Trips on a tankful

[steph_goodrum]

Many visitors return year after year to the Central Florida area because they have realised just diverse it is and there is something for everyone.
All these places (and many more) can usually be reached using a tankful of gas or less and offer the chance to get to know more of the real Central Florida.
Tip: Find maps by entering a street address with city/state or zip (e.g. 165 University Palo Alto CA) into the Google search box or for more detailed driving directions use Mapquest and get door to door directtions from where you are staying. Remember to also map the route home!!!
<span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;>Christmas</span id=&#39;blue&#39;>
<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>Orlando Wetlands Park </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>
A favorite of birders and bicyclists; large-scale, man-made wetland designed to
treat reclaimed water and provide wildlife habitat; walking, jogging, bird
watching, nature photography, bicycling and hiking on 18 miles of Florida Trail.

25155 Wheeler Road
(407) 246-2288
<span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;>Clermont</span id=&#39;blue&#39;>
<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>Lake Louisa State Park </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>
Recreational area of more than 4,300 acres on the shores of Lake Louisa in the
northeast corner of Green Swamp; public boat ramp, canoeing; marked riding
trails; hiking and nature trails; bird watching and wildlife viewing; fishing,
picnicking, swimming; bathhouse with showers; shaded picnic area; and
white-sand beach.

12549 State Park Drive
Clermont, FL 34711
(352) 394-3969

<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>
Delightful winery and vineyards set among the rolling hills of central Florida;
complimentary tours and wine tastings daily; gift shop featuring wines, gourmet
foods, gift items and accessories for the wine enthusiast.

19239 U.S. 27 N
(352) 394-8627
<span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;>Daytona Beach
</span id=&#39;blue&#39;>
Million-gallon, five-acre seasonal waterpark with 12 mild-to-wild thrill rides,
giant wave pool, relaxing &#39;drift&#39; river and 3-story interactive water-play fort,
area&#39;s largest arcade and prize center, 2-story go-cart speedway, miniature golf,
restaurantss

601 Earl Street (next to Ocean Center)
(386) 258-0071

<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>Trolley Boats Adventure Tours </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>
Amphibious vehicles of the sort used by U.S. military forces take passengers on
safe, efficient, 90-minute multi-passenger guided land-and-water tours featuring
area history and sights.

115 E. Mason Avenue
(386) 255-2400
<span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;>Debary</span id=&#39;blue&#39;>
<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>Gemini Springs Park </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>

One of Volusia County&#39;s newest parks, named for the twin springs which produce
more than 6.5 million gallons of freshwater daily; swimming, picnicking, tent
camping, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding; walking, bicycling and nature trails;
large playground.

37 Dirksen Drive
(386) 668-3810
<span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;>Deland</span id=&#39;blue&#39;>
<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>African American Museum of the Arts </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>
Small, unique facility housing a revolving gallery of works of both established and
emerging artists; African and Caribbean art, folk art and artifacts; programs
featuring lectures, drama, dance, reading, and children&#39;s storytelling.

325 Clara Street
(386) 736-4004
<span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;>Kissimmee</span id=&#39;blue&#39;>
<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>Airboat Rentals and Rides </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>
Wildlife-enriched creeks and rivers host three-mile round-trip guided airboat rides;
rentals for properly skilled airboat drivers; canoe rentals.

4266 W. Vine Street (Highway 192)
(407) 847-3672

<span style=&#39;colorurple&#39;>Green Meadows Petting Farm </span id=&#39;purple&#39;>
Two-hour guided tours of a 40-acre farm with more than 300 farm animals;
hands-on philosophy encourages visitors to milk cows, hold chickens, etc.; pony
rides,

[steph_goodrum]

<span style="color:blue">Orlando</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Orange County Regional History Center </span id="purple">
Dynamic, interactive audio and visual presentations, hands-on exhibits,
educational programs and docents tell the story of the people, places and events of
Central Florida's history, dating back 12,000 years.

65 E. Central Blvd.
Orlando
(407) 836-8500 or (800) 965-2030

<span style="colorurple">Sak Comedy Lab </span id="purple">
Two high-energy, obscenity-free improvisational theater teams face off in a
performance of hilarious improvised scenes, based on audience suggestions.

398 W. Amelia Street
(407) 648-0001

<span style="colorurple">Sky Venture </span id="purple">
High-energy virtual-reality state-of-the-art wind tunnel generating a 120-mph
column of wind in a huge, vertical flight chamber, creating sensations of skydiving
and flying, for free-fall simulation without actually jumping out of a plane.

6805 Visitors Circle (at Universal Blvd. and International Drive)
(407) 903-1150

<span style="color:blue">Ponce Inlet</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse Museum </span id="purple">
Active 175-foot brick lighthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, with spiral staircase of 230 iron steps to lighthouse gallery and lookout at
top; three keepers' dwellings, 46-foot tugboat, gift shop.

