I found this park and boat launch while camping in the area while out exploring. At the very end of…read moreShell Harbor Road in an area known as Havana, Florida on the shores of Lake George stands this beautiful park, looking around the property it appears to be fairly new and everything is still pristine and show little signs of much use. That maybe due to the area is just beginning to develop for residential use and being it's fairly remote. There seems to be plenty of amenities for such a remote park including a very large parking area with lots of boat trailer parking, a few benches and charcoal grills, one covered picnic table and a very nice restroom facility and of course a very nice boat launch complete with a floating dock. The boat launching is located inside a protected cove and a short distance to Lake George. I was surprised to find Lake George is the second-largest freshwater lake in Florida, only world-famous Lake Okeechobee is larger and this lake covers 46,000 acres or 11 miles long by 6 miles wide. This nine-acre park provides free boat and kayak access to Lake George oddly enough airboat may not be launched from this location if you hangout long enough you may see a few alligators and at the right time of the year a few manatees, I didn't see either during my visit but did see lot of native birds but unfortunately no bald eagles...

Not really on N. Atlantic Ave, but on the beach next to N. Atlantic Ave…read more What can be better than driving on the beach and watching all of the beautiful people in their beachwear. Find a parking spot right on the beach and lay out in the fun and sun next to your car. The sand is great...it's easy to walk or play your favorite sport on. Ice cream trucks drive up and down the beach to give you your favorite product that will keep you cool.

Maybe I don't get Daytona because this isn't Spring Break '92 and I'm not a biker - but this street…read morekind of blows. The timeshare salespeople that lye in wait on the street corners are relentless whores. One one occasion in particular while we were taking a leisurely walk down N. Atlantic a red SUV swerved off the road and nearly hit us in its bid for the parking lot entrance in front of us. A woman with most teased hair and the most lined lips I've ever seen jumped out and started matching our pace. Even after we yelled "NO" in her face, didn't make eye contact, said, "there is nothing you can say or do that will make us go to your effing seminar," she chased us down the street yapping for a good ten minutes and then called us unintelligent consumers while the car that had almost killed us tailed behind. To avoid this: Tell them you're under 25, you live in Daytona, or cross the street into oncoming traffic whenever any aging barfly in a polo shirt approaches. Not that I expect much from touristy gift shops, but every ever-loving one of them had the EXACT same inventory. Even if they were right next door to each other. On a mission to purchase an intentionally lame ash tray, I dragged my poor boyfriend into every one of them hoping that one shop might have the guts to deviate - but no. If you want a Bike Week t-shirt eight months after bike week actually happened or a Rastafarian ashtray that's offensive on at least four levels - go for it. Three stars still because it was fun to plot revenge on the timeshare people and laugh at the airbrushed t-shirts.

Always a wonderful time and delicious food. This Greek Orthodox Church puts on THE event that…read moreeveryone knows about and goes to in the area. Park, if you can, across the street in the lot OR part at Our Lady of Lourdes down the street and pick up the FREE shuttle van. Either way the gyros are in front but the meals and extras are further in.

Head on over to St. Dmetrios Church this weekend for great food, music,and ouzo. Admission is free…read more Parking in lots across the street. Get their early. Go all the way on in for the best food and seating.

I used to work in Orange City, so my "go-to" escape place was the City of Deland. Recently visited…read moreagain and relived the reasons why Deland was my "got-to" place in between clients. The City of DeLand is a hipster town... and I mean that in a good way. Yeah, I know, you are not supposed to think hipster is cool, and if something is hipster, you don't call it hipster, because that would make it uncool. Right? #Idontgetit But this place is truly magical, in a hipster sort of way. Lots of local businesses with awesome services, great food and friendly people who can't wait to assist you. It's an older town that has made an effort to keep a "vintage" look that makes the whole city seem cozy, quaint and cute. I wish I could use another word instead of cute... but it IS a very cute town! Small town, but with a lot to offer.

