Page 82 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

SEBRING

Choose

your own

vacation speed

BY STEVE WINSTON

PADDLEBOARDING • VISIT SEBRING

ebring is known for its famous OUTDOOR DELIGHTS
speedway. Yet, when people visit, With nearly 100 freshwater lakes, the Sebring
S they’re often amazed to find so much area is a great place to enjoy water sports and
more, including beautiful peace and quiet recreation activities such as kayaking, paddle-
for those seeking relaxation. In fact, Sebring boarding, waterskiing, boating and more. And
and the surrounding areas of Avon Park and the 27,000-acre Lake Istokpoga is renowned
Lake Placid, bill their multi-faceted vacation as one of the top trophy bass fishing lakes in
opportunities as “Choose Your Speed.” the Southeast U.S.
Here, you’ll find something to suit every Tee off at one of several courses on the
pace, whether it’s lounging on a dock and “Citrus Golf Trail,” where the prices are low,
watching the sun set or witnessing some of the MAXWELL GROVES • VISIT SEBRING the courses are challenging, and natural
most exciting auto endurance racing on Earth. beauty surrounds you. In fact, many courses
Raceway. Known for its rough surface, it’s sit in the middle of orange groves, where, in
SEE AND DO America’s oldest endurance race track and season, the sweet smell of blossoms in
Although the population of the City of considered the birthplace of American bloom permeates the air.
Sebring is only about 10,500, once a year endurance racing. Request a free Visit Sebring Travel
this beautiful, slow-paced little town The nearby town of Lake Placid is called Guide at: VisitSebring.com or by calling
becomes the center of the auto endurance “The Caladium Capital of the World,” after the (800) 545-6021.
racing world, hosting the internationally fields of the beautiful plants in bloom here,
acclaimed 12 Hours of Sebring endurance especially in late summer and early fall. Every FEATURED LINKS
race at the renowned Sebring International July, a Caladium Festival features food,
entertainment, arts and crafts for sale, and
Visit Sebring (including Avon Park &
tours of the caladium fields. Lake Placid is Lake Placid): VisitSebring.com
INSIDER’S TIP also known for its interesting history and Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the
Performing Arts: SFSCArts.org
nearly 50 colorful outdoor murals. Purchase
Citrus Golf Trail: SebringCitrusGolfTrail.com
Sugar Sand Distillery is Florida’s only estate- a mural tour book (US$3) at the Lake Placid Lake Placid Murals: muralsoflakeplacid.com
grown sugar cane farm distillery. Combin- Chamber to begin your walking tour and see Maxwell Groves:
facebook.com/MaxwellGrovesAP/
ing the owner’s love of farming with their if you can find the hidden item in each mural.
Sebring International Raceway:
desire to produce handcrafted spirits, this For more entertainment, the Highlands SebringRaceway.com
true farm-to-bottle operation produces Little Theatre in Downtown Sebring provides Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works:
facebook.com/SebringSoda
rum, whisky, vodka and moonshine and is local entertainment while the Alan Jay
Sebring Soda Festival: SebringSodaFest.com
open for tastings from 11AM to 6PM from Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts in Sugar Sand Distillery: SugarSandDistillery.com
Wednesday through Sunday. Avon Park hosts world-class performances.

80 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA