8 Most Charming Lake Towns in Florida
The Sunshine State is most-known for its beautiful beaches and is often synonymous with crowds. It is also bountiful with inland lakes bounded by towns to offer optimal lakeside-living and recreation galore on a getaway. These towns, whose names, even ring with charm are idyllic waterside respite from the city's bustle with unique features and attractions.
Eustis
The charming town is a suburb of Orlando, surrounded by vast landscape on the banks of the namesake lake. It offers a peaceful locale to set base and explore acres of pastures, nurseries, and a wooded nature preserve on a quick escape from the metropolitan's hustle and bustle. The community-bounded town of 25,000 residents boasts the Ferran Park with regular events, along with in-town quaint festivals and street parties throughout the year. The annual GeorgeFest is Florida's oldest festival, celebrating George Washington's birthday. There is also the Fall Festival and free car show, with Halloween costumes, pony rides, pumpkin painting, kids’ activities, and food.
The vibrant downtown along the charming Lake Eustis shore is full of antique shopping and artsy boutiques, along with great restaurants, local shops, and the Historic State Theater. The docks are lovely for sunset-watches, and strolls thoroughly enjoyed by tourists, summertime residents, and those who opt-into lakeside living, full-time. One can admire the lakefront properties with boats-ready to set-off on a fishing trip, or bob peacefully in the middle of the lake inducing relaxation within scenery. The active will enjoy hiking galore of trails, hunting, and ATVs, along with easy access to a horse property, and farm visits. Other attractions include the Eustis Historical Museum and Preservation Society, the Eustis Museum of Art, and the Trout Lake Nature Center.
Sebring
"The City on the Circle" with 10,000 residents was founded in 1912 nestled along the rolling hills, two hours from Tampa and Orlando. It offers real getaway from city's smoke and fumes with small-town appeal in the surroundings of beautiful nature, and a renowned, round historic downtown district. There is an Amtrak station for a scenic journey into town, as well as a regional airport offering quick access.
The charming town with a name-to-match is famed for the International Speedway, as well as a downtown-full of boutiques. The outdoor fans thoroughly enjoy numerous rivers, lakes, and citrus groves around, along with some of Florida's best hiking. The massive eight miles of Lake Jackson, offers year-round beach galore for water activities and relaxation. Other pursuits in-town, include visiting the leather factory for a hand-tailored piece, and playing world-class golf.
Winter Haven
The charming town-set central in the Sunshine State is known-most for LEGOLAND and the Chain of Lakes. It is great to paddle-boat through the scenic, canal-linked lakes for days, with diverse scenery around every turn. The beautiful LEGOLAND Theme Park and Florida Resort is a "built for kids" destination for entire families on a getaway. It is a real piece of art with more than 50 attractions, a water park, and theme park food. There's also the next-door historic Cypress Gardens, botanical gardens, with nature trails and sights for atmospheric, fresh-air strolls and relaxation.
One will find plenty of lakeside dining options serving fresh catch, while the scenic banks are perfect to spread-out a picnic following a day of successful fishing. Winter Haven boasts a restored and thriving downtown district with locally-owned artisan restaurants, fine-dining, and varied shopping. The streets brim with art and culture, including numerous galleries and hands-on artistic experiences, along with the historic Ritz Theatre, and the renowned Theatre Winter Haven, one of Florida's best community theaters.
DeFuniak Springs
DeFuniak Springs is an architectural paradise in small-town atmosphere, set between Pensacola and Tallahassee. Its streets-full of classic, Victorian charm are a magnet for sight-seekers on a quaint weekend getaway. The town spreads along the scenic banks of the namesake spring-fed lake that is one of the only two perfectly-circular natural lakes in the world. One can escape into nature right from the doorstep, including bountiful fresh-air activities at the beautiful Lake Stanley Park with hiking, fishing, and boat tours.
The Circle Dive Historic Centre is a treasure cove of information and resources to start exploring the splendid Victorian town on-foot. DeFuniak Springs' marvellous streets come lined with ornate, turn-of-the-century homes, along with significant attractions like one of the state's oldest libraries. It is great for atmospheric walks, jogs, and dog-walks encircling the lake for one mile with 360-degree views. The town makes it easy to feel part of the noble among the historical vibe, while its great fine-dining establishments and spas offer royal upgrade.
