A look at Seminole County –

In the heart of Central Florida, Seminole County is quickly becoming a favorite destination as the host of some of Florida’s best natural attractions. From miles of scenic rivers to acres of beautiful parks and nature preserves, there’s endless recreation and a less-crowded, more relaxing environment.

More than 2,000 pristine waterways plus acres of beautiful parkland are yours to explore. And when you’re through connecting with nature, you’ll find charming historic downtowns, fabulous shopping and an eclectic variety of restaurants. Anglers will enjoy Florida’s best freshwater fishing and golfers can tee off on a variety of world-class courses.

Seminole County is home to 60 miles of picturesque trails perfect for hiking, biking and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. The Great Florida Birding Trail runs across several Seminole County wilderness areas, giving you the chance to experience some of the world’s most enchanting birds. Enjoy the scenery on the Florida National Scenic Trail, a 1,300-mile trail that runs from the panhandle to the Everglades. The trail is mostly unpaved except in Lake Mary, where it follows roadways and existing trails to cross the Seminole Wekiva Trail and the Cross Seminole Trail. These two trails have been designated as Seminole County Showcase Trails because of their length, beauty and accommodation of many users.

You can explore numerous museums that paint a remarkable picture of Seminole County’s colorful past, which has been carefully preserved in exhibits highlighting the area’s wilderness beginnings, prehistoric Native American culture, early speculators and settlers, Civil War citizens, and heyday as a bustling rail and steamboat hub. Other historical diversions include a game of baseball at the historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, or combine a picnic in the park with a visit to The Senator, a 3,500 year-old Bald Cypress tree and the county’s oldest living citizen.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

The Central Florida Zoo is also involved in conservation and preservation of the world around us.  Conservation of animals is paramount; many endangered species entrusted to their care may soon be extinct in the wild.  The Zoo participates in 12 Species Survival Programs coordinated through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Additionally, the Zoo works diligently to lessen their carbon footprint and the effects on our environment.

In 2009, ZOOm  Air Adventures was added which is an aerial adventure course that will allow you to explore the treetops from an animal’s perspective.  Explore one or all of the three courses available!  This entertaining, yet education adventure will allow nature lovers and challenge seekers alike an opportunity to enjoy the thrill of adventure in Central Florida.  The course has over 100 “games” and nine zip lines.  Participants must be 54” tall to take part in the course and closed toed athletic shoes are required.

Additional activities include weekend Animal Encounters, Keeper Chats, Animal Adventure Children’s Zoo, Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground, Massey Services Insect Zoo, Champ the Train and an Animal Carousel.

The adventures are endless!  For more information on the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens and ZOOm Air Adventures, visit the Zoo’s website at www.centralfloridazoo.org.  The Zoo is located at 3755 NW Hwy 17-92 in Sanford (I-4 Exit 104) and is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).  You may call the Zoo at 407.323.4450.

For more information visit: www.visitseminole.com

A look at West Volusia

Centrally located between Orlando and Daytona Beach, the West Volusia County Region encompasses 14 distinct communities along the St. Johns River, I-4 and U.S. 17-92. West Volusia is well within reach, but a world apart! A variety of unique accommodations and eclectic mix of attractions, restaurants, shops and boutiques make this a popular spot for visitors from all over the world. The area is know for its diversity of family-friendly vacation experiences, including house boating, manatee viewing and bird watching, skydiving, golfing, fishing, and touring authentic Florida sites and art museums, and enjoying endless outdoor recreation on the St. Johns River. Their many ecological, cultural, heritage and outdoor recreation sites, collectively known as their ECHO attractions and resources, form a mesmerizing showcase of authentic, small town Florida. Browse complete listings of things to do and see at their website:  www.visitwestvolusia.com.

Ecological Resources

Flowing gently northward, the St. Johns River is the heart of our lush environment. Florida’s only federally designated American Heritage River, the St. Johns is known for its bountiful fishing, abundant wildlife and scenic beauty.

Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park, located on the St. Johns River near Orange City, is one of the most popular parks in the State of Florida and the largest spring on the river.  It is well-known as a winter home for the endangered Florida manatee between November and March.  More than 200 of these gentle giants have been counted in the spring run during cold weather.  Blue Spring State Park is listed on the Great Florida Birding Trail and recreational activities include swimming, canoeing, tubing, picnicking, snorkeling, certified cave diving, kayak tours and rentals, fishing, boating, hiking and birding. Vacation cabins, RV sites and primitive camping are located in the sandpine scrub.  The spring run trail offers the opportunity to see coots, anhingas, cormorants, barred owls and migrating warblers.  A 4-mile trail through scrub habitat is home to a growing number of scrub-jays.  An award-winning two-hour narrated river cruise departs from the park twice daily. Hours: 8am to sunset 386-775-3663. 2100 W. French Avenue, Orange City.  www.FloridaStateParks.org/bluespring

