A DAY IN...
KISSIMMEE
Getting up before dawn is well worth it when you take in the sights of the theme parks and landscape from a hot-air balloon as the sun rises. Then continue your morning exploring the natural beauty of “Old Florida” as you paddle through the headwaters of the Florida Everglades at The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek. Historic Downtown Kissimmee is the perfect place for lunch as quaint Kissimmee Main Street offers great dining options, antique shopping and even ice cream made using liquid nitrogen. Ride the 85-foot custom-made ferris wheel at Old Town.
ORLANDO
Begin with a beverage from Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. on Park Avenue in picturesque Winter Park. Take a Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour through lush canals and peaceful lakes. Visit the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art to view the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Enjoy lunch at the East End Market in trendy Audubon Park. Explore a botanical oasis at Harry P. Leu Gardens. Have a cocktail at The Woods in downtown Orlando. End with dinner at the French brasserie DoveCote and a performance at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
POLK COUNTY
Stop and smell the orange blossoms as you begin a day of citrus delight. Polk County ( VisitCentralFlorida.org) offers delicious options, October through May, as one of the top citrus-producing counties in Florida. Watch citrus candy being made at Davidson of Dundee and pick up some citrus souvenirs in the gift shop. Have lunch at Lang’s Taste of Florida Café—don’t miss the awardwinning grapefruit pie. Complete your day with an authentic Florida experience, picking fresh oranges from trees at Ridge Island Groves.
SEBRING
Start with a sunrise cycle or walk along the Cypress Trail boardwalk at Highlands Hammock State Park. Golf the Citrus Golf Trail featuring Florida’s most affordable courses. Stroll in charming Lake Placid with +47 beautiful outdoor murals and small-town shops. In historic downtown Sebring, browse through “City on a Circle” boutiques and artist galleries. Sample creative treats at the Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works. Finish with dinner at trendy Eighteen East ... a restaurant and bar! and a performance at the South Florida State College Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts.