Winter Park to Daytona Beach Driving Tour 3 Days - 191 miles
City: Orlando
Add to Trip
|
Map: Orlando
|
This tour starts out at the Orlando Official Visitor Center, on International Drive. From Orlando, take I-4 north to exit 45, turn right and drive east for two miles. Cross over US 17- 92 to Park Avenue, turn right, then, left on Holt Avenue. Here you are in Winter Park at the Rollins College Campus, a fine University and also the oldest in Florida. Your first expedition is the Cornell Fine Arts Museum. It offers Renaissance and European old masters as well as contemporary American Artists. One is free to tour the campus and wander thru the downtown area on Park Avenue. This town is very unique and upscale with an abundance of galleries, fine shops and restaurants.
At the very north end of the avenue is The Morse Museum of Art. This museum includes works of Louis Tiffany, Frank Lloyd Wright, Emile Galle and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Next, you can take the Scenic Boat Tour of the lakes and view the many millionaire’s homes. Continuing on Park Avenue driving north all the way to Orlando Avenue, turn right. Keep driving until you get to SR 436, make a left and continue on until you see signs to I-4 east, then get off at exit 52.
The next tour is of the Sanford Central Florida Zoo and the Grand Romance Riverboat. This riverboat cruises along the well-known St. Johns River, which is a main artery. Reservations are requested for the dinner and dance cruise. Next, leaving from the zoo, drive north on US 17-92 for 9 miles to Orange City. Turn left on West French Avenue; drive 2 miles to Blue Springs State Park. This is the winter home for manatees because of its constant warm temperatures of 72 degrees. The waters are also great for snorkeling. It’s history dates back to around 1870 and was once a river port. Now return to Orange City and head north on US 17-92 turn right, then left, crossing I-4 and following the signs to Cassadaga.
This is the town known for supernatural happenings. One can easily find mediums, card readers and fortune tellers. Cassadaga is an old community village, which represents a little bit of the original Florida.
Now continuing north and then west back to US 17-92 via Lake Helen, and then north for three miles to DeLand. This happens to be a lovely old town, which is well known to the Home of Stetson University. The DeLand Hall, which faces the main street, is the oldest building in Florida. It dates back to 1884, when the famous hat magnate, John Stetson founded this University. Another spot to visit is the Henry Addison DeLand House, which was built in the 1890’s. You may want to enjoy a stroll along the main street and visit the interesting shops. Next, on E Michigan Avenue you will find the Gillespie Museum of Minerals. You may enjoy a tour during the weekdays. Heading north on US 17 for 9 miles brings you to De Leon Springs. This is a very important spring, which brings in 19 million gallons of water a day. This is also a nice area to swim and canoe. While you are here you must visit the Old Spanish Sugar Mill. Take a rest and enjoy delicious pancakes you can make right at your own table along with all your favorite toppings.
Next, heading north 6 miles to Barberville, turn right, go east on SR 40 for 24 miles and cross the Ormand Bridge onto East Granada Boulevard. Quickly make a right onto Riverside Drive. The Casements is a beautiful wooden house that was built in the early 1900’s for John D. Rockefeller. Now used as a cultural center, tours are given daily except Sunday. Just a block away is the Ormand Memorial Art Museum which features fish ponds, gardens and nature trails. Next, drive back across the Ormand Bridge and turn left onto South Beach Street, continue 4 ½ miles. The next expedition is The Halifax Historical Museum, which was the original Merchants Bank Building. Built in 1910, unfortunately, the bank collapsed after 19 years, because of the Great Depression. The museum holds many interesting exhibits and records of Volusia County. Now turn left onto Orange Avenue and continue across the Memorial Bridge all the way to the ocean, turn left. This brings you to the world famous Daytona Beach, where the crowds come to enjoy the fun and sun. This is the place for speed car and motorcycle racing along with untamed beaches. Now if you head south on Atlantic Avenue, you will come to the Ponce de Leon Inlet and Lighthouse. Built in 1887, it towers 175 feet and is used as a museum center. After leaving here, turn right onto South Peninsula Drive and drive north, then turning left on Dunlawton Avenue. Continue for 2-½ miles crossing over the Port Orange Bridge to SR 5A, turn right and drive ¼ mile to Old Sugarmill Road. Here you can visit the Sugar Mill Gardens, next continue north on Nova Road then turn left on South Street, then right on Museum Boulevard.
The Daytona Museum of Art and Sciences is the areas best, so don’t miss this one! Now return to South Nova Road heading north to the West International Speedway, turn left and this will lead you into Daytona USA, the World Center of Racing. Lastly, on your tour, continue on US 92, cross under I-95, turning left onto Tomoka Farms Road, you will arrive at the Klassix Auto Museum, which will allow you to view a collection of Corvettes, dating back to 1953.
Now you have concluded your tour, take US 92 to I-4 west to Orlando.
Write Your Own Review
|
|
|
From J. Richardson - October 14,2007