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

I was surprised how large downtown Sanford is. You could walk it but I would recommend driving if…read morepossible. If you are on foot I recommend starting at 1st street. One of the things I really love is that parking is free. I found a large lot on 1st Street that had plenty of spaces but there is also parking on the street too. Another thing I really enjoyed about the downtown area was all of the public art. I started at the beautiful Sanford Fire Department 150th Celebratory Mural and then made my way through downtown along the sculpture walk. In addition to the great art, downtown Sanford has a variety of breweries, coffee houses, cafes, and restaurants to satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst. Not sure where to go? Stop in at the Sanford Welcome Center in the historic post office for friendly suggestions. Hollerbach's German Restaurant is always a popular choice as is The Station, a casual bar and restaurant located in Sanford's first fire station and The Old Jailhouse Kitchen & Spirits. There is also shopping in a number of charming galleries and antique, gift, clothing, and book shops. Don't miss Magpie's General Store and Hollerbach's Outfitters for unique shopping experiences. I only had a short time to spend in downtown Sanford but I could have easily spent the whole day. There is so much to explore and sample. I love the historic architecture and welcoming vibe. This may have been my first visit but definitely not my last.

Downtown Sanford is a hidden gem. There is so much to do…read morebut also a wonderful place to unwind and watch amazing sunsets from the marina. There are so many local shops, restaurants, breweries and even a food hall to visit so come hungry ! The St.Johns River Boat Cruise is also a fun thing to do with family and friends , make sure to book your tickets online as they have a ton of new themed cruises coming up for spring and summer. What I love about downtown Sanford is the parking is free and easy unlike hectic downtown orlando. Plus it's a lot quieter. Sanford has so many gems , it's definitely worth coming too.

Historic Cocoa Village is a fantastic place to spend a wonderful day and evening for everyone in…read morethe entire family. At Cocoa Village they have several places to shop and also several places enjoy a nice meal. They have a lovely park, collectors shops, and antique shops, coffee shops and ice cream parlors. At times they have live music playing at Cocoa Village, and you can even enjoy a nice rooftop dinner with a view of the water here at Ryan's Village Pizza & Pub.

If you're visiting the cape, this area is a must. They have a lot of quaint antique shops, a…read morebeautiful park on the water, tons of mom and pop restaurants. We spent the day bar hoping on foot and even got tattoos. Such a nice/safe area for a day date.

This is a very cool area. Tons of shops and cool restaurants! There is a Sephora and Free People to…read morename two of the many shops they have. We dined at Summer House and it was fantastic. You're right by water so you can sit out on a patio and chill. Teen heaven. I was told it's pretty much downtown Disney? Parking is interesting and packed but there are free parks and paid parking you choose.

Welcome to The Landing, the part of Disney Springs that looks like Imagineering dropped an entire…read morecoastal town into Orlando and said, "Here, drink more, shop more, and pretend this lagoon is the ocean." Built on the bones of the late, great Pleasure Island (RIP Adventurers Club, you glorious fever dream), The Landing is Disney's upscale answer to "what if Downtown Disney grew up, bought a blazer, and started ordering craft cocktails instead of yard-long margaritas?" The architecture here is stunning -- faux-seaside warehouses, retro boat docks, and a marina vibe that feels like a stage set designed for your Instagram. Disney says it's themed to "a fictional waterfront town with a rich history." Translation: it's so polished and curated that if you sneezed too hard, the paint might chip off and reveal 1990s Pleasure Island neon underneath. The good stuff? This is where the heavy hitters live: * Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar -- Imagine Indiana Jones had a drinking buddy who hoarded props, then opened a bar. Over-the-top theming, cheeky cocktails, and a guarantee you'll leave saying, "One more round won't hurt." * The Boathouse -- Fancy seafood, retro boats, and those iconic Amphicars that let rich people drive into the water like they're James Bond on vacation. * Wine Bar George -- Proof that wine isn't just for EPCOT festivals. George Miliotes runs a temple of vino here, and yes, you can order a $10 taste or a $300 bottle. Your choice, peasant. * Raglan Road spillover effect -- Sure, technically it's in the "Village" section, but at night the Irish energy oozes over here like Guinness-fueled pixie dust. "Oh, The Landing? You mean the place where Disney charges $18 for a cocktail and you pretend you're classy because the coaster has a backstory?" And he's not wrong. But you know what? It's still one of the most atmospheric, fun, and adult-friendly corners of Disney World. At night, The Landing comes alive with lights reflecting off the water, music in the air, and just enough Disney magic to make you forget you're basically in a mall. It's free to wander, beautiful to look at, and loaded with spots to eat and drink yourself silly. So yes, I miss Pleasure Island. I miss the chaos. But The Landing proves Disney can reinvent without totally killing the vibe. It's polished, it's pricey, and it's perfect.

Love the park but the sprinklers came on just about noon time…read moreWish they would reset it too turn on when no one is there My mom is in her 70s and got soaked for our mile walk home

5 Stars for one of Orlando's most beloved Main Streets (National award-winning, in fact) that marks…read morethe convergence of Downtown Orlando, Winter Park, and Baldwin Park. Audubon Park is the perfect buffer between Mills 50 (rough around the edges and legit) and Baldwin Park (highly-planned and bougie). It's your granola-making, Birkenstock-clad aunt. You know, the one with the long tunics and butterfly garden, who also keeps beer and kombucha batches brewing at all times. What differentiates this Main Street to the point that it won a National Main Street Award a few years back as America's best Main Street? I'd say it's all about the people and businesses. It's certainly not about the looks. But what this Main Street lacks in curbside appeal (looking at you, Virginia Drive), it makes up for in best-of level businesses. I'm talking best beer bar in the country (or at least known among the best-- Redlight Redlight), best local farmers market (big ups, Monday night Audubon Park Market), best sushi in Central Florida (Kadence, not to be missed), best homemade ice cream (Kelly's), best record shop in town (Park Ave CDs), best indoor market (East End Market), best quintessentially hipster coffee shop in that the baristas will shoot you dirty looks while serving you chai and a salad (Stardust Cafe), etc. I could seriously go on and on about the incredible spots in this little 'hood. Suffice to say, it ain't much to look at, but you're going to want to spend a Saturday hopping from biz to biz for the most epic day date ever.

So many cool choices of bars, restaurants, and local shops here in the Milk District! Lots of local…read moreflavors to indulge in and there is something for everyone. Divey bars to upscale cocktail restaurants. Otto's has a great happy hour, as does Milk House! Black Magic pizza is one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Need to try the Pho place next!! Classic Orlando neighborhood named after the TG Lee milk plant off bumby and Robinson! Come on over to the Milk District!

Today I had the pleasure of browsing around the milk mart for their holiday soirée, they have these…read moreevery now and again I did it go to one already around the Halloween time called their spooky soirée. So what the milk mart Consists of is a bunch of vendors and a bunch of local handmade gifts and what not. There were a couple ones that I recognized like fat ash bakes and there is a local girl that does magnets for the mills district she was there as well. However I think my favorite shop of the whole afternoon was a little booth called the shop of many things most of their art was either spooky or Christmasy they also had a whole collection of DND snails which I thought were absolutely adorable. They did have stickers for three dollars and he told me if I bought three stickers that the fourth one would be free so I thought that was really neat. I had a really great time today at the milk bar and saw all the vendors I only stayed for a couple of hours; but if you do you want to attend one of these in the future I definitely recommend coming at least an hour and a half early so you can find a spot to park- I had to park all the way over by colonial plaza near sprouts so it was about three blocks out. 10/10 Recommend the Milk District

If I could give zero stars I would! The point of "dining in the dark" is to enhance your taste…read morebuds... why enhance your tastebuds if there is no flavor in the food????? It was cold and just not good. Especially for the amount of money. Let me save you the trip. Don't go.

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous benefit! This was so much more than just a dinner benefitting a great…read morecause- The dinner itself helped highlight the plight of those without sight, and formed a perfect metaphor for society's 'blindness' to hunger in our cities. Lighthouse Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida came together to put on the dinner, which was at the SH of CFL headquarters. We were first led into an enormous food storage facility for a cocktail hour with a musician singing softly and passed hors d'oeuvre. The anticipation was building with everyone nervously chatting about how some people get anxious and claustrophobic in the dark. But as soon as the Orlando SWAT fellas entered the room and started posing for pictures and mingling all of the nerves left the room and were replaced by giddy ladies (myself included) and laughter. Finally, it was time to line up in our table groups to conga-line into the dark dining room. Alas, I was not lucky enough to be second in the conga-line behind our SWAT gentleman... The room was pitch black- like so black that I couldn't tell the difference between having my eyes open and closed. Eventually, my eyes adjusted a bit and I could see a dim glow of something identifying where the center of our table was. As the dishes came out I realized that utensils were futile. That's right- the SWAT guys, with their night vision, got a great view of me shoveling mashed potatoes into my face with my fingers. And you know what? I was A-OK with that! We were all in the same boat at our table and it led to some great conversations and some new friends! The woman next to me let me know that she is pretty shy and this gave her the confidence to talk to strangers and make friends. In the end, the dinner really highlighted how different life would be without our sense of vision, and it did it in an amazing experiential way. I was a total mess without my vision and I really appreciated it when the lights were turned on at the end. Lighthouse has found a really powerful tool in their awareness arsenal. I would highly recommend this event to others and am now very interested in seeing how I can help both of these fabulous orgs - so, mission accomplished!

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...