minutes to go to Fort island Gulf Beach, very nice, clean bathrooms, water is analyzed for bacteria each morning, water fountains and on weekends food trucks are usually there
Micanopy is a really pretty little town with big lovely homes stately large oaks and a lot of small shoppes, new age, antique. Lovely to see, most old Florida towns were like that in early 20th century. Micanopy is just North of Ocala, I forgot there are several good restaurants there, you can dine under the veranda and people watch!!!!

Thanks for this!
 

I was in Homosassa a short time ago (checked out a home for sale). But I wasn’t sure what the town has to offer. Thanks for your input and fave places!

Hard Rock in Tampa or Down Town Tampa

Definitely The Howey Mansion in Howey-in-the-Hills. Fascinating tour. Boondocks for lunch afterward. thehoweymansion.com Stop at the Yahala Bakery that you'll pass shortly before arriving there.

Thanks for your post! That list is a keeper!!!

Winter Park also has a great 1-hour scenic boat tour through three lakes and the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden.

If you were a Member of the Unique Travel Club most any destination in Florida would be a day trip. You could access hundreds of destinations from Everglade City to St George Island in 1.5 hours or less. One example would be the Island of Cedar Key, FL which has great water front Seafood Restaurants. Travel time would be approximately 30 minutes.

Dora Canal boat ride. Truly magical.

Check out "THE VILLAGES NEWCOMERS" last two Thursdays posts on YouTube.
Very informative on sites around the area with videos to show them.
:coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

Cedar key, florida
 

Cedar Key is one of our favorites for a scenic day trip. Take 44 West to 19/98 north to 24 west. Treat yourself at Steamer's restaurant on the third floor over looking the Cedar key islands while enjoying daily fresh caught seafood. A fun way to explore the gulf coast and don't forget to gas up before route 24, it only has one gas station. :coolsmiley:
cedarkey.org

Not being contrary but l tried to find Thai Orchard in Winter Park. I did find Orchid Thai Cuisine.

Dat trip
 

Dunellen: the Rainbow River; Rainbow River State Park; KP Hole County Park (if you want a float trip down the river.)

Eat at Swampy's on the River, The Blue Gator, or The Front Porch Restaurant

Day trip
 

We’re from the Boston area and haven’t had a lot of luck finding good seafood. A couple of months ago we stayed in Celebration, near Orlando.
Try Celebration Downtown Restaurant. It’s pretty much “all things Boston “. Including whole belly clams & Maine lobster & clam chowder. We actually went twice in our week in Celebration. Food is amazing and reasonable.
Also a very pretty setting if you care to walk around.

You are correct!

The Villages Newcomers just uploaded two great YouTube about day trips.
Really enjoy their vlogs.

I have been going to Micanopy for years, starting when I attended Univ of Fla in the 60's.

You gotta be careful thought. My friend was there recently with his small dog on a leash. An unleased dog attacked his dog. Fortunately he carried a knife, so he killed the offending dog.

Just another day in small town America.

Go to the mountain! Take the backroads and hop on the Green Mountain Scenic Byway that passes through Ferndale and Montverde. Get out of your car at the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook. The overlook is a newer area where you can walkout on a long viewing platform to see a beautiful view. Newer porta potties too! Stop in Winter Garden for lunch at Thai Blossom and visit the unique stores along the same street.

On Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, continue your trip to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. A unique 10 mile, one way, drive into the wetlands to see wildlife, birds, etc. Very unique!

More information online.

MtDora is a great choice from TV. Less than 45 min away great restaurants, quaint, charming on-the-water w/ boat excursions on the MtCoraCanal. Reasonable $$ ck out the historic Lakeside Inn & and nearby Reningers Antique Mall. Cheers!