Clermont
Clermont spreads scenically among rolling hills with numerous pristine lakes around, just 25 miles west of Orlando. It is a growing, Lake County town, with nationally-recognized lake-centered lifestyle and a revitalized downtown set-strategically along the foothills of Lake Minneola. The town boasts a charming waterfront with trails, parks, and stunning sunsets for year-round outdoor recreation in the state's complacent weather. There is a scenic boardwalk for wistful strolls, and white-sanded beach for sunbathing and relaxation within views.
Clermont offers a quick getaway into nature with all the modern comforts, where active will enjoy canoeing and kayaking, along with championships that bring the whole town to the docks. It is a family-friendly destination for any taste with fishing piers, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a splash park. The small-town charms include the Sunday Downtown Clermont Farmer's Market and the Montrose Street shopping scene. The quiet town known for natural beauty is also a cultural hub with lively atmosphere, many free events, and festivals throughout the year.
Mount Dora
The beautiful Mount Dora is known for authentic country-style living with slow-paced streets that feel heavenly on a getaway from the city's hustle. The Central Florida town is a popular tourist destination for cozy atmosphere and antique shopping-galore. One will find estate jewellery, artwork, and many wineries to stock-up on unique find and souvenirs to bring home. The charming downtown area is laden with outdoor cafés, gourmet restaurants, and galleries for days-worth of perusing on a holiday.
The town founded in 1874 features lovely 19th-century clapboard houses, and state’s oldest, Lakeside Inn from 1883. Mount Dora boasts a prominent "Old Florida" vibe that one can also "taste" at one of the unique restaurants in-between the many B&Bs and gorgeous historic homes. The tourist destination since 1920s is home to the same quaint downtown area, lined-by large canopy trees that were just saplings back in the day. Many come to Mount Dora for the nationally-renowned festivals throughout the year, while anglers flee-in for summertime galore of fishing.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid is set along the US Route 27, just 15 miles of rolling hills and scented orange groves south of Sebring. It is home to 2,500 residents and 21,000 more in the vicinity that, enjoy 29 lakes around through best fishing and water sports. The small town of Lake Stearns was established in 1925 as a citrus operations-center thanks to one the initiators, Melvil Dewey, the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System. He also founded the Lake Placid Club in New York, and convinced the state to change the town's name to its present-day moniker. Today, Lake Placid is a renowned mecca of Florida murals that decorate almost every building in-town. It offers a free outdoor art gallery of historical and cultural depictions to enjoy on strolls, and mural guides sold at almost every shop.
There are many Mom and Pop resorts dotting shores of Lake June-In-Winter for a homey and scenic stay. One can start the day via a walk-around Lake Placid or Lake June-In-Winter, followed by an afternoon at the Lake June-In-Winter Scrub State Park for a feel of "Old Florida". The Lake Placid Historical Society Museum is housed within an original train depot with four galleries featuring local historical artifacts. Lake Placid is also home to the American Clown Museum and School that graduated some 1800 clowns, and the Henscratch Farms Winery that is just west of town.
St. Cloud
The town in Central Florida is a southern suburb of Orlando, also known as the "Soldier City", former Civil War retirement community. It is a family-friendly destination to the southern shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga for a weekend getaway with refreshing vibe and slower pace. The compact and quiet downtown is home to the scenically-historic St. Cloud Main Street with many places to enjoy hearty Southern grub. There are also several parks, regular festivals, and the Reptile World Serpentarium with 75 species of snakes as a popular activity for the kids.
The laidback streets brim with antiques, arts and crafts, restaurants, shops, and galleries. Tenth Street is home to unique storefronts, with more shopping and attractions along the aptly-name New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Florida avenues. The town with a suburban feel is surrounded by lakes, parks, and plenty green spaces for outdoor pursuits and recreation. The Lakefront Park along the banks is beloved for scenic strolls, bass fishing, boating, and camping. The Lake Runnymede Conservation Area and Peghorn Nature Park offer more camping and hiking in the wild.
These aptly-named charming towns-by-the-lakes boast big character and atmosphere that is impossible to forget on a getaway from the city. Their inland locales welcome for the most scenic imminent fall-time and holiday visits, and a summertime respite from the crowds on the Sunshine State’s coastline beaches.
