New Section - Day Trips

[Isafari]

We now have a new section on the home page - Day Trips.

If you need a day away to relax, refresh, renew - just get in your car and go! Explore places you never even knew existed.

HERE

[arkvilla]

I have an article I did for a Homeowners forum I am on.

I have copied it below - you could cut & paste it if you would like to for the day trips page

Sandra

Winter Park
Winter Park is a city of about 28,486 residents located just north of Orlando in Orange County, Florida. One of Florida's finest cities, it is famous for its stately trees, abundant parks, brick-lined streets, spectacular homes, museums, vibrant lakes and fine shops along Park Avenue.
Farmers Market
The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is held at the old train depot, located at 200 West New England Avenue, that has been restored into an historical landmark that hosts this NUMBER ONE produce and plant market in Central Florida. The market takes place every Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is a popular community gathering place that provides fine produce, plants, baked goods and so much more.
Note: The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is closed each year on the third Saturday in March due to the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Adventuresome for the first time visitors seeking flora and fauna or savvy Orlando travelers
seeking an off-the-beaten-path vacation experience won´t be disappointed when they discover the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour.
Located on Lake Osceola in the quiet suburb less than 10 minutes from downtown Orlando, the boat tour offers hour-long, guided cruises through three of the seven lakes and two, narrow manmade canals on the tranquil Winter Park chain.
On any given tour, participants may observe large cranes swooping waterside to snag a large fish or a lazy alligator languishing on a nearby bank. An occasional water skier or racing shell full of crew members from the areas private liberal arts college, Rollins, are also enjoyable sideshows for tour goers
For over 50 years, Winter Park´s world famous Scenic Boat Tour has given enjoyment to thousands. The relaxing, narrated, one hour cruise through the beautiful lakes and canals of historic Winter Park makes it a must on every person´s list. It´s really the only way to see the true beauty of Winter Park which includes Rollins College, Kraft Azalea Gardens, Isle of Sicily, tropical birds, plants, flowers and magnificent mansions.

Climb aboard an excursion boat and let your "Skipper" fascinate you for one hour as you cruise through beautiful lakes and canals for 12 miles. Scenic Boat Tour is not to be missed!.
The dock, less than 5 minutes from Park Avenue, Central Florida´s popular, upscale shopping district, is conveniently located on the East end of Morse Boulevard on Lake Osceola
The Scenic Boat Tour offers a fleet of six 18 passenger pontoon boats. Admission is $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children (ages 2 through 11) under 2 are free.Operating hours are 10am to 4pm daily except Christmas

[Isafari]

Awe, thanks Sandra.
I'll be covering Winter Park soon so that will come in really useful for me

[arkvilla]

I also did one on The Keys:-

The Florida Keys

Most people know the Florida Keys and Key West as a great getaway. One of the most unique places on earth. Calm. serene, laid back. Just the right setting to recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your spirits. But a getaway to the Florida Keys and Key West is much more than peace and quiet. And not just because of the legendary fishing and the world’s most spectacular dive sites. The Keys mean history. Art, theater, museums, shopping, fine dining,entertainment and much more.

120 miles of perfect balance between natural beauty and extra-ordinary excitement. From some of the best camping spots in the country to luxurious hotels. With charming bed and breakfasts to rustic, family-owned lodgings. In other words, something for everyone.

Whether you drive or fly into Key West, one thing’s for sure: there’s simply no place quite like it. An island city of palm-lined streets, boasting Victorian homes, gingerbread conch houses and mansions on the National Register.

John Audubon and Ernest Hemingway lived here. One had a passion for preservation. The other, a great zest for living. And that combination gives Key West its unique personality. The moment you get on world-famous Duval Street, in Old Town Key West, you do more than feel the ambiance. You become a part of it.

Key West is dive shops and charter boats and glorious sunsets, but it’s also a Bahamian Village. With historic forts, lighthouses, theaters, museums, galleries, festivals, markets, sidewalk cafes and legendary pubs. Even Truman’s Little Whitehouse

At Key West you can buy a postcard or a famous handprint. You don’t need a car. Tour the city on foot or by trolley. Mingle with some of the world’s most fun-loving characters. And find some of the best-made cigars and aloe products anywhere. Key West is unique, and unspoiled. A feast for your heart and your soul .


Imagine a place where you can battle a sailfish in the morning and enjoy a live play at night. Where you can explore a marine sanctuary one day, and original artworks the next. Where music naturally belongs, be it Buffett or Bach.

Theatre lovers will love it down here. Key West gives you plenty of choices with three theatres. The Marathon Community Theatre presents stellar comedies, dramas and musicals throughout the year. And the Key Players will entertain you with a variety of tautly produced shows in the Upper Keys.

Art lovers will be pleasantly surprised at the caliber of the resident artists – a wealth of styles and techniques creating works with a flare and freshness that’s uniquely Florida Keys. From paintings to sculptures, the work is innovative, captivating and unique.

Then there’s the music. Not one type, but all. From Amadeus to ZZ Top. So you can just as easily let loose in one of our pubs, as lose yourself in a vibrant symphony. Whether it's a play, a concert or the perfect painting for the foyer, The Florida Keys & Key West will dazzle you with a variety of cultural venues that are as impressive as they are unexpected.



We took the US27 route which we had been advised was more interesting than the Interstate route.

We passed through many towns and so many orange groves which went on and on into the distance. We also saw many sheriffs sitting at the side of the road slightly hidden from view until you were up close so speed limit was kept to....

We stopped for lunch at Key Largo at a Tiki Bar which was just so beautiful looking out over the beautiful blue water. It took us around 4 hours to get from the villa to Key Largo. Then, another hour to Key West.

The snorkeling was wonderful and we saw so many lovely fish. We spent around 90 mins in the water. We used a company called FURY who seemed to have a lot of the watersport business as there were stall all along Duval Street.



For more info on the Keys try :- Your Key West travel planning starts here at Fla-Keys.com. Find Key West hotels, accommodations, Key West fishing trips, bars and restaurants, Key West attractions and more.

sandra

[catrancher]

Diane,

Couple other places that might be good candidates for day trips are:

• Silver Springs
• Rainbow Springs State Park
• Weeki Wachee

They're a little more off the beaten path.

Tom (.. cool, clear water!)

[Isafari]

Sandra, I will certainly include your work into my guide when I get to the sections needed. Thank you.

Diane,

Couple other places that might be good candidates for day trips are:

• Silver Springs
• Rainbow Springs State Park
• Weeki Wachee

They're a little more off the beaten path.

Tom (.. cool, clear water!)

I have Silver Springs on my list as we spent time there earlier this year. Also have the mermaids on that list Tom

[Keith]

Also have the mermaids on that list Tom

that should be a good article

[Isafari]

that should be a good article

I'll make it the next addition.....just for you

[Tink]

Sandra, thank you for the info on the boat tour of Winter Park. You know? We've always wanted to do that, but just never have!

Another good day trip for those who LOVE Christmas is Brooksville. There is a HUGE Christmas "shop" there. It encompasses several buildings and it quite the adventure.

For those who love Flea Markets the Flea Market Extrordinaire is at Webster (probably about an hour northwest of WDW???). It's only on Mondays, but whooooeee is it huge!

[Keith]

everytime we try and get to winter garden, people tell us "no you mean winter park". We have to work hard to explain no we really don't

Interested to read about winter park, it sounds like an interesting place to see!