DeLeon Springs State Park

DeLeon Springs State Park is on the Great Florida Birding Trail and the bird checklist contains over 125 species.  It is a second magnitude spring with activities that include swimming in the spring pool, which is handicapped accessible, snorkeling, picnicking, canoe, kayak and paddleboat rentals.  There are also boat ramps, fishing, nature and hiking trails, a native wildflower garden, playground and picnic pavilions.  Trails wind through hardwood forests, oak hammocks, cypress swamp, grasslands and floodplain forests filled with the sounds of woodpeckers and songbirds. The endangered yellow anise tree is abundant.  A paved walkway leads to “Old Methusela”, a huge bald cypress over 500 years old.  The spring run hosts a variety of wading birds, alligators, otters and Manatees.  The famous Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant features cook-your-own pancakes made from stone-ground flours.  The Butterfly Garden utilizes over 600 plants for the benefit of native and migrating butterflies and hummingbirds.  Interpretation of the park’s natural and cultural history is shared through kiosks and exhibits in the museum. The Fountain of Youth Eco/History narrated river boat tours departs 4 times daily from the Park.  Hours: 8am to sunset. Sugar Mill Restaurant: Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm; Saturday – Sunday and Holidays, 8am – 4pm; Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. (386-985-5644). 386-985-4212. 601 Ponce DeLeon Boulevard, DeLeon Springs.

www.FloridaStateParks.org/deleonsprings

Our vibrant cultural heritage takes center stage at unique venues and intimate show places, including fine art museums, majestic historic theaters and contemporary performing art centers.  

Athens Theatre

The Athens Theatre opened in 1922.  This local landmark was the center of DeLand entertainment and socializing for almost 70 years.  Opening as a vaudeville house, one of its visiting performers, Sally Rand (the famous fan dancer), entertained there in the 1930s.  It operated for many years as a movie theater—just a block from the historic DeLand High School, many recall first dates and first kisses there.  Today, the Athens is a multi-purpose venue for films, musical events and community programs. Please refer to website for a list of events. 386-738-7156.  124 N. Florida Avenue, DeLand. Located off N. Woodland Boulevard, US 17-92. www.athenstheatre.org

Shoestring Theatre

Located in a remodeled historic school house, this theater offers family-oriented productions that are produced and acted entirely by local talent. Hours: Shows run from September to May with an occasional summer show. Admission: Varies. 386-228-3777. 380 S. Goodwin St., Lake Helen. www.volusia.org/echotourism/cultural/shoe.htm

Stetson University School of Music

Experience world class entertainment in an intimate, small town setting. The School of Music brings renowned performers to the stage from chamber music ensembles to full orchestras. Most concerts are held in the historic Elizabeth Hall Auditorium. Hours: Varies. Admission: Varies. 386-822-8950. 421 N. Woodland Blvd, DeLand. www.stetson.edu/music

Stover Theatre

Home to Stetson University’s theater arts program, this historic theater hosts a seasonal slate of full-stage productions, one-act plays and the music school’s opera. Hours: Varies. Admission: Varies. 386-822-8700. 535 N. Florida Ave., DeLand. www.2stetson.edu/csata/stover.htm.

Downtown DeLand Historic District

The Downtown DeLand Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. DeLand was one of the first Florida cities to participate in the Main Street program (1985) and work began to revitalize this architectural gem.  This success was recognized with a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  The area is a lively shopping and dining district and the center of a variety of cultural festivities. 386-738-0649.  www.mainstreetdeland.com

Outdoor Recreation

The shining star for countless and diverse recreational opportunities in West Volusia is the majestic St. Johns River. 

The river attracts many fishers because of its plentiful year-round black bass and panfish.  Many traditional fish camps and marinas operate along the St. Johns River and offer lodging, boat rentals and fishing guides.  Throughout West Volusia folks will find recreational activities for all interests and all activity levels.

Spring-to-Spring Trail

It is a well known fact that trails improve quality of life, provide contact with nature and offer opportunities for exercise. Trails bring family and friends together to enjoy the outdoors. Running most of the length of west Volusia, the Spring-to-Spring Trail stretches 26 miles from Gemini Springs Park to DeLeon Springs State Park. Designed as a multi-use trail, it accommodates walkers, joggers, inline skaters, bicyclists and people with disabilities. http://volusia.org/trails/springtospring2.htm

St. Johns River Cruises & Tours

St. Johns River Cruises & Tours at Blue Spring State Park provide visitors with an award winning 2 hour narrated nature, historic and ecological tour of the St. Johns River.  They also have guided kayak tours and rentals. 386-917-0724. Handicapped accessible.  2100 W. French Avenue, Orange City. www.sjrivercruises.com

St. Johns River Eco Tour

Departing from Highbanks Resort & Marina in DeBary, this eco boat tour also offers 2 hour narrated cruises further south on the river. 386-626-9004. 488 W. Highbanks Rd., DeBary. www.stjohnsriverecotours.com

A Look at Orange County -

The Orange County Regional History Center is home to the varied and extensive collections of the Historical Society of Central Florida, Inc. Located in the heart of downtown Orlando in the beautifully restored five-story 1927 Orange County Courthouse, the History Center is continuously distinguished as the area's "Best Museum".

With an exciting roster of ever-changing exhibits on display and traveling exhibits on loan to other facilities, the History Center is one of Central Florida's premier attractions. Members, educators, and visitors alike find a wealth of fascinating information, delivered in dynamic fashion. From guided tours and "hands-on history" events to fun-packed summer camps and interactive children's programs, learning is fun for all ages.

History Center members can take advantage of a number of special value-added benefits, including discounts and exclusive event opportunities. The stately facility is also available for event rentals, ranging from unparalleled conferences to unforgettable weddings.  For more information on the Orange County Regional History Center including: events, exhibits, and programs, call 407-836-8500 or visit their web site at: thehistorycenter.org

Orange County Parks and Recreation operates 95 parks, facilities and trails. They have undergone many exciting changes recently and would like to share them with you. Today, they have several new parks, improved facilities and increased recreational programs that guarantee something for everyone. Even with all the changes, their mission remains the same — to provide and preserve quality parks and recreation for all. 

Orlando's many attractions, particularly its theme parks, bring visitors to the area from all over the world. In order to draw tourists and keep them coming back, new projects are always under development. New rides and exhibits are unveiled every year at Walt Disney World's four parks: the Magic Kingdom, with its seven themed lands; Epcot, which provides "journeys" to Future World and to the World Showcase; Hollywood Studios, where spectators can experience actual movie and television production; and Animal Kingdom, Disney World's largest attraction at 500 acres. Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, a high-technology movie-themed attraction with more than 40 rides, shows, shops, and restaurants, rank just below the Disney parks in annual attendance.

Gatorland offers the chance to observe thousands of alligators, birds, and animals; its alligator breeding marsh was seen in the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Shamu the Killer Whale is the focus at Sea World Orlando marine life park. River Country and Typhoon Lagoon near Walt Disney World are spectacular water parks with rapids, wave lagoons, slides and waterfalls. Wet 'n Wild, Blizzard Beach, and Water Mania offer family slide and tubing fun. 

A view of Florida's floral splendor is the attraction at Harry P. Leu Gardens, featuring the largest formal rose garden in Florida. Also on display are 50 acres of camellias, as well as palm, bamboo, herb, vegetable, and butterfly gardens.

Once known primarily for sunshine and oranges, Orlando is developing its arts and cultural profile as the city continues to grow. Part of the Centroplex facility, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre stages performances by the Orlando Ballet, Orlando Opera, and Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. It is also the venue for Broadway musicals. 

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park includes the world's most comprehensive collection of leaded and art glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. An authentic 1926 firehouse complete with antique trucks, and Central Florida artifacts from pre-history, pioneer times, and the Victorian era are on view at the Orange County Regional History Center. Historic Bok Sanctuary, a national historic landmark located about 55 miles from Orlando in Lake Wales, offers tours of its historic bell tower, the visual centerpiece of a magnificent garden, which houses one of the world's great carillons.

The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens displays 200 of the sculptor's works; the museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

The Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College houses more than 6,000 works of art. In nearby Eatonville, American's oldest African American municipality, the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts rotates exhibits of works by artists of African descent.

Orlando Loch Haven Park, a 45-acre cultural oasis, is home to some of Florida's finest facilities for the arts, sciences, and humanities. Among them is the Orlando Museum of Art, considered one of the South's finest museums. It offers permanent collections of nineteenth- and twentieth-century American, pre-Columbian, and African art, as well as summer art camp and studio classes. Also in the park is 207,000-square-foot Orlando Science Center, the largest facility of its kind in the Southeast and home to the world's largest combined Iwerks dome and digital planetarium, and the Mennello Museum of American Folk Art, Florida's only museum devoted solely to displaying vernacular work. Loch Haven is also the site of the Central Florida Civic Theatre, the Orlando Garden Club, and "The Mayor," one of Florida's oldest and largest oak trees.

Orlando Science Center

For over fifty years, the Orlando Science Center has been a place that inspires curiosity and exploration. Truly one of the great activities for Orlando families, the Science Center encourages learning in a fun way. We're the perfect educational activity, fun and knowledge all under one roof.

For visitors from out of town, Orlando Science Center is a must for your “things to do in Orlando” list. With four floors of exciting exhibits, amazing giant screen movies and engaging live programming, the Science Center is the perfect family destination. We're also the ideal rainy day activity - fun for your entire family and completely indoors!  777 East Princeton Street • Orlando, Florida 32803 • Phone: 407.514.2000 • Toll Free: 888.OSC.4FUN

Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Copy from:  http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/Orlando-Recreation.html

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