4931 S. Peninsula Drive
(386) 761-1821
<span style="color:blue">Port Canaveral</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Miss Cape Canaveral </span id="purple">
All-day deep-sea fishing trips aboard 85' Rocket Ship; U.S. Coast
Guard-approved; latest fish-finding and safety equipment; daily specials, including
meals, beverages, rod and reel, bait, tackle and fishing license; upper sundeck,
enclosed air-conditioned and heated lounge, cushioned seating, full galley and bar;
observers and children welcome.

South Dock
670 Glen Cheek Drive
(321) 783-5274

<span style="color:blue">Sanford</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Historic Downtown </span id="purple">
Established as a trading post on the St. John's River in 1837; antique shopping,
dining and entertainment.

<span style="colorurple">Sanford Museum </span id="purple">Exhibits including 1820-1890 portrait collection, papers and private library of
Gen. Henry S. Sanford, 19th-century decorative arts, local baseball history.

520 E. First Street
(407) 302-1000

<span style="colorurple">Rivership Romance </span id="purple">
Luncheon/sightseeing and dinner/dance cruises on the St. John's River aboard a
100-foot, 1940s-style steamer.

433 N. Palmetto Avenue
(800) 423-7401

<span style="colorurple">Central Florida Zoological Park </span id="purple">
Heavily forested 109-acre park featuring an international ensemble of hundreds of
animals, including birds, primates, hoofed mammals, felines, reptiles, and
amphibians; children's zoo, picnic facilities.

3755 N.W. Highway 17-92
(407) 323-4450
<span style="color:blue">Sorrento</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Rock Springs Run State Reserve </span id="purple">
Scenic 14,000 acres in Central Florida; canoe trails, hiking, horseback riding,
camping, nature study, picnicking, biking, etc.

S.R. 46 (10 miles west of I-4 off Exit 51)
Information:
c/o Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka
(407) 884-2008
<span style="color:blue">St. Augustine</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Anastasia State Recreation Area </span id="purple">
Recreation area on 1,700 acres; five miles of beach, nature trails, swimming,
fishing, picnicking and camping; bathhouse, beach equipment rentals and canoes.

1340 A1A South
(904) 461-2033

<span style="colorurple">Marineland </span id="purple">
World's first "oceanarium," featuring two huge ocean tanks with 300 underwater
viewing windows; dolphin shows, sea lions and other marine life; restaurant, hotel
campground, and marina.

9600 Ocean Shore Blvd.
(904) 460-1275 or (888) 279-9194

[steph_goodrum]

<span style="color:blue">Titusville</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Space Coast Nature Boat Tours </span id="purple">
Scheduled 90-minute narrated tours on the Indian River Lagoon, next to Merritt
Island National Wildlife Refuge near the Space Center; wildlife viewing including
dolphins, eagles, alligators and other marine life; river views of NASA's massive
shuttle assembly building and towering launch pads.

Titusville Municipal Marina
451 Marina Rd./Slip A-23 (Boat Location)
(321) 267-4551

<span style="color:blue">Winter Garden</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">West Orange Trail </span id="purple">
Bicycling, bird watching, hiking, nature trails, in-line skating, picnicking, horseback
riding, playground; wheelchair accessible; bike and skate rentals available nearby.

Chapin Station Main Office
501 Crown Point Cross Road
(407) 654-5144

<span style="color:blue">Winter Park</span id="blue">
<span style="colorurple">Downtown </span id="purple">
Popular Park Avenue shopping district, lined with upscale boutiques, galleries and
resturants; scenic boat tours on lake; spectacular Tiffany art collection at Charles
Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art; world-class sculptures and paintings at
Albin Polasek museum and sculpture gardens.

Winter Park Chamber of Commerce
150 N. New York Avenue
(407) 644-8281

[Ann-Marie]

Steph

Quite exhausted just reading that list but its terrific.

Well suppose it gives me an excuse to be coming back to Orlando for many years to come just to go see them all.

[steph_goodrum]

We've only just started working our way round them Ann-Marie but that's partly why we bought our place in Florida we could see we would be returning regularly and exploring a bit further afield.

[SG]

Wow Steph you have been busy. Enough here to keep us all busy for years. Thanks for posting all this info

[steph_goodrum]

No problem Shirley, I'm sure there are plenty more places that others have found and can share with us as well.

[mikewj]

Well Steph, you've certainly saved me a lot of digging around.

We were going to look for some less intense things to do for the older members of our party in June and a few of these fit the bill perfectly.

Thanks a lot [msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2]

[Ray&Sarah]

We will certainly have to try out some of these things next time we are in Florida. Thanks Steph.

[steph_goodrum]

Mike and Sue
If it has re-opened in May then Cypress Gardens was a lovely place for a quieter day out but I don't know if it has been decided exactly what they are keeping (the Paddle Steamer round the lake was nice and relaxing - I hope that stays).