In the heart of Florida, Highlands County is a special place. Here, art, culture, and history come together with down-home hospitality and some of the most beautiful natural areas in Florida. A drive through the rolling hills offers glimpses of lakes surrounded by orange groves, colorful fields of caladiums, cattle ranches fringed by haunting cypress strands, and the bright splash of white sand that is the Lake Wales Ridge. Rising more than 200 feet above sea level, this portion of the ridge includes some of the highest land in the Florida peninsula, and some of North America’s oldest lakes.
Highlands County separated from DeSoto County in 1921, adopting its name from the dominating topography. But its major communities took root prior to that. Settled in 1884 by Oliver Martin Crosby, incorporated as a town in 1886, and incorporated as a city in 1926, Avon Park reminded English settlers of Stratford-on-Avon, England. Known as the “City of Charm,” the town is home to Lake Tulane, the oldest living lake in North America. From the 1940s through the 1980s, the board game checkers was a major-league sport, and you’ll surely see some of the locals still playing today at the first “checker shelter,” built during the 1940s and 1950s. Located in Veterans Square on the Mall on Main Street, the shelter honors veterans from World War I, World War II, and Vietnam. Avon Park is also home to South Florida Community College.
ORANGE GROVES ALONG SCENIC 17
Sandra Friend
At the other end of the county, you’ll find Lake Placid, the “Caladium Capital of the World.” From July through October, the town is surrounded by thousands of acres of red and pink caladium fields in full bloom. Lake Placid is also home to the largest collection of murals in Florida, with more than 40 murals depicting local history, flora, and fauna, earning Lake Placid another moniker, “The Town of Murals.” Named after a favorite getaway in New York by Dr. Melvil Dewey, creator of the Dewey Decimal System, in 1927, the town’s former name was Lake Sterns. More clowns per capita live in Lake Placid than anywhere else in Florida, thanks to Toby’s Clown College.
In 1911, Ohio pottery magnate George E. Sebring went on a fishing trip and was captivated by the area around Lake Jackson (then known as Lake Hare). He soon bought 9,000 acres of palmetto-covered prairie as the location for his dream city. Naming the town Sebring after his hometown in Ohio, he developed it to resemble a wheel, with the town center branching off in six spoke streets from a small central park. A devout Christian, Mr. Sebring offered free land to any church that would establish itself, and by 1912 the town was officially founded. In keeping with his vision of a green city, developers were instructed to plant a citrus tree in each residential lot. As the county seat, Sebring is said by some to be modeled after the ancient Syrian city of Heliopolis.
Sebring was also home to Hendricks Field, a military training base that housed B-17s gearing up for World War II. When sports-car enthusiast Alec Ulman flew into the airport in 1950, he thought it would make a great racetrack, and in 1952 the first sports car endurance race, the 12 Hours of Sebring, was held. Today the Sebring International Raceway is home to the American Le Mans endurance race and is one of the world’s better known destinations for auto racing.
GUIDANCE For local tourism information, contact the Highlands County Visitor & Convention Bureau (863-386-1316 or 1-800-255-1711; www.visithighlandscounty.com), 1121 US 27 S, where you can stop in for brochures; the Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (863-465-4331 or 1-800-557-5224; www.lpfla.com), 18 N Oak St., Lake Placid; or the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce (863-453-3350; www.apfla.com), 28 E Main St. You’ll also learn more about the region from Florida’s Freshwater Frontier (1-800-467-4540; www.floridafreshwaterfrontier.com), P.O. Box 1196, Sebring, 33871-1196.
GETTING THERE By car: US 27 and US 98 run through the heart of the county. Both are met by SR 64 in Avon Park, which comes in from the west from I-75 at Bradenton, as well as SR 66, which follows a similar route but ends up near Lake Placid. US 27 is also intersected by SR 70 south of Lake Placid on its route between Bradenton to the west and Okeechobee and Fort Pierce to the east.
By air: Sebring Regional Airport (863-655-6444; www.sebring-airport.com), 128 Authority Ln., is available for private pilots. For commercial service, your nearest airports are the Charlotte County Airport (see Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Islands) 2 hours southwest; Southwest Florida International Airport (see The Beaches of Fort Myers Sanibel) 2 hours southwest; and Orlando International Airport (www.orlandoairports.net), 2 hours north.
By rail: AMTRAK (1-800-872-7245; www.amtrak.com) provides regularly scheduled service to Sebring.
GETTING AROUND US 27 is the major north-south route connecting Avon Park, Sebring, and Lake Placid. US 98 joins this route for the Avon Park—Sebring stretch, then branches off southeast along the north side of Lake Istokpoga to pass through Lorida en route to Okeechobee. Scenic SR 17 is the pretty way to drive north from US 98 through historic downtown Sebring and Avon Park. Use SR 66 or SR 64 to reach the western side of the county.
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES For emergencies, head to the Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center (863-314-4466; www.fhhd.org), 4200 Sun ’n Lake Blvd., Sebring; Highlands Regional Medical Center (1-800-533-4762; www.hrmc.org), 3600 S Highlands Ave., Sebring; or Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center (863-465-3777), 1200 US 27 N, Lake Placid.
PUBLIC PARKING Free street parking can be found throughout the county.
To SeeInside the Hotel Jacaranda (see Lodging), The Artists’ Group at South Florida Community College has a large gallery of student’s work, some of which is for sale. They offer 6-week classes in basic instruction of painting with acrylics, oils, and watercolors.
At the Art Studio Gallery (863-465-1710), 212 N Main St., drop in to see beautiful works of art by Jeni Novak, who runs a working studio where she teaches classes in a variety of techniques, including clay puzzling and watercolor. Or sign up for open “art time,” where you (and the kids) can use the expansive studio space and its tools for less than $10 a day. Open Mon. and Thurs.–Sat. 10 AM–5 PM.
Founded in 1993, the Caladium Arts & Crafts Cooperative (863-699-5940; www.caladiumarts.org), 132 Interlake Blvd., features the work of more than 100 local artists, each with their own booths. You’ll find fine art here that reflects local themes, including paintings and fine art photography of the Kissimmee River wilds, mist at morning in Highlands Hammock, and fishing on the coast. There are many folk artists and crafters, too, so expect a fair helping of homemade soaps and candles, Christmas crafts, hand-painted china, and quilts. Unique to Lake Placid, caladiums appear on treasure boxes and earrings. The co-op also sells postcards of the murals around town.
I love pottery, so it was a delight to find Gene Brenner Pottery & Craft Gallery (863-471-2228; www.brennerpottery.com), 104 Circle Park Dr., where the in-store studio allows you to watch Gene at work on his wheel-thrown hand-turned bowls. There are full settings perfect for your dining room, plus a variety of whimsical sea creatures and fantasy fish for home decor. Gene’s been an artist in Sebring for more than 30 years, and he’s gotten to know a lot of fellow artists, whose work is exhibited here, such as Steve Vaughn’s giclee on canvas Florida scenes, plus hand-blown art glass, batik, and more.
At Art G—The Painting Studio (863-314-0042), 215 N Ridgewood Dr., artist Janet King works on impressionist pieces like a row of four stadium chairs painted in folk art style. It’s a gallery and art space where you can select from a variety of original artwork and historical Sebring prints and note cards.
Each second Friday 6–9 PM, merchants in downtown Sebring participate in a Gallery Walk (www.gallerywalksebring.com) to encourage residents and visitors to browse the shops.
CALADIUMS More than 98 percent of the world’s caladium bulbs are grown in the Lake Placid area, and the annual Caladium Festival (see Special Events) in August draws more than 100,000 visitors each year. Throughout Lake Placid you will notice caladiums planted everywhere. Best viewed between July and October, fields of these large leafy plants can be seen on CR 621, as landscaping in residents’ yards, on murals (see Murals), and even on trash cans! Bulbs can be purchased at the festival or through Happiness Farms (863-465-0044 or 1-866-892-0396; www.happinessfarms.com), 704 CR 621 E.
WORKS OF ART AT GENE BRENNER POTTERY
Sandra Friend
The Union Congregational Church, N Forest Ave., was built in 1892 on land donated by Avon Park founders Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Crosby. Previously founded as the Evangelical Church, the name was changed to Congregational in 1926.
The second oldest church in Avon Park is the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, E Pleasant St., circa 1894. It was built with the assistance of the Diocese of Florida for communicants of the Church of England.
The Bandstand and a Time Capsule are located on Main St. between Lake Ave. and Forest Ave. The Bandstand was built in 1897 and previously stood in front of the Hotel Verona. The marble column Time Capsule was sealed in 1912 and is scheduled for opening in 2085.
The Jacaranda Hotel (see Hotels, Motels, and Resorts) opened during the roaring ’20s in 1926. A place for high-class entertainment and good food, the hotel still serves up Southern hospitality (see Dining Out). The Revivalist-style hotel is named after the Jacaranda tree that used to sit in its footprint.
Veterans Square on the Mall on Main Street honors veterans of World War I, World War II, and Vietnam. This is also where you will find the first “checker shelter.”
The former Seaboard Air Line Depot is now home to the Avon Park Depot Museum (see Museums). The depot, built in 1926, was in service until 1978.
On US 27 you’ll find the Lake Placid Tower. When this local landmark was built in 1961, it was the world’s tallest concrete block tower. Also known as the Tower of Peace and Happiness Tower, the tower reaches a height of 270 feet and can be seen from all over the county.
The Sebring City on the Circle 1920s town center houses many original buildings from the era. Currently being renovated for office and meeting space, the E. L. Hainz Bloc Building, circa 1923, housed the first county courtroom. The Edward L. Hainz House, 155 W Center Ave., is a fine example of an “airplane” or “camel back” bungalow.
The Mediterranean Revival Tobin Building (circa 1926), 101 S Circle Dr., was built as a commercial building during the great Florida land boom. One of the oldest surviving commercial buildings can be seen at 113 S Circle. Built in 1913, it has been radically altered from the original, but it’s still a significant historic structure. Take particular note of the concave facades on the J. B. Brown Building, 201–207 S Circle Dr. Built in 1922, the structure housed a hardware store owned by one Jesse B. Brown. The 1915 Thomas Whitehouse Building, 313 S Circle Dr., was built as a dry goods store, grocery, and hotel.
Just off the circle at 590 S Commerce Ave., you’ll find the Highlands County Courthouse. The Classic Revival (circa 1927) building, designed by Fred Bishop, is Florida’s oldest courthouse still in use today.
The Nan-Ces-O-Wee Hotel (circa 1923), 133 N Ridgewood Dr., the largest surviving commercial building in downtown Sebring, is said to be named after a Native American Princess. Sebring’s first Jewish immigrants, Mike and Sadie Kahn, emigrated from Lithuania in 1921 and opened Kahn’s Department Store on the ground floor of the hotel. In the 1960s the Kahn’s created a Jewish cemetery by purchasing one hundred contiguous gravesites from the municipal cemetery. A time capsule in neighboring Sadie Kahn Park was sealed in 1923. Several Kahn descendants still reside in Sebring.
Not far from town center, on the corner of S Commerce and Eucalyptus, the 1930s Stepping Stones Girl Scout Log Cabin was a blast from the past for Kathy, who went to Girl Scouts in Maine in a similar lodge.
Babe Ruth is honored with a mural on the side of a commercial establishment along US 27 adjacent to the Pizza Hut (see Eating Out). Babe was one of the regulars in town when the St. Louis Cardinals had their spring training here in the 1920s–1940s.
BABE RUTH MURAL IN AVON PARK
Sandra Friend
Lake Placid, The Town of Murals, has more than 42 murals within its city limits. It all started in 1992, when Bob and Harriet Porter brought together local artists to create the mural program, now a model for others around the country. Start your tour at the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center (863-465-4331), 18 N Oak Ave., where a mural gallery (of paintings submitted by artists as proposals for their larger-scale work) is also home to a video overview of the project, which explains how the history of Lake Placid is being told by its art. Murals are painted with UV-resistant paint and clear-coated every other year for protection. Pick up your walking tour guide ($3) here and start wandering. Right on the outside of this building, The Scrub Jay’s World appealed to me with its birders and celebration of Florida’s only endemic bird. Kids will enjoy the grunting of bears and buzzing of bees at The Lost Bear Cub mural on Interlake Blvd. Perhaps the most well-known of the murals, since you can see it while driving north on US 27, is the 175-foot-wide Cracker Trail Cattle Drive on the side of Winn Dixie, which showcases the cattle drives of the area, both visually and with “ranch roundup” sound. Each mural has secrets to discover. On the Rare Resident–Florida Panther mural on W Park Avenue you’ll want to look for the hidden kitten, owl, dragonfly, lizard, and tree frog. Down the street, next to the Lake Placid Historical Museum, find the word hello on the Train Depot mural. My favorite spot is Lake Placid Noon Rotary Park, an alley filled with flora and decorated with murals in every direction. Trash cans (see Public Art) have been disguised in artful ways as companion pieces to the murals. For more information about the murals, contact the Greater Lake Placid Mural Society (863-531-0211).
SCRUB JAY MURAL IN LAKE PLACID
Sandra Friend
You’ll find a variety of murals in several locations downtown, including around the circle and in the park behind Ridgewood Street.
Located in the cultural core of downtown, the Avon Park Depot Museum (863-453-3525; www.hsaponline.org), 3 N Museum Ave., presents the history of Avon Park inside a Seaboard Coast Line passenger station from 1926. The rooms of the depot are filled with local ephemera arranged in thematic groupings. One display honors the St. Louis Cardinals, who started spring training in Avon Park in 1926, after they won the World Series. Babe Ruth, Dizzy Dean, Lou Gehrig, and other Hall of Famers became regulars in town, and a commemorative bat given to Babe Ruth is displayed. Archives of the Avon Park Times date back to 1929. A representative kitchen shows off early life in Avon Park—did you know that Brown ’n’ Serve rolls were invented here? See a switchboard used up until 1985 to connect people in this rural community. Prominently displayed is the novel The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Steven King, loosely based on the New York Yankees’ Tom (Flash) Gordon, a graduate of Avon Park High School. For more historic background, pick up a copy of Yesterday, A Family Album of Highlands County by Elaine and Larry Levey; you’ll often find Elaine at the museum. Behind the depot, a gleaming chrome 1948 California Zephyr dining car, the Silver Palm, is permanently on a siding. It serves as a banquet hall and can be reserved for special functions. Open 10 AM–3 PM Tues.–Fri.; donation.
Museum of Florida Arts & Culture (863-453-6661; www.mofac.org), 600 W College Dr., on the SFCC campus. In the 1950s a small number of African American men painted Florida landscapes and sold them by the side of the road. The gorgeous renderings of the “Highwaymen” soon became highly collectible and now appear in many private collections and museums, including this one. In the concourse, you’ll also find several striking murals and three-dimensional pieces by other talented Florida artists, and there is also an impressive display of Florida archaeological artifacts. Call for hours; free.
SWITCHBOARD DISPLAY AT THE AVON PARK DEPOT
Sandra Friend
The Lake Placid Historical Society Depot Museum (863-465-1771), 12 Park St., is housed in the former ACL railroad depot, which is on the National Register of Historical Places. Here you’ll see historic “sad” irons, Florida Native American artifacts, a linotype machine, a dress worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, and a unique collection of antique buttons artfully displayed. The history of the area is shown in photos and memorabilia. The museum is operated by the Historical Society of Lake Placid, which has been honoring their two eldest residents with the annual Pioneer Man and Pioneer Woman Award since 1982. Don’t miss the museum’s display of photographs of past recipients. Open Sept.–May Mon.–Fri. 1 PM–3:30 PM; free.
Toby the Clown College, Museum & Gift Shop (863-465-2920; www.tobytheclownfoundationinc.org), 112 W Interlake Blvd. “Toby” has been clowning around at local hospitals, day care centers, and birthday parties since 1980, and as a member of the World Clown Association, he will teach you all you need to know to become a clown through education and entertainment. You’ll soon be worthy of performing at charitable functions and other events, or just for the fun of it. The gift shop has many clown-related items for sale. Call for hours; donation.
The Florida CCC Museum (863-386-6094; www.floridastateparks.org/highlandshammock/CCCDisplay.cfm), paying homage to Florida men who worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps, is a prominent feature of Highlands Hammock State Park (see Parks). In the early 1930s the Depression, a land boom bust, and two major hurricanes left Florida’s economy deeply depressed. With one in four workers out of work, the CCC was created as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression. Young men between 17 and 25 entering into a military lifestyle were provided an income of $30 a month, and of that $25 was sent home to their families. Days were spent planting trees, fighting fires, constructing public parks, and restoring historic structures. The “CCC Boys” also received vocational and academic instruction along with a variety of sports and recreational activities. Some of these young men later went on to become leaders in the community. The Sebring camp was the first of 86 camps established. In 1935 eight of these parks became the first Florida State Parks. All the camps were closed in 1942 due to World War II, with many enrollees joining the armed services. This building, built in the late 1930s, is now a museum housing an impressive collection of historical CCC artifacts and memorabilia. Donation; open during park hours.
Children’s Museum of the Highlands (863-385-5437; www.childrensmuseumhighlands.com), 219 N Ridgewood. This nonprofit hands-on facility is one of the best children’s museums I have come across. The attentive staff will help you expand your kid’s creativity and exploration through the Amazing Maze, Waterworks, Mini Grocery Store, Bubble Image, Doctor Scrubby’s Office, WKID TV Station, Pedal Power, Note Nook, and Sebring Fire Tower. Open 10 AM–5 PM Tues.–Sat. (until 8 on Thurs.). Fee.
At the Highlands Art League & Museum (863-385-5312; www.highlandsartleague.com), 351 W Center Ave., local residents Elsa and Marvin Kahn worked hard to make this “the village where art lives.” This brightly colored artist colony is comprised of three historic homes overlooking Lake Jackson. Donation; call for hours.
You’ll be greeted at the door by Howard Fleetwood, president of the Military Sea Services Museum (863-471-2386; www.milseasvcmuseum.com), 1402 Roseland Ave., where the Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard of the past and present are highlighted at this extensive military museum. Near the entrance there is an emotional exhibit that pays homage to MIAs and POWs. An empty place setting symbolizes the missing and captive who aren’t home for dinner, while a wine glass is placed upside down to say, “I’m not here to toast with you.” Then step through the watertight door, commonly found on naval vessels, and wander through 3,000 square feet of artifacts and memorabilia with a heavy emphasis on World War II. Mr. Fleetwood will be happy to show you items from the USS Highlands and discuss other historic ships and events. Named for Highlands County, this attack transport saw duty at both Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Other memorabilia include a “hook” from a Douglas A-4D used to catch the cable when landing on an air carrier, three types of shipboard bunks, and actual spikes made by Paul Revere in his foundry used to construct the USS New Hampshire (formerly the USS Alabama). Take note of a series of photographs of the USS Ward DD-139, the first U.S. ship to fire a shot just before Pearl Harbor. While guarding the entrance to the harbor on December 7, 1941, the Ward crewmen spotted a mini-submarine. The gun crew fired and sunk the sub just hours before the Japanese planes began their bombing campaign. The flag room houses a fine collection of military uniforms and flags from the three services and every state, including the rare 49-state American flag. Open 12 PM–4 PM Wed.–Sat. Fee.
Don’t let the size of the small Sebring Ridge Museum (863-402-1611), 121 N Ridgewood, fool you. There is a wealth of Sebring memorabilia displayed in the ground floor of this 1920s historic building, including a scale model of the town and numerous unique history books, including The Way Things Were: Short Stories of Past Experiences by Reverend Robert J. Walker, which tells about growing up black, and Ranch Boy by H. Steven Robertson, a coming-of-age story told in great detail about ranch life in and around Sebring. Call for hours; donation.
PUBLIC ART In Lake Placid, it’s not just about the murals. As you walk around, you can’t help but notice the unique trash containers around town. Local artists again pooled their talents and created these receptacles as companion pieces to the murals. When you pull the handle on the Clown container, a clown pops up. Look for others, such as Barn, Fishing Shack, Comic School Bus, 1927 Chrysler, and the beautifully detailed Caladium container. Artists in Lake Placid are always coming up with new creative projects. Notice the clowns around town? These brightly colored clowns sit on benches or lean against fences at the RMCA Daycare Center on E Interlake Boulevard and throughout Lake Placid. Full-sized placards, they represent some of the clown graduates from Toby the Clown College (see Museums), all local residents whose faces grace the art. Another art trail, Birds around Lake Placid is a series of works of art, this time detailed images of native birds painted on more than four dozen discs scattered around downtown. Can you find them all?
RAILROADIANA Railroad history runs deep along this corridor where the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Coast Line once flourished. Avon Park, Sebring, and Lake Placid all retain their original passenger railway stations, with the stations at Avon Park and Lake Placid now housing the local history museums (see Museums).
WINERY Planted in 1999 on 20 acres, the vineyards at Henscratch Farms (863-699-2060; www.henscratchfarms.com), 980 Henscratch Rd., Lake Placid, are now extremely productive and joined by extensive hydroponics including Verti-Gro towers filled with strawberries, zucchini, and other vegetables and fruits. Add over 300 chickens pecking their way across the property, and this makes for a fun family destination that’s not just a certified Florida Farm Winery with southern-style wines from muscadine and scuppernong grapes, but an interpretive agricultural tour and, in season, a U-pick as well. The tour starts in a silo where a video presentation narrated by the founder walks you through how their wine is hand-processed, aged, filled, and corked, all manually. Follow the flapping yellow flags on a self-guided tour of the farm as you’re followed by a flock of chickens fussing for Cheerios. The gift shop offers tastings and sells wine and gourmet foods, and if you’re there early enough, you can also pick up a fresh dozen of free-range eggs laid daily by their resident hens. There’s also a gift basket house for you to pick out wines and have your own custom label applied before shipping off to friends and family. Don’t miss the annual Blueberry Festival (see Special Events) and Grape Stomp, where you can stomp your own wine! Open Dec.–May Tues.–Sat. 10 AM–5 PM, Sun. 12 PM–4 PM; Aug.–Nov. Tues.–Sat. 10 AM–4 PM, Sun. 12 PM–4 PM; closed June and July. Free.
THE CREATIVE TRASH CANS OF LAKE PLACID
Sandra Friend
To DoAIRBOAT RIDES Explore wild Lake Istokpoga on the American Maid on a private 1-hour tour departing from Mossy Cove Fish Camp & RV Resort (see Fish Camps) on Ray’s Air Boat Rides (863-655-0119 or 1-800-833-2683), call in advance to arrange; $75 for two people, $25 for each additional adult. At Neibert’s Fishing Resort (see Fish Camps), Airboat Wildlife Adventures (863-655-4737; www.airboatwildlifeadventures.com) handles six passengers at a time on a 1.5 hour tour following Arbuckle Creek out into Lake Istokpoga; call for rates and reservations.
BICYCLING The sidewalk around Lake Jackson in Sebring circles the lake for 11 miles, and there’s plenty of room for bicyclists, hikers, and casual walkers. Another scenic ride is the new trail connecting US 27 paralleling SR 634 (Hammock Rd.) to Highlands Hammock State Park. Off-road cyclists will enjoy the loop at the Preserve of Sun ’n’ Lakes (863-402-6812) off Sun ’n’ Lakes Blvd. Great for beginner and experienced riders, the trails cover 1,600 acres of natural Florida wilderness. The multipurpose park is also a favorite of birders. The Highlands County Pedalers Bicycling Club (863-382-6464) does two 20-mile rides and two 40–100-mile rides each week. Membership is not required to ride along. Sebring is a favorite of bicycle clubs who hold century rides here, with rallies at the Kenilworth Lodge (see Lodging), including the Annual Tour of Sebring held every Labor Day Weekend since 1982. The Ridge Trails Association (863-382-3940; www.ridgetrails.org), 134 N Ridgewood Dr., Ste. 1, Sebring is actively working with land management agencies to establish an interconnect network of bikeways, walking trails, and paddling trails throughout the county.
BIRDING One of Florida’s prime regions for birding, Highlands County has natural areas with birds that are on your life list. The Archbold Biological Station (see Wild Places) has been a center for research on the endemic Florida scrub jay since its founding. You’ll find scrub jay families there as well as at Lake June-in-Winter State Park (see Wild Places) and Avon Park Air Force Range & Wildlife Management Area (see Wild Places), which is also home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. I’m one of the fortunate few to document crested caracara mating in snags along the Kissimmee River at Bluff Hammock WMA; in adjacent Hickory Hammock WMA, I saw pileated woodpeckers and red-shouldered hawks. For the largest known population of nesting osprey, take a tour on Lake Istokpoga. These sites, as well as Highlands Hammock State Park (see Parks) are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, which points out notable birding stops around the county.
DRUMMING Try some primal therapy by joining a drum circle at Highlands Hammock State Park (see Parks), coordinated by Primal Connection (863-402-8238; www.primalconnection.org) every third Sunday, October through June, from 3–5 PM. Free; bring your own drum or just a chair or dancing shoes to get in the spirit.
ECOTOURS Explore the vast prairies, pastures, and wetlands of the MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center, part of Archbold Biological Station (see Wild Places) in the heart of Indian Prairie at Buck Island Ranch on a swamp buggy tour with Indian Prairie Tours (863-465-2571; www.maerc.org), where you’ll see abundant wildlife. The three hour tours are offered year-round by reservation only, minimum 10 participants.
FISHING With 95 lakes in and around the county, there are numerous opportunities to fish. Check the fish camp listings (see Fish Camps) for best places to stay and launch your own boat or go out with a guide. Captain Dave Miller (941-915-9073 or 1-866-239-8101; www.thebasstamer.com) has more than 30 years experience guiding for bass fishing in the region’s lakes.
GOLF Most of the region’s hotels offer package deals with local courses, since Highlands County is a year-round destination for golfers. Designed in 1926 by Donald Ross, Pinecrest Golf Club (863-453-7555), 2250 S Little Lake Bonnet Rd., off Scenic 17, Avon Park, isn’t just a golf course, it’s a slice of local history. It was the site of the first television broadcast of a PGA tournament back in 1959. The 18 holes are along fairways fringed with sweet-smelling orange groves, rambling beneath the tall pines above Little Lake Bonnet.
Guests golf free at the Sebring Lakeside Golf Resort, 603 Lake Sebring Dr. (see Lodging). The 9-hole, par 3 course is beautifully landscaped with ponds, streams, and waterfalls. Sebring Municipal (863-314-5919) and Harder Hall (863-382-0500), both 18-hole, par 72 courses, are within a half mile of the Inn on the Lakes (see Lodging).
The 18-hole, par 72, championship course at the semiprivate Golf Hammock Country Club (863-382-2151; www.golfsoftware.net/181), 2222 Golf Hammock Dr., circles the clubhouse, allowing for frequent rest and snack stops on hot Florida days. At Crystal Creek Country Club (863-465-5303), 135 Sun ’n’ Lake Blvd., they welcome the general public on their 18-hole, par 64 course.
There are two challenging 18-hole courses at the Springlake Golf Resort (863-655-1276; www.springlakegolf.com), 100 Clubhouse Ln., bordering Lake Istokpoga. Recent upgrades to their “old Osprey ninth hole” (noted in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest green) have converted it to the “World’s Largest 18-Hole Putting Course,” which includes sand and water hazards. It’s a good course for beginners, but there is also enough to challenge seasoned players.
HIKING Head out into the wilderness along the Florida Trail following the Kissimmee River north from Hickory Hammock WMA through Avon Park Air Force Range (see Wild Places). Backpackers enjoy more than five days of backcountry along the Kissimmee River, with designated primitive campsites along the way. Day hikers shouldn’t miss the network of hiking trails through ancient forests at Highlands Hammock State Park (see Parks). For an interpretive introduction to the Lake Wales Ridge scrub habitat, walk the short loop at Archbold Biological Station (see Wild Places) and then venture out on your own on longer trails through this desertlike landscape at Lake June-in-Winter Preserve State Park (see Wild Places).
PADDLING Popular paddling trips in the region include Arbuckle Creek, which starts north of Avon Park Air Force Range (see Wild Places) in Lake Wales Ridge State Forest; Carter Creek, which feeds into Arbuckle Creek; and Josephine Creek in Lake Placid. Rent a kayak ($19–59) from or launch on an expedition ($29–49) with Sebring Kayak Tours (863-202-0815; www.sebringkayaktours.com); they offer guided trips on Arbuckle Creek as well as playful “Paddle and Swim” outings on area lakes.
RACING For those who pay a bit more attention to their riding mowers than most, Avon Park is home to the Florida Lawn Mower Racing Association (www.floridalawnracing.net) with races are held at the Avon Park Mowerplex, Florida’s only venue for this up-and-coming sport, which is sanctioned by the USLMRA (www.letsmow.com) to turn “a weekend chore into a competitive sport.” Riding mower races are scheduled throughout the year, with the big event, the annual NASGRASS Lawn Mower Race (www.nasgrass.com), in March (see Special Events).
Since 1952, the Sebring International Raceway (1-800-626-7223; www.sebringraceway.com), 113 Midway Dr., Sebring, has provided fast action every March with their 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race (see Special Events). The converted Hendricks Field, a World War II military training base, was also the site of the first Formula One race in North America in 1959. Since then, professional race car drivers, including Hollywood stars, have raced Cobras, Chapparels, Ferraris, Porches, and Ford GT40s on the 3.7-mile circuit. In 1970 Steve McQueen finished a close second to Mario Andretti. A multimillion-dollar renovation completed in 1999 added a new pit tower and media center. The Four Points by Sheraton (see Lodging) is just off the hairpin turn.
SCENIC DRIVES SR 17 is called Scenic Highway for a good reason. As it follows the rolling topography of the Lake Wales Ridge, it curves around lakes and takes you to the heart of fragrant orange groves. Heading west on SR 66 out of Lake Placid, you’ll drive through the heart of cattle country with prairie views that go on forever. July and August are the time to drive CR 621, when the colorful caladium fields are in bloom. A short scenic drive that shouldn’t be missed is the loop in the end of Hammock Road inside Highlands Hammock State Park (see Parks). It’s a one-way loop through one of the lushest forests in Florida, much like driving through a jungle.
SCUBA One of the clearest lakes in Florida, Lake Denton is a popular destination for scuba diver training sessions and divers looking for an interesting inland experience. Paid access is via a county park (if open) or through the friendly Lake Denton Camp (863-453-3627; www.lakedentoncamp.org), 790 Lake Denton Rd., Avon Park.
SPAS Back in Touch (863-402-0711; www.backintouchdayspa.com), a new day spa on the premises of the Inn on the Lakes (see Lodgings), offers tired golfers (and golf widows) a new retreat for facials, massages, and body scrubs, starting at $50 for treatments.
Founded by the former manager of the Château Élan Spa, the Spa at Hammock Falls (863-382-9646; www.thespaathammockfalls.com), #8 Hammock Falls Cir., provides a luxurious array of treatments, including body wraps, salt glows, and massage, within a classy, relaxed setting. Getaway packages start at $120 and treatments at $15 for hands/feet and $40 for massage.
SWIMMING Lake Verona is the place to swim in Avon Park, with sandy Lake Verona Beach along the shoreline, a short walk from downtown.
TRAIL RIDING Guided trail rides and riding lessons are offered by Orchid Hill Stables (863-655-1582; www.orchidhillstables.com), 419 Ranchero Dr., Sebring; half-hour pony rides ($25), hourly rates $30–40 depending on group size. At Lakeside Stables (863-655-2252; www.horserentals.com/lakesidestables.html), 5000 US 98, take a trail ride ($20–50) along beautiful Arbuckle Creek; they offer on-site camping, too.
The Mile Long Mall on Main Street extends from Lake Verona to US 27. The Mall is lined with many antiques shops shaded under a canopy of centuries-old trees. Once a single-lane road designed for the horse and buggy, the street was divided in 1920 into two parallel roads, with a park created in the middle.
Self-guided walking-tour booklets of the area’s colorful murals (see Murals) and artistic trash cans (see Public Art) are available throughout town. The booklet also provides clues to hidden objects included in the murals.
Stroll around Sebring Circle and see historic buildings from the early 1900s. Center, Ridgewood, and Commerce Streets branch out from Circle Park and offer many shops to explore (see Selective Shopping).
Green SpaceNATURE CENTERS Learn more about the Lake Wales Ridge at Archbold Biological Station (863-465-2571; www.archbold-station.org), Old FL 8, Lake Placid, a working research center with a public outreach facility on-site. Stop in at the Main Building (open 8 AM–5 PM Mon.–Fri.) to view a video and pick up interpretive information on the 0.5-mile nature trail that loops around the facility. Keep alert for Florida scrub jays, as they are often seen here. Free.
Walk outside along Florida’s only Mile Long Mall in Avon Park. Like the National Mall, this is a green strip through the city shaded by centuries-old trees, a fine place from which to enjoy the 1920s architecture found throughout downtown and a landmark kapok tree. Normally grown in tropical climates, the 60-foot tree produces an impressive canopy in January and February. The pods on the lower part of the tree contain silklike material that was used in World War II to stuff life preservers. Veterans Square honors veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and the names of 427 Avon Park–area men are inscribed on the monument. A star next to each name indicates those killed while in service to our country. The “checker shelter” houses a Veterans Honor Roll with nine Avon Park military veterans from World War I, World War II, and Vietnam.
At Istokpoga Park (863-402-6812), US 98 west of Lorida, stroll the Bee Island boardwalk and cast for bass. This small park has a boat launch into Lake Istokpoga and picnic tables with grills. Free.
Medal of Honor Park, south of Sebring off US 27 on George Blvd., showcases 18 heritage oaks and bronze plaques honoring the 18 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Explore under a canopy of green at Highlands Hammock State Park (863-386-6094; www.floridastateparks.org/highlandshammock), 5931 Hammock Rd., one of Florida’s oldest state parks. Five short interpretive trails lead you through ancient hardwood hammocks with centuries-old oak trees, along boardwalks following cypress-lined creeks and around marshy ponds, and through pine flatwoods. Once home to the ivory-billed woodpecker, now more than half a dozen other woodpecker species can be seen throughout the park; a lengthy checklist for birders is available on the park Web site. Preserved by Margaret Roebling, the wife of Brooklyn Bridge builder John Roebling, this hammock of ancient oaks opened to the public in 1931. In 1935, it became one of four parks that started the Florida State Parks system. Much of the infrastructure dates back to efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Florida’s only CCC Museum (see Museums) is here on the grounds and relates the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which helped build the backbone of what is now the Florida State Park system. Tent and RV campers are welcome at the large campground. The park is a special destination for those with a sweet tooth for citrus, as its on-site café (see Eating Out), serves sour orange pie and other goodies made from wild fruits gathered in the forest, as well as a popular Friday evening fish fry.
Founded in 1941, Avon Park Air Force Range (863-452-4254; www.avonparkfr.com), 29 South Blvd., encompasses more than 106,000 acres along the Kissimmee River floodplain and the Lake Wales Ridge. Of this 82,000 acres are open for public recreation. Their Wildlife Management Area is one of the largest in the state, open frequently for hunting and fishing, with 3 stocked ponds on-site as well as creek and river access. For backpackers, there is a 16-mile loop along Lake Arbuckle, and 12 linear miles of the Florida Trail (see Hiking) passing through the range. Day hikers will appreciate access to the 6-mile Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge Trail, as it passes through prime Florida scrub jay habitat. The range is an important destination for birders thanks to species like bald eagles, crested caracara, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and grasshopper sparrows. Primitive camping is permitted at several campgrounds within the range, such as Morgan Hole and Fort Kissimmee. Recreation passes cost $7 individual/$10 family for a day pass. Hunting is by permit only, first-come, first-served: $275 individual/$300 family. Recreation is only permitted when there are not military activities underway. Call 863-452-4119 x5 for a recorded message or check their Web site for an update before heading out to the range.
THE BIG OAK OF HIGHLAND HAMMOCK
Sandra Friend
Just south of Avon Park is Lake Tulane, estimated to be the oldest living lake in North America—40,000 years old, with the deepest layer of sediment around 70,000 years old. Created by a sinkhole, the 70-foot-deep, crystal-clear lake covers 89 acres and has a clear, sandy bottom. Beneath that are layers of sediment reaching 60 more feet. Scientists are currently studying the lake, ideal for research, for information on what steers Earth’s weather. The boat ramp for Lake Tulane is located on the west side of the lake. To get to the lake, take Anoka Avenue south from Main Street to Edgewood Street, and then turn left on Lakeview Boulevard and follow the road to the lake.
Encompassing more than 4,000 acres along the Kissimmee River, Hickory Hammock Wildlife Management Area (1-800-250-4200; www.myfwc.com/recreation/cooperative/hickory_hammock.asp), along US 98, 9 miles southeast of Lorida, is open to fishing, hunting, and hiking. An extremely scenic 9.2-mile segment of the Florida Trail passes through Hickory Hammock, with trailheads on US 98 and at the end of Bluff Hammock Road. At the southern end, enjoy dark hydric hammocks and a pleasant primitive campsite 3.5 miles north of the trailhead. At the northern end, about a mile south of the Bluff Hammock trailhead, a lengthy boardwalk along the Kissimmee River is well worth a visit for birding and photography.
Preserving a large swath of the imperiled Lake Wales Ridge, Lake June-in-Winter Preserve State Park (863-386-6094; http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakejuneinwinter), end of Daffodil St., lets you explore the unusual scrub habitat of the ridge on several miles of hiking trails and a short nature trail. Rare plants such as scrub plum, scrub hickory, spike moss, and scrub beargrass can be seen along the trails. Open for day use only; fee.
The 28,000-acre Lake Istokpoga has Florida’s largest concentration of osprey nests and is world-renowned for its bass fishing. Istokpoga is a Native American word that means “waters of death.” In the early 1900s Seminoles tried to cross the lake and were swallowed up by whirlpools, but today it is one of the best fishing lakes, with birds of many species and a large concentration of alligators. With a shallow depth of only of 4 to 6 feet, Florida’s fifth largest lake is located to the east of US 27 between Sebring and Lake Placid. Boat ramps are located just off US 98 at RV Park on Arbuckle Creek (small fee) and Istokpoga Park near Lorida.
Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/merrittisland/subrefuges/LWR.html), with scattered parcels through the region, is notable in that it is the only NWR to be established primarily for the protection of rare plant species, 23 of which are on the endangered species list, including Florida ziziphus and scrub lupine. Because of the sensitive nature of these areas, they have not been opened to public access.
LodgingBED & BREAKFAST 
Built in 1925, the charming Lake Verona Lodge (863-452-9940; http://members.tripod.com/veronalodge), 310 E Main St., offers four spacious rooms in a historic home that took owners Steve and Gloria Vanderzee two years to renovate and modernize. They’ve done an outstanding job. The Kennedy includes an en suite bath with a large shower. Polished hardwood floors complement the original bead-board walls and ceiling, and the room includes one of my favorite amenities, a writing desk in the corner. Sunlight streams into the Washington through 13 windows and dapples across the Wedge-wood blue walls. The bowed ceiling is made of Dade County pine. The Roosevelt and Lincoln rooms have two beds and share a bath with a claw-foot tub. Fresh fruit, cereals, homemade breads, and Welsh rarebit are often part of the extended continental breakfast served in the large sun-drenched dining room. Rates start at $89.
Adelaide Shores (863-453-2226; www.adelaideshores.com), 2881 US 27 N, is perched along the shores of Lake Adelaide and has two golf pros on staff who offer free lessons, and a golf course across the street. $32 for RV sites, long-term stays discounted.
LAKE VERONA LODGE
Sandra Friend
BONNET LAKE RV RESORT
Sandra Friend
At Bonnet Lake RV Resort (863-385-3700; www.bonnetlakecampground.com), 2825 SR 17 S, set up your tent or pull your rig beneath the tall pines and savor the orange blossom scented air. A large heated pool, horseshoes, bocce, and shuffleboard will keep you active; in the evenings, enjoy camaraderie in the recreation hall. Sites $25–40.
Make friends at Lake Letta RV Park (863-453-7700; www.lakelettarv.com), 2455 S Lake Letta Dr., a pretty 55 and over campground set in the pine woods catering to RVers and long-term stays; campsites $20 daily, $135 weekly.
Relax with your inner circle at Camp Florida Resort (863-699-1991 www.campfla.com), 100 Shoreline Dr., off US 27 S, where the campsites ($37.50) are broken up into rounded clusters with green space in-between, and the campground spills down the hill toward pretty Lake Grassy. Park models run $100–125. Small pets only.
Sandra Friend
Set along the shores of Lake Istokpoga, Cypress Isle RV Park & Marina (863-465-5241), 2 Cypress Isle Ln., offers tent sites ($15–25), and pop-ups and RV sites ($30). Each site has its own boat dock. Discounts are taken if you don’t have a boat and for month-long and full-season stays. Three fully equipped one-bedroom cabins are also available ($70). No pets.
Sunshine RV Resort (863-465-4815 or 1-800-760-7270; www.sunshinervresorts.com), 303 SR 70 E, offers a variety of RV sites ($27–30) and park models ($58–68) in a quiet well-manicured setting along Ridge Lake. Enjoy their large pool and recreation area.
Since 1972, Mossy Cove Fish Camp & RV Resort (863-655-0119 or 1-800-833-2683; www.mossy-cove.us), 3 Mossy Cove Dr., off US 98, has catered to anglers looking for a quiet base camp for fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish on Lake Istokpoga. Bring your RV (30 amp service) or bunk down in one of their fully equipped cabins that sleep up to 8 people.
Rent furnished waterfront cabins complete with cable TV, heat and air-conditioning, full bath with linens, and well-equipped kitchen at Trails End Fishing Resort (863-655-0134; www.trailsendfishingresort.com), 4232 Trails End. The “wife-friendly” resort on Lake Istokpoga also offers sites for RVs and doublewides. Laundry room, public showers, bait and tackle store, fish cleaning room, and dockside gas are also on-site.
There are no playgrounds or swimming pools at the rugged Henderson’s Istokpoga Fishing Resort (863-465-2101), 35 Henderson Rd. (off US 27 and CR 621), but serious anglers can pull in their RVs or bunk in one of the cabins.
The casual Neibert’s Fishing Resort (863-655-1416), 4971 US 98 on Lake Istokpoga, has sites for tents and RVs (both $20 per night), with discounts for long-term residents. Also on-site are laundry facilities and a cocktail bar.
Al Capone, Clark Gable, Babe Ruth, George Burns, and Gracie Allen are among those who walked through the doors of the Hotel Jacaranda (863-453-2211; www.hoteljac.com), 19 E Main St., to spend the night. Opened in 1926, this grand Classical Revival–style hotel has played many roles over the years, serving as a bunkhouse for World War II servicemen and most recently, student dormitories for its new owner, the South Florida Community College, which occupy half of the building. The carefully restored interior has a 1920s “titans of industry” feel, with rough plastered walls, window air conditioners, and heavy rolling doors that can separate the building into three sections for fire or hurricane protection. The antique elevator is one of only two I know of remaining in Florida that must be staff-operated. Many of the cozy standard rooms ($70) have original bathtubs and sinks as well as antique dressers. Suites ($75–83) and 2 or 3 bedroom Grand Suites ($135–205) are much more spacious. Rooms include a small fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker. Breakfast is included in your room rate from October 1 through June 1. Victor Borge once played piano here in the elegant formal dining room, the Palm Room (see Dining Out), and from November through May, pianist Jeff Klein entertains with tunes from yesteryear as students in culinary training attend to your needs.
HOTEL JACARANDA IN AVON PARK
Sandra Friend
An old-fashioned motor court that has that retro zing, Reed’s Motel (863-453-3194; www.reedsmotel.com), 102 US 27 S, catches your eye with the neon diver that’s been making a splash since 1957. With impeccable landscaping and 17 clean, spacious tropical-themed rooms, a heated pool with a chickee tiki hut, and a motel cat called Redland, this is one inviting place. Hidden behind the motel is another treasure—the Oasis Banquet Hall, with a dance hall, meeting space, kitchen, and a shaded outdoor space under a big thatched chickee roof. Taken by owner Tammy Lott, a nature photographer, images of wildlife in Highlands County grace the walls. There are also several large suites tucked away in corners of the complex, and I do mean large; these are full apartments with kitchen, living room, and dining room. Rates $69–200; golf packages available.
A quiet night on the water was exactly what I needed when I checked into the Valencia Suites (863-465-9200; www.valenciasuites.net), 1865 US 27 S. It’s an intimate 13-room complex on the shores of Lake Grassy with spacious tiled rooms. I headed straight for the oversized tub in the elegantly tiled bathroom and relaxed watching movies on the big screen television. One entire wall of the room is a sleek kitchen with stainless steel refrigerator and dishwasher, microwave, toaster, and stovetop, plus all the dishes and supplies you’d need for an extended stay. Eat inside at the tall bar-style table, or outside on a picnic bench on your patio overlooking the lake. Rented weekly during the winter season, $308 and up, with daily rates available.
In the lobby sits a full size Panoz GTS, a 385-horsepower high-end race car. This should give you an indication of the high-energy atmosphere at the Four Points by Sheraton Sebring (863-655-6252; www.chateauelansebring.com), 150 Midway Dr., one of the few places in America you can stay right along a raceway. As the hotel is situated just off the legendary hairpin “Turn 7,” you’ll want to ask for a trackside room to experience all the sights and sounds of Le Mans racing without having to head over to the track. Room rates start around $110 but escalate dramatically during racing events.
Straddling Lake Jackson and Little Lake Jackson, the Inn on the Lakes (863-471-9400 or 1-800-531-5253; www.innonthelakessebring.com), 3100 Golfview Rd., is within walking distance to two golf courses (see Golf). Guest rooms ($94–139) offer double- or king-sized accommodations, most with panoramic views. The elegant suites ($144–219) have room to really stretch out, with a huge walk-in closet that would make even the fussiest diva excited. Our room was just the tonic we needed for a day of rest—spacious, spotless, and classy, with a panoramic view of the pool and lake. French doors open to a private balcony overlooking both lakes. When you are hungry, Chicanes (see Dining Out) serves up a fine selection of culinary delights.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Kenilworth Lodge (863-385-0111 or 1-800-423-5939; www.kenlodge.com), 836 SE Lakeview Dr., is a grand inn on a hill overlooking Lake Jackson. George Sebring, founder of this town, opened the lodge as a destination in 1916, and it’s still a fascinating place to stay. The massive lobby has a grand staircase and 1950s television; one corner is taken up with a library from which you are free to borrow. The renovated-to-period guest rooms in the main lodge ($70 and up) are a little small by today’s standards, but they all have a premium TV and a mini fridge; the bathrooms are surprisingly large. There are also more spacious suites (including a posh Presidential Suite) and apartments available, ranging from $95 to 160, with some of them overlooking the 80-foot heated pool. A deluxe continental breakfast is included in your stay.
A stop at the Safari Inn (863-382-1148), 1406 US 27 N, revealed a basic but clean budget motel set in rounded buildings, like giant huts. Larger suites include a fridge and microwave, smaller rooms a shower instead of bath. Rates start at $59 in the low season.
For a touch of Old Florida, take a personal retreat to Sebring Lakeside Golf Resort (863-385-7113 or 1-888-2SEBRING; www.2sebring.com), 500 Lake Sebring Dr., a lovely Spanish Mission–style inn built during the 1920s boom and opened in 1926 as the Lake Sebring Casino, a gathering place for swimming and dancing for the surrounding residential community. Set on the shores of Lake Sebring, it’s a place you can stroll out to the beach and soak in the sun, or out on the long, colorful dock, a piece of history in itself, and revel in the peace and quiet with only birdsong to interrupt your relaxation. Owners Mark and Maria Baker spent a lot of loving care on renovations; it took seven years alone to restore the original ballroom, which is now home to their popular Sebring Lakeside Casino Tea Room (see Dining Out). The Grand Suite ($235–255) overlooks the lake on three sides and has a fireplace open to both the bedroom and living room areas. The king-sized bed is dressed with sumptuous bedding, and the romantic bathroom has tiled arches to the private shower, scented candles in niches, and a large Jacuzzi overlooking a private garden. A full-sized kitchen ensures you will never need to leave the room. The complex includes 18 rooms ($101–175), some of which are duplexes, and efficiencies from the 1960s that gave me a trip in the way-back machine with their nifty retro furnishings and honeycombed bath tile floors. Family reunions are popular here, what with the lakeside swimming pool, a complimentary round of golf (see Golf), complimentary bicycles, and paddleboats for exploring the lake. Three of the rooms have Jacuzzis, and most of them have lakefront views with screened porches. Reduced rates offered for extended stays.
THE DOCK AT SEBRING LAKESIDE RESORT
Sandra Friend
Where to Eat
The all-you-can-eat buffet at the Palm Room of Hotel Jacaranda (see Lodgings), 19 E Main St., has all the elegance of yesteryear, including a resident pianist for most of the season. Southern fried chicken is always on the menu along with another Southern entrée, plus homemade mashed potatoes, veggies, salad and soup, and dessert, which could be their famed strawberry shortcake. Lunch buffets are served Aug.–May Mon.–Fri. 11 AM–2 PM, $9. Dinner buffets are Dec.–May 4:30 PM–7:30 PM, $9 on Mon.–Thurs., $11 for the Friday seafood buffet and the Sunday grand buffet.
The cozy Chicanes Restaurant & Bar (863-314-0348) is located inside the Inn on the Lakes (see Lodging). For an appetizer, try the Tire Treads, deep-fried onions with Cajun dipping romelade. For smaller appetites there is the cedar planked salmon with a hint of brown sugar and Dijon mustard, or pork schnitzel, pan fried German style. Substantial entrées include chicken fusilli, bourbon chicken, and baby back ribs; dinner, $14–30. Save room for a dessert like the Pile Up, a chocolate concoction topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel, and hot fudge. The name “Chicanes” comes from the quick left-right zigzag bends found on racetracks, which require a quick succession of braking, downshifting, and acceleration.
With a lakeside view, the Sebring Lakeside Casino Tea Room at Sebring Lakeside Golf Resort (see Lodging) provides an elegant escape for a formal lunch. The $14 fixed-price lunch includes a choice of ambrosia, pasta salad, or soup; a beverage; a selection from the dessert tray; and an entrée served with fresh fruit and veggies, such as chicken salad tossed with almonds, grapes, and apples; asparagus supreme, rolled in Virginia ham and aged Swiss cheese; medallions of pork tenderloin stuffed with ham and rosemary dressing; or finger sandwiches, among the other chef’s specialties. Reservations suggested. Occasionally, specially themed Children’s Afternoon Tea Series are offered, providing a two-hour event with etiquette lesson, game or story, craft to take home, and a delicious lunch; reservations required.
Plan a night out at Yianni’s Prime Choice (863-385-9222), 3750 US 27 N # 2A, where steak and seafood are the stars of the menu. Nine cuts of beef, including New York strip, filet mignon, and a 32-ounce porterhouse will tempt your inner carnivore, especially when you smell it sizzling on the open grill over their custom-built pit, fired with citrus, hickory, and oak logs. Can’t handle that much meat? Try the shrimp scampi, Alaskan king crab, or rock lobster, or the Alexander’s Great Salad loaded with vegetables, toasted nuts, and cheese and topped with your choice of grilled steak, salmon, or chicken. Save room for the Greek dessert tray, with temptations like baklava, carrot cake, rice pudding, and chocolate cake brought straight to your table. Rich, dark woods, white linen tablecloths, and the strumming of Spanish guitar set a mood for a relaxed dining experience.
A mural commemorating railroading sets the tone for The Depot Restaurant (863-453-5600), 21 W Main St., a popular lunch stop downtown. Open Mon.–Fri. 6 AM–2 PM, Sat. 6 AM–3 PM.
Classic car enthusiasts will love the theme at Dutcher’s Diner (863-45-DUTCH; www.dutchersdiner.com), 1012 W Main St., which was hopping on a Saturday morning. Cars decorate the wallpaper and the walls, with posters and models of ’50s–’70s classics. And then you open the menu. Try a ’65 Chevy Malibu Deuce Coupe (translation: 2 eggs and an 8 oz. rib eye) for a hearty breakfast, or go for the more toned-down ’70 Plymouth Road-runner, with 2 eggs, 2 French toast, 2 bacon, and 2 sausage. Open 6 AM–3 PM daily, breakfast ($3–12) served all day.
Grab a great meal at the Olympic Restaurant (863-452-2700), 504 US 27 N, where the aroma of a fresh Greek salad begged me to stay when I walked in the door. You can get a gyro here, but the entrées ($8–13) are more mainstream—think country fried chicken, liver and onions, jumbo shrimp, and pork tenderloin. Open for lunch and dinner.
As you drive out toward the Avon Park Air Force Range, watch for Smokin’ Bear Bar-B-Que, a roadside barbecue stand that shows up at the junction of CR 17A and SR 64, in an orange grove. The chicken and ribs smell really good, and a full meal costs less than $10. Opens at 11 AM Thurs.–Sun.
Andy’s Hot Dog World (863-699-5577), 340 E Interlake Blvd., has dogs your way with a variety of toppings, from NYC Coney Sauce to Chicago-style or with sauerkraut, $3–6. Stop here for ice cream cones, too! Open Tues.–Sat. 11 AM–3 PM.
You’ll find hometown home-style cooking at The Heron’s Garden (863-699-6550; www.heronsgarden.com), 501 US 27 N, a busy local restaurant where entrées run the gamut from frog’s legs to ham steak, veal cutlet, and ravioli. A Greek influence and many vegetarian options on the menu make this a big favorite for the locals; I’ve enjoyed several meals here in my travels. It’s no problem to find an entrée (served with salad or soup, potato, rice or vegetable) for under $10.
Overlooking Lake Henry, Jaxson’s (863-465-4674; www.hookiemelt.com), 443 Lake June Rd., is a place to meet up with friends for a great afternoon or evening meal. Lunch favorites ($4–11) include jumbo crab cake, Reubens, tuna melt, a prime rib wrap, and their extensive array of “Hamburger Heaven” half-pound burgers like the J-Bomb (chili and jack/cheddar), the Cowboy (onion rings and barbecue sauce), or the Jaxsonian (double beef, no toppings), all served up with salty spicy fries. The interior has a sports-bar feel; the covered back patio gives you a quiet spot to look out over the lake and savor your meal.
A mural drew me into The Pastry Shoppe (863-465-3814), 341 E Interlake Blvd., and the place was packed! True to their name, they make their own biscuits, muffins, and sticky buns and offer plenty of eggs and options for that morning meal, $5–7.
In a railroad themed restaurant near the historic depot, Schooni’s Italian American (863-465-5060), 209 N Main Ave., is where folks go for Italian favorites downtown. Besides pizzas and calzones, they serve a variety of pasta dinners, hot subs, and burgers—including a pizza burger! Dinners and pizzas, $7–12.
Dive into the Blue Lagoon Saloon (863-471-6001), 4120 US 27 N, a sports bar where the ceiling is a very amusing read and the tabletops are airbrushed with colorful sea scenes. Grab a bear and one of their 22 different appetizers ($3–9), or try the Zingers—chicken strips in wing sauce with blue cheese, cheddar, and jalapeño bites. More substantial platters, like yellowfin tuna, shrimp skewers, fried oysters, and fish and chips, run $6–14. Open late.
I love it when my syrup is prewarmed so my pancakes don’t get cold, and that’s what they do at Dot’s Restaurant (863-382-2333), 950 Sebring Sq. along US 27, where their Grand Breakfast includes 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon strips, and your choice of hashbrowns, homefries, or grits. Now that’s a hearty hiker breakfast ($3–6)! It’s a busy place at lunch, too, with specials ($6) like stuffed cabbage or ham and beans served with sides of corn, green beans, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes. Your short order is up in minutes. Open Mon.–Sat. 6:30 AM–2 PM, Sun. 7 AM–2 PM; cash only.
In a building dating back to the 1930s, the Hammock Inn (863-385-7025), Three Picnic Area Rd., located at Highlands Hammock State Park across from the CCC Museum (see Parks), serves up chili dogs, chicken salad, burgers, and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch every day; grab a full meal for less than $10. But what draws the folks in for a special visit are their desserts. Don’t leave without trying their wild orange pie (made from oranges picked right here in the park), banana split cake, or one of their many cobblers. Friday is fish fry night, and they make a popular Thanksgiving dinner. Food is also served during folk music events at the park.
Along Scenic 17, the Sandwich Castle (863-385-3809), 3416 SR 17 N, sits right in the middle of the orange groves. It’s a good quick lunch stop, serving up favorites like BLT, ham and cheese, meatball parmesan subs, pizza, and buffalo chicken wings in an open kitchen where you can watch your meal ($5 on average) being prepped. There are also daily entrée specials on the board like roasted Cuban pork with black beans and rice, or meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, $6 and up. Open Tues.–Sun. 11 AM–6 PM.
At Sandy’s Circle Café (863-382-1942 ), 213 Circle Park Dr., breakfast ($3 and up) gets served up nice and fast, and it’s good Southern home-style cooking, 7 days a week.
COFFEE SHOPS At Rezultz Fitness (863-699-1960; www.rezultzfitness247.com), 224 Interlake Dr., a corner of this 24/7 workout center in the historic Lake Placid Drugstore is a coffee and smoothie bar, great for a quick refresher when you’re walking through town. You’ll also find a coffee shop inside the Golden Pineapple (see Selective Shopping) on the downtown circle in Sebring.
Selective ShoppingIt’s not just a dress shop. Annabelle’s of Avon (863-452-2005; www.consignannabelles.com), 13 South Lake Ave., has a little bit of everything, from Limoges figurines to festival glass, classy hatboxes, purses, and shoes. Another whole storefront is devoted to furniture and home decor, with both antique and new items—tapestries, shadowboxes, pillows, and books.
The core shopping districts of Lake Placid are along Interlake Boulevard and Main Street, but be sure to peep down the side streets as well. Walking the mural tour route, you’ll find many fine shops, including these:
Columbia shirts and shorts, Tilley hats, sunglasses—I knew I’d found the right place. Authentic Supply Company (863-465-0113; www.shirtsnshorts.net), 295 E Interlake Blvd., carries outerwear for outdoors enthusiasts, including casual Hawaiibera shirts for the guys (that’s “Hawaiian guayabera” to you); they have a men’s big and tall room, too.
They have antiques, shabby chic, and other neat stuff at Old Friends (863-465-4196), 213 N Main St., including glycerin soaps and soy candles.
Find accent furniture and garden gifts at The Blueberry Patch (863-465-5111), 214 N Main St., where their kids’ room is full of fun toys that I couldn’t resist, like an Imagination Mat (laminated artwork with a space to draw on the back), message ribbons, and Happy Camper buttons.
At the Garden of Alvyn (863-531-0100), 206 E Interlake Blvd., “every day’s totally different!” said the owner when I inquired as to their usual stock in trade. It’s an antiques shop that spans eras and tastes. The day I stopped in, you could walk away with a giant oriental fan, a fire hydrant, or an ashtray fit into a tire. Shelves of pewter ware, Fiestaware, and blue glass looked to be a more permanent display, but I was eyeing that giant Ken-L-Ration advertising sign, big enough to shade a doghouse.
For holiday gifts and ornaments any time of year, visit Holiday Treasures & Trinkets (863-465-3884), 217 N Main St. They hand-make more than 90 percent of their wreaths and have goodies like mugs and cookie jars, an angel room, and snazzy home decor.
Looking for fine antique glass? Jackie’s Nik Naks (863-699-0215), 244 E Interlake Blvd., might have what you’re searching for. In this open, airy, and bright store, bureaus and china closets hold an array of glassware, china, and figurines.
At Lake Placid Embroidery (863-465-7199), 211 N Main St., it isn’t about the custom embroidered goods they do, it’s the glam—glitzy handbags and matching costume jewelry. Although they do sell T-shirts and caps with slogans like “He Fishes, I Shop.”
Find beachy keen home decor at Tropical Island Wear (863-465-5556), 213 N Main St., including wraps and covers with tropical scenes, and Florida orange crate art cards.
Search for a distinctive gift at Goodness Gracious (863-699-1711), 459 US 27 N, in the Tower Plaza, and say hi to owner Lorelei Dehne.
With more than 50 dealer booths, Alligator Antiques and Collectibles (863 471-6255; www.alligatorantiques.net), 2651 US 27 S, is one snappy place. Find Roseville pottery and paintings from the Highwaymen, colorful carnival glass and books and records to browse. Open Mon.–Sat. 10 AM–6 PM, Sun. 10 AM–4 PM.
It’s a Caribbean novelty shop, a travel agent, and a coffee nook rolled into one! The Golden Pineapple (863-414-0215) 209 Circle Park S, has dolls and salsa, rum cake, soaps and lotions, colorful Caribbean clothing, and some tempting java on the menu, including a Milky Way latte and Jamaican Blue coffee.
There are hundreds of T-shirts to choose from at The Great Atlantic & Pacific T-Shirt Company (863-385-0456 ), 239 N Ridgewood Dr., a fixture downtown for decades. They can even custom-letter a shirt with your pithy slogan while you wait. Take that, Cafepress!
Find great gifts for the kids at The Happy Owl (863-385-4544 ), 227 N. Ridgewood Dr.; it’s filled with educational supplies and party goods, diorama kits and games, railroad sets, and Melissa and Doug puzzles and toys.
Linda’s Books (863-382-2649), 203 N Ridgewood Dr., is a treasure trove for bibliophiles like me, with aisles and aisles of shelves packed with hard- and soft-cover books, primarily used fiction.
In the 1923 George Sebring Building, Wild Artist Jewelry (863-385-7433), 125 N Ridgewood Dr., brings the fine art of beading to your creative hands. Make your own exquisite design with their instruction, or consider one of their spirit catchers or Asian curios as a great gift.
PRODUCE STANDS AND U-PICK
Depending on the season, you can pick your own strawberries (Dec.–Mar.), blueberries and blackberries (Apr.–June), or grapes (Aug.–Sept.) at Henscratch Farms (see Winery), where they also sell a great bottle of wine. Best of all, vegetables and fruits are grown vertically in hydroponic containers—no stooping required!
It’s quintessential Florida, a wooden building tucked away in the heart of an orange grove, selling fresh fruit right from the packing house floor. That’s Maxwell Groves (863-453-3938; www.maxwellgrove.com), 607 E Circle St., which started in the 1920s as a 10-acre grove with a small log cabin. The current packing house and country store complex dates back to the 1960s. You can walk right in and see how oranges are processed after picked in the groves. Starting at the dump tank, they go through a sanitizer and a grader that separates them by size to pack commercially. I’ll let you take the tour to learn the rest. There’s nothing better than a sample of ice cold fresh-squeezed orange juice on a sunny morning! Take a taste of the good stuff, then shop around for some goodies, like the retro “Citra fruit spoons,” a variety of honeys, candies, and dressings, and even citrus-scented lotions and soaps. Certified organic, the grove is open during the citrus season, Oct.–May.
EntertainmentDINNER SHOWS Maintained and performed entirely by volunteers, the nonprofit Highlands Little Theatre (863-471-2522; www.highlandslittletheatre.org), 321 W Center Ave., is inside the Allen C. Atvater Cultural Center. Thanks to the dedication of patrons and residents, this little theater has been producing outstanding productions for more than 30 years. The 200-seat theater has a professional backstage area with brightly lit dressing rooms and two full stories above the stage, allowing for a quick change of sets. Tues. and Wed. evening performance $10 (no meal); Sun. matinee $15 (dessert only); Fri. or Sat. evening $30 (full dinner). A cash bar is also available during dinner shows.
FOLK MUSIC Bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to champion bluegrass music and traditional Florida Cracker folk songs at the Hammock Inn (see Eating Out). Events are scheduled around the country-style restaurant throughout the year, which also serves up traditional food. Depending on the time of day, the park admission fee of around $4 per carload may apply. Don’t forget your bug spray!
Special EventsJanuary: Started in 1937, the Highlands County Fair (863-385-FAIR; www.hcfair.net) is a tradition during the last week of January, bringing the agricultural bounty of the county to light. With food, music, and ribbons for “The Best,” this county fair is a down-home tradition to be enjoyed by young and old. The orchid contest is one of the highlights.
U.S. Sport Aviation Expo (www.sport-aviation-expo.com), Sebring Regional Airport, Sebring. Exhibits highlight ultralight aircraft, fixed wings, trikes, powered parachutes, and gyroplanes.
February: More than 200 crafters gather at the Lake Placid Country Fair (863-465-4331; www.lpfla.com/events/fair.htm), held the first full weekend at DeVane Park
March: 12 Hours of Sebring (1-800-262-7223). Racing enthusiasts gather for this historic endurance race (see Racing) near the end of the month.
Sod rebels from around the country compete on bladeless lawn mowers in the annual NASGRASS Lawn Mower Race (see Racing). Races run 12 minutes to mimic the 12 Hours of Sebring and are held at the Avon Park Mowerplex on SR 64 west of Avon Park Airport, the nation’s first dedicated lawn mower–racing facility.
INSIDE THE PACKING HOUSE AT MAXWELL CITRUS
Sandra Friend
May: Annual Blueberry Festival at Henscratch Farms (see Winery), with a blueberry pie baking and eating contests, arts and crafts, and bluegrass music.
August: Lake Placid Caladium Festival (863-465-4331; www.lpfla.com/events/caladium.htm), Stuart Park, Interlake Blvd. and Stuart St. After taking a bus ride to view the caladium fields and homes with caladium landscaping, you can purchase potted caladiums and pieces of art detailing these bright red and pink plants. Caladium history and growers’ exhibits along with demonstrations on how to care for the plant are featured. The festival is held the last full weekend of the month.
November: The Wings & Wheels Festival, Avon Park, first weekend, brings in aviators from all over the country to reminisce over vintage aircraft dating back to World War II. Two training fields were located here during the war.
December: Sebring Historic Fall Classic (863-655-1442 or 1-800-626-7223; www.sebringraceway.com). Legendary cars return for the Four Hours of Sebring endurance race with vintage, historic, GT, and prototype classes, the Rolex Endurance Challenge, and the American Muscle Car Challenge, first weekend Dec.