Daytona Toyota Blog

The kids are out of school, but the wallet is tight or you don’t have enough time or the vacation days saved to go somewhere far. There are great getaways for you to escape here in Florida from your hectic life and have some time to relax.

Luckily, you live in the “vacation capital” of the nation. And unlike most destinations, Florida’s off season is the summer and there are good deals to be had.

We are not going to talk about the theme parks because you know where they are and what they are about. There are hundreds of hidden gems for your family to explore. We’ve included just a few below.

From a day trip to three day excursion, take advantage of these places that are just a car ride away. At Daytona Toyota, we want you to take advantage of the down time and have some fun exploring your backyard. You’ll discover uncharted territory, so you and your family can make lifetime summer memories.

Central Florida
Shamrock Thistle & Crown Bed and Breakfast in Ocala

If you would rather stay away from the beach crowds, a weekend stay at a Central Florida bed-and-breakfast might be more appealing. Try the Shamrock Thistle & Crown Bed and Breakfast, located on a hilltop near Lake Weir and downtown Ocala. The inn was voted one of Florida’s top 10 most romantic B&B’s by the Palm Beach Post and the Miami Herald. Guests can stay in luxurious rooms with private baths, enjoy a full breakfast and spend the day nearby horseback riding, antiquing, or visiting museums. We recommend taking the family to Silver Springs, Florida first nature theme park and water wonderland.
Evenings may be spent watching live theater productions or going on a dinner train. Decorator rooms start at $105 per weekend night. The inn offers packages for the murder mystery dinner train, half-off for a third night’s stay, and a frequent stay program. Special rates apply in September only, with mid-week rates on weekends. For more information, please visit www.shamrockbb.com or call (800) 4BLARNEY (425-2763).

North Florida
Amelia Island

In many ways, northeast Florida’s Amelia Island is more like a Georgia barrier island than a typical Florida beach destination. From the Spanish moss in the trees to the Victorian-style town of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island is a far cry from the rest of what most people think of as the Sunshine State. An escape to Amelia Island provides plenty of options for varying styles of weekends. With so many beach possibilities throughout the state, you might enjoy staying away from the beach in a historic Fernandina Beach B&B, while still exploring the beach and the rest of the 13-mile-long island. Of course, you can also stay right on the beach at one of many accommodations. Amelia Island activities include going to the beach, exploring the charm of Fernandina’s Centre Street and further afield, renowned golf, tennis, horseback riding, visiting Civil War–era Fort Clinch State Park, or heading into Jacksonville for some big-city life. The detailed itinerary in this chapter is a driving tour that features extensive recommendations for sightseeing attractions, recreational activities, lodging, restaurants, shopping, and more. For more information on attractions and hotels, please visit www.ameliaisland.com.

Gulf Coast
Steinhatchee Landing Resort

Located on Florida’s north-central Gulf Coast, Steinhatchee Landing Resort hides amid a tangle of century-old oaks and sycamores. Even if you have precise directions, this family paradise can be hard to find because the tiny fishing village of Steinhatchee (population 1,300) doesn’t appear on many maps. As you drive past antique shops and roadside eateries that dish out slices of tangy key lime pie, the signs of civilization gently fade. At the end of the road lies the reason for your journey: a riverfront retreat where you can relish the pleasures of bygone days.
The gateway to a sort of Tarzan’s playground, Steinhatchee Landing Resort sits on the banks of the Steinhatchee River, three miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Here, visitors can experience a bit of old Florida–a pre-theme-park haven characterized by lush vegetation, abundant wildlife and easygoing fishermen. Native palm and cypress trees line the gentle river, and rare brown pelicans and alligators keep watch on its banks.

From this untamed jungle, Steinhatchee Landing emerges like a queen. The 35-acre deluxe family retreat was developed in 1990 by Dean Fowler, a boyhood chum of President Jimmy Carter’s. Set up as a turn-of-the-century southern village, it offers 21 homes that families can rent for the night or a whole season. The comfortable cottages boast tin roofs, ample windows and big front porches. They also come with 20th-century extras like air conditioning, modern furniture and appliances and an outdoor grill.

Although it’s easy to just loaf on your private porch, you can also fish off the dock for crabs and catfish, rent a canoe or take a guided sunset cruise. Should you tire of the resort’s pleasures, Florida’s spectacular “Nature Coast” awaits. About 20 natural springs and state parks are within a two hour’s drive of Steinhatchee Landing (guests receive passes to all sites). Families can snorkel, tube and spot manatees (in late fall and winter), while certified divers can explore Peacock Springs, one of the largest underwater cave systems in America. Keaton Beach, 18 miles north, is a favorite spot for Gulf swimming.
One-, two- and three-bedroom units are available; prices range from $120 to $255 nightly in low season (September 11 to May 31). For more information, call 352-498-3513.

South Florida
Collier-Seminole State Park

Experience the natural beauty and wildlife of the Everglades, as well as a forest of tropical trees at the junction of Route 92 and Highway 41. The 7,271 acre park is a beautiful mix of salt marshes, Florida royal palm trees, mangrove and cypress swamps. It’s one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. Collier-Seminole also contains one of the three original stands of the rare royal palm in Florida.

There are loads of things to do here and the park is a good place to get introduced to the Everglades environment. There’s a full facility campground.

There are trails for hiking and bicycling as well as trails for canoeing on the Blackwater River. The 100-mile Wilderness Waterway runs through the Florida Everglades.

At Collier-Seminole State Park you can arrange paddling excursions to explore this wonderful natural wilderness. These can be arranged either through the park with local private outfitters. Fishing, boating, canoeing, hiking are all popular activities at the park.

You and the family can go the rugged route and camp at one of the campsites. They offer primitive camping for the true nature lovers and full facility camping with access to showers/electrical for those of us who need to brush our teeth. Or you even have the option to book a cabin. It’s hot in day and night here in Florida, so AC is always a friend. For more information and to book your reservation, visit http://www.floridastateparks.org/collierseminole

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.