Lost Bear Club is a mural painted by artist Terry Smith in downtown Lake Placid. This mural is one…read moreof fifty-one large murals on the side of buildings throughout downtown Lake Placid. Bob and Harriet Porter got the idea for the Lake Placid murals in the early 1990's during an motorcycle trip to Alaska. The couple made a chance stop in Chemainus, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Inspired by the towns collection of mural they decided to try and recreate murals on the buildings to draw tourists to the town to revitalize the economic downturn. The couple founded the Lake Placid Mural Society in 1992. Artist Terry Smith was born in Atlanta and grew up in the nature of central Georgia which inspired his creativity. As a young man he enjoyed sketching and drawing his surroundings and painting with acrylics and oils. After a career in the airline industry which saw him move to Florida in 1979, he returned to art full time in 1999. Favorite subjects included wildlife, especially birds and large cats. He has said "My goal is to paint as much of "The Real Florida" as I can. Future generations need to see what has been and is being lost. There is a need to encourage others to speak up to protect our most valuable treasure. Many things in life can be replaced or rebuilt, but not our greatest possession. It is my hope that by recording the natural Florida now, people will realize the importance of saving Florida's natural resources, to avoid being left with just memories." Well said Terry, I could not agree more. Terry Smith's art work have been exhibited in shows, museums, and galleries throughout Florida and the Southeast. He has completed one hundred foot murals in Florida, Georgia, Michigan and South Carolina. He is a current member of the Florida Watercolor Society. He is also a past member of the Florida Miniature Society and a Charter Member of the Association of Habitat Artist. The inspiration for this mural came from a time in history when the territory around Lake Istokpoga and south along the western edge of the sand hills was the perfect haven for bears to raise their young. The area was rich in food and there was always plenty to eat for bears. When settlers moved into the area with cattle and hogs they hunted the bears to protect their livestock. The pioneers ate the bear meat and used the grease for cooking. Sometimes a mother bear was killed leaving the cub orphaned and sometimes the pioneers tamed them and kept them as pets. This mural was painted on the side of Tony's Barber Shop and was completed on March 6, 1997. As someone who loves nature I was instantly drawn to the subject of this mural, a mother bear looking for her cub. The lost cub in this mural symbolizes Florida's lost habitat. It is up to the residents and visitors to Lake Placid to preserve what is left of the natural habitat. This mural is really unique because it has sound. If you stand in front of the mural you an hear the mother bear call for her cub. The Lost Bear Cub mural can best be viewed from John's Park. Fun fact, some of the murals have companion garbage cans. This mural has a garbage can with a bear and his honeycomb peeking up from the back.

This is another of my favorite murals in Lake Placid. You can find it facing into Journal Plaza on…read morethe wall of Olde Friends Gallery & Gifts. This is one of fifty-one large murals on the side of buildings throughout downtown Lake Placid. Bob and Harriet Porter got the idea for the Lake Placid murals in the early 1990's during an motorcycle trip to Alaska. The couple made a chance stop in Chemainus, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Inspired by the towns collection of mural they decided to try and recreate murals on the buildings to draw tourists to the town to revitalize the economic downturn. The couple founded the Lake Placid Mural Society in 1992. Having visited Fort Myers a few times I instantly recognized the three titans who are featured in this mural painted by Keith Goodson and completed on July 25, 2005. Florida artist Keith Goodson has been a professional artist since 1994. His artwork features Christian themes, nature, and history. He does murals, portraits, and illustrations. He uses his art to express his faith and to spiritually connect with the viewer. This mural tells the story of how Swain Bowers once rescued Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. In 1927 Swain Bowers opened Lake Placid Motor Co.. That same year Edison, Ford, and Firestone who lived in Ft. Myers decided to take a road trip through Highlands County to look for goldenrod as a potential source of rubber. During the trip, the three friends got their Model T stuck in the sand of a primitive road near Lake Annie. Swain Bowers was called to rescue them with his truck and he brought chains to pull them out. To his amazement he found out that he had helped three of the most famous men of the time. Swain Bowers was a respected member of the Lake Placid community for his willingness to always lend a hand. He and his wife Frances were members of many civic organizations. He served for 12 years as Lake Placid School Board trustee and was a member of L.P. Chamber of Commerce, the Cattlemen Association, and National Auto Dealers Association.

Lake Placid was originally known as Lake Stearns, named after Marcellus Stearns (1839-1891), the…read morefederal Government Surveyor General and the 11th Governor of Florida (1874-1877). In 1927, Dr. Melvil Dewey, the creator of the Dewey Decimal System, visited the area and saw its resemblance to Lake Placid, New York. He successfully campaigned to rename the town Lake Placid, envisioning it as a resort destination. Today, Lake Placid is known as the "Town of Murals" and the "Caladium Capital of the World" with four dozen murals decorating its streets and producing 98% of the world's caladium bulbs. It was even named "America's Most Interesting Town" by Reader's Digest in 2013. And if like me, you didn't know what a Caladium is, it's a tropical plant that is native to South America but thrives in warm, humid climates. The lovely town includes some local restaurants, local coffee shops, plenty of parking and friendly folks. It's an easy walk to find the murals but be sure you bring plenty of sunscreen and bug repellent. I had a great visit to Lake Placid and might return one day. [Review 452 of 2025 - 2095 in Florida - 24014 overall]

The Town of Lake Placid is a small town (about 2,500 people) that's famous for having 47 large…read moremurals painted on walls around town. The town sells a guide (just a buck or two) to help you find the murals and includes details about each mural and its artist. We spent a fun afternoon tracking down as many murals as we could find. My BIL and SIL actually went back the following weekend to finish tracking down the rest of the murals. It's a great little town to visit and to spend an afternoon. We also found a great pet-friendly restaurant (pets allowed on the front porch/deck area. Great place to visit.

This is my fourth time to this track and it looks like they've done a lot of improvements to the…read moretrack or the facilities around the track. I remember the first time I came to the track. It was pretty dirty and it seemed like the bathrooms were really unkept, but I noticed this time they had people at every single bathroom keeping them clean every time I went to the bathroom, it was super clean now Road Atlanta needs to catch up with them. I like the new bridge crossovers that let you get to the paddocks and over the track. The shuttles have been great for people who don't feel like walking and especially when my knees needed a break from the stairs. Temporary signs were everywhere and the free parking for those whom didn't purchase or have an inside parking sure is nice as it helps it brings a bigger crowd to the races and helps promote and keep the sport popular. I did get to park inside with my four day pass and that was really nice to not have to buy it separately but also the free parking wasn't super far either. The weather has been great so far and the track staff have kept the track clean and so far it's been a fun event. I'll update after the race with any post race feedback. I finally found the free program with the map of the track layout and the shuttle stops have a track map also. This has been super helpful. At Daytona they had either ran out or didn't have maps and it was challenging and frustrating. They need to add temporary track maps to their shuttle stops like Sebring. I also like how the shuttle staff were familiar with the stops and helped navigate when and where to get off based on where you were wanting to go, something the staff at Daytona definitely had no clue about and their lines were long and fans were frustrated not knowing where to go or if they were even getting on the correct shuttles.

Sebring International Raceway is a true race track holding all sorts of motorsport races including…read morethe Mobil 1 Twelve Hour. As the first race here was held in 1950, it's one of the oldest continuously operating tracks in the United States. I came here to see the two days of Porsche racing with only Porches involved in the races. I ended up staying at the Sebring International Raceway Hotel also known as Seven Sebring Raceway Hotel in room 417 which is located right on the race track with a balcony overlooking its famous hairpin turn. The room I had was great. It was clean, well-furnished and with the best race track view anyone could ask for. Then, with its Apex bar and restaurant facilities a total of Yelp 5 plus stars.

Train Depot is a mural painted by artists and father and son, Dan and Peter Sawatzky in downtown…read moreLake Placid. The mural was completed on November 25, 1995. This mural is one of fifty-one large murals on the side of buildings throughout downtown Lake Placid. Bob and Harriet Porter got the idea for the Lake Placid murals in the early 1990's during an motorcycle trip to Alaska. The couple made a chance stop in Chemainus, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Inspired by the towns collection of mural they decided to try and recreate murals on the buildings to draw tourists to the town to revitalize the economic downturn. The couple founded the Lake Placid Mural Society in 1992. You can find this mural in front of the Historical Society Train Depot Museum. I love how this mural connects to the history of Lake Placid and more specifically to the train depot. The railroad was important to helping Florida and Lake Placid to grow by bringing tourists and supplies. This Atlantic Coastline depot was built in 1926. Today South Central Florida Express freight trains pass through Lake Placid along with occasional visits from the restored Sugar Express No. 148, a restored steam locomotive from 1920. The depot is now home to the Lake Placid Historical Society. In 1993, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places and became the area's historical museum. A cool fact about this mural is that artists Dan and Peter Sawatsky are from Chemainus, B.C., the town that originally inspired the Lake Placid Mural Project. Dan was largely self taught before he began pursuing mural painting as a full time business. He works in a pen and ink and egg tempera style on paper that he uses as a template for the mural. His son Peter was only 15 when he assisted on his first mural in 1991. This mural features an oncoming engine that bears down on you as you walk past. At one time the mural had sound but that feature is no longer working. I love all of the murals throughout Lake Placid but this is one of my favorites.

Town of Murals How it all Began is one of fifty-one large murals on the side of buildings…read morethroughout downtown Lake Placid. Bob and Harriet Porter got the idea for the Lake Placid murals in the early 1990's during an motorcycle trip to Alaska. The couple made a chance stop in Chemainus, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Inspired by the towns collection of mural they decided to try and recreate murals on the buildings to draw tourists to the town to revitalize the economic downturn. The couple founded the Lake Placid Mural Society in 1992. What is really cool about Town of Murals How it all Began is that it tells the story of how the Lake Placid Mural