Florida Discoveries
Summer is winding down and back-to-school routines are in full swing, but it’s still sunny and warm in the Sunshine State. Many take advantage of September and October’s slightly cooler weather, and use fall break as the perfect excuse to head South to the Gulf and beyond. Head over to a little sleepy, quaint town for a much needed break from the busyness of summer, take some time in the sanctuary of Florida’s natural landscape, or have a wildly colorful experience with these destinations and discoveries!
Visit this Town
Hidden Gem. For many, Orlando is the one-stop-shop of all trips in Central Florida, but they’d be missing out on what one resident calls “one the prettiest towns in Florida.” Only thirty minutes northeast of Orlando, the area was developed as a U.S. Army Post in the 1830s, during the Seminole Wars. As settlers came, the town grew as a distribution point thanks to its proximity to the St. Johns River (Sanford sits on the south shore of Lake Monroe at the head of the navigation on the St. Johns River.
Experience the charm and ambience of Sanford's 19th-century buildings, pristine waterfront, unique shops and restaurants. Sanford's downtown riverwalk features antique and collectible shops, all located within a two-block radius of Magnolia Square. For entertainment, visit Sanford's restored Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, one of Florida's newest facilities for the performing arts. While you’re there, don’t miss the Sanford Marketplace at Magnolia, the local’s favorite farmer’s market, and take advantage of the free downtown trolley service!
sanfordfl.gov
Color Your World
Vibrant venture. Whoever told you to stay inside the lines didn’t know the half the fun to be had! Whether you’re an inside-the-lines artist or an outside-the-box creator, you can dive into a world of fun as you explore Orlando’s most colorful attraction, the Crayola Experience at The Florida Mall. Bigger, brighter and bolder than ever, the colorful adventures of Crayola Experience help kids and adults alike explore art and technology, express their creativity and experience color in a whole new way. This exciting place offers dozens of hands-on creative activities and a full day of fun, in what Parents Magazine includes as one of the “Top 10 Trips to Take Before Your Kid Turns 10.”
crayolaexperience.com/Orlando
Reconnect with Nature at These Parks
Serene Sanctuary. At nearly 2,000 acres, Grayton Beach State Park is more than a backdrop for golden sunrises and silver moonlit evenings. Soaking in warm gulf breezes while relaxing on pristine Grayton Beach might be the main attraction, but that’s only one aspect to this gorgeous park.
While the beach itself consistently ranks among the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the United States, the park has much more to offer including a lake, campgrounds and more. Western Lake is a 100-acre Coastal Dune Lake, a rare geological phenomenon that occurs in only a handful of places around the world. The Lake offers fishing and paddling, and those who want to explore on foot have four miles of trails to traverse through a coastal forest where scrub oaks and magnolias stand, bent and twisted by salt winds. Feel free to bring your own canoe or kayak to explore the calm waters! Rentals are also available onsite.
After an exciting day exploring on the water, you’ll be ready to cozy up by a fire for some R&R. An overnight excursion yields its own unique experience at the park. If sleeping under the stars in one of the cozy campgrounds isn’t your cup of tea, consider the less the road less rustic and check into one of the 30 well-outfitted two-bedroom, one-bath duplex cabins that the park offers. Each cabin is equipped with a gas fireplace, central heating and cooling, a screened in porch and an outdoor grill.
Literally down the road from Grayton, is Topsail Hill, named for its dunes, which rise like ships’ sails over soft sand beaches and the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Those same white quartz dunes are responsible for the rare coastal ecosystem occurring at Grayton Beach State Park—freshwater dune lakes like Western Lake—which teem with aquatic wildlife. Walkers will pass through old-growth pine forests, sandy scrubland, dunes and wetlands, where they may see some of the 13 imperiled species that find refuge here, like the Choctawhatchee beach mouse and otherworldly-looking pitcher plants.
When your legs are ready for a break from the hiking, grab your paddles and head over to Campbell Lake. The preserve offers many opportunities to explore yet another pristine coastal dune lake surrounded by ancient coastal dunes and maritime forest. The untouched natural beauty of the lake offers opportunities to see an abundance of native flora and fauna. Bald cypress and fragrant water lilies can be found along the lake, along with a host of other native plants endemic to the area.
For a different experience, try paddle-boarding or kayaking the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the park's 3.2 miles of beaches. Clean white sand and clear blue water go as far as the eye can see.
Look for dolphins playing in the surf or shorebirds dancing along the water's edge. The preserve's whitetail deer have also been seen enjoying the beach and browsing for food in the coastal dunes.
Bring fishing tackle and try your luck with kayak fishing. Saltwater fish such as redfish, Spanish mackerel and pompano are commonly caught from the preserve. Whatever flavor of nature you’re in the mood for, you can’t go wrong with these state parks on the Emerald Coast!
floridastateparks.org