I first visited DeLand in 2009, I came here to meet up with some business associates at the Artisan…read moreHotel Grille for dinner after flying into Orlando, I remember being less than impressed after exiting I-4 and driving downtown but that all changed after dinner as I took a walk through the downtown area noticing it's unique architecture and getting a taste of it's small town feel, by this time of the night the streets were pretty much clear of traffic and most of the business owners had long rolled up the sidewalks in front of their shops. I was somewhat surprised to see most of all the retail spaces leased which is not typical of most small town downtown areas who's heyday has long passed, this success could be contributed to the town's officials ability to constantly reinvent the town or a credit to the locals who choose to spend their money here instead of one of the neighboring communities. I spent the next year traveling to Florida on business trips and spent much of that time here in DeLand and the surrounding areas. Like most towns I frequent I spent a lot of time exploring the town and meeting new friends and dining in the restaurants as well as visiting a lot of the shops during my down time. I learned a lot of the area's history and found that most of the people that I met that called DeLand home are content and have family ties here that spans a few generations. I was presented with an opportunity to move to Florida and although I settled close to the ocean in NSB there are very few weeks that I don't drive to or through DeLand in between my frequent business trips outside the state. The 25 miles drive due west from my home via Route 44 is mostly rural so I'm able to avoid the traffic of I-4 and I-95 which is a real blessing if you've ever experienced either of these interstates during rush hour. It seems no matter where you are in DeLand you're only a few minutes from some type of green space or waters so it's unlikely you'll ever get bored here, but if you do the town's close proximity to two major highways and numerous state and county roads ensures you're never be very far from sometime fun and exciting. I do enjoy the lack of seasons here as well, although most don't, it's often hot and humid or warm and humid with lots of afternoon rain storms, although it can get quite cold here according to the Floridians who have lived here all their lives I find that utterly ridiculous and usually have to call BS when I hear them whining about being cold while wearing flip flops, so to use the most over used weather cliche "wait five minutes and it'll change" maybe I don't want it to change...

With Daytona Beach looking very dated and worn, this segmental bridge was a beautiful treat when we…read morewent to head home. I love the tile mosaics of aquatic and Florida wildlife throughout the bridge. I read that this bridge had a makeover and I highly approve. We only passed through Daytona Beach, but this bridge was the highlight of the area. I wish I could have taken pictures as we were driving by!!! This bridge was originally built in 1948 and replaced in 2001 and crosses the span of the Halifax River. There are 36 tile mosaic designs throughout the bridge and the Broadway Bridge has won awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies. Very cool!

A bridge with…read moreart The Broadway Bridge was dedicated in 2001 and is the third bridge to grace this area. It's over 3,000 feet long and crosses over the Halifax River and the Intra Coastal Waterway. A very useful bridge to be sure and allows traffic to flow from the center of Daytona to the great beaches without too much trouble. A graceful structure that just seems to fit without being intrusive. So many large bridges are closed to pedestrian traffic but this fine bridge has pleasant side walks on both sides. Allows for some fantastic views of the water, boats, buildings and even the ocean in the distance. But what really makes this bridge cool is all the mosaics of local marine life that are placed at various intervals along the structure. Some great works of art that turns this bridge into a lot more than just a way of getting over the river. If you go under the bridge you will find even more mosaics on the supports that hold up the huge roadway. Some bridges are just places for cars to go over. This wonderful bridge allows you to see great views in all directions and even some great mosaics of dolphins, manatees, sharks and sea horses. A unique and wonderful example of how to combine art with function

This is a fantastic farmer's market that just started in Port Orange. It has a limited run into…read moreJune, probably because of the heat. You can get a variety of items here from organic produce, baked goods, alpaca fur products, fair trade items and more. Plus, you can get a gourmet breakfast/brunch/lunch. There are free-range egg omlettes, waffles, organic mimosas, and cheeses. I tried the Greek omlette and it was very good. I would recommend that they have more of a fixings area and replace the Heinz regular ketchup with the organic version, since it doesn't have high fructose corn syrup. Next time I definitely want to try the waffles, they looked delicious and other people were saying how good they were. You should check it out and get a chance to pet an Alpaca.

Wonderful and Fabulous. You can nibble on yummy things to eat or have breakfast there. Plus…read more.... you see your friends there. YAY! Debbie D

While there is not much to this historic district, I always enjoy going and finding these locations…read morewhere a community started. It is hard to imagine the Florida that these early settlers new. Imagine a world with no air conditioner and an environment that's certainly was not friendly. This was the community that these brave men and women came to to start a new life. With its close proximity to the lake, I am sure that these early settlers looked at that water as a major form of transportation. There is still not a lot to do when you speak of Enterprise, Florida, but people moved here with little more than a dream and created a community. We should embrace that and honor these brave souls who came to a hostile environment looking for a better life. I am glad I came across this little part of Florida and this small street. It reminded me again to always appreciate the people who carved such a great place to live out of the desolation inhospitability of a swamp land.

What a beautiful city with a picturesque lake! My boyfriend's mother owns a home right near the…read morelake, and I really enjoyed the boat ride on the lake. It's amazing there is a canal to help cross into another lake to see other cities as well. If I didn't already have my roots in Arizona, I'd consider Eustis!