Where to?
 

Having friends from Augusta, Ga visit in a few weeks. We want to show them a few places outside the Bubble... I was thinking Crystal River, Wild Bill's Airboat ride, The Dora Canal etc. Anybody have any other suggestions?

On one of our visits to TV we went to Homossasa Springs and had a nice time.

They have a boat ride, feeding of the manatees session and a walk thru outdoor zoo. All of the wildlife in the zoo are resuced animals.

How far from TV ?
 

How about the Space Center ? When I lived in Miami, that was always a special destination !

Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, Alexander Springs, Blue Springs (manatee viewing), Don Garlitz Car Museums, Markets of Marion, downtown Mt Dora, Gator Joe's Restaurant on Lake Weir, St Augustine, Harley Davidson department store on I-95 near Daytona Beach, etc

I love Cedar Key.

And there is a nice restaurant in Mt. Dora with a big patio where you can watch the sun set over the lake.

I also enjoyed seeing the manatees in Homosassa Springs.

The art work from the Highwaymen is being displayed in Mt. Dora stores. The Highwaymen were 27 artists who did Florida landscapes (water and sunset scenes) for their dinner in the 50's, traveling the state selling their pictures.

My vote for cedar key and Mt Dora. The state park at Homossasa Springs is nice as well. The restuarant in Mt Dora is Pices Rising.

We're not even in TV, but all of these suggestions are giving me the itch for a road trip.

My wife and I visited the Kennedy Space Center when we visited Orlando in June and I would recommend that.

Also, I would second the recommendation to see the Highwaymen exhibit if you have a chance. My local auto museum In Saratoga Springs, NY hosted an art show of the Highwaymen paintings last year and they had some interesting art work.

Think about Gatorland...sounds corny but is really
 

very well done. It is an impressive facility with a lot more than just gators....but there are a lot of gators....all kinds and all sizes.

btk

Can you see the manatees at this time of year?

Yes and they are delightful. Most of them are being nursed back to health under veterinary guidance after encounters with the most dangerous animal on earth - - - man. The manatees are big, playful, develope their own personalities and eat a lot! Their major problem is that they don't see us as a real threat.

Do go and see them.

Where are the Manatees.... Blue or Homossasa springs? How do we get there?

Where to take visitors
 

If they like arty things the Tiffany museum in Winter Park is lovely. I think it is actually called the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Their website is: http://www.morsemuseum.org/home.html

Places to visit
 

I forgot - also try Micanopy (see http://welcometomicanopy.com/)

If they are interested in horses then try the Austin Carriage Museum which I think is now called the Florida Carriage Museum (http://www.fcmr.org/wordpress/).

They also have a hoedown there every Tuesday night which is very reasonable at $5 a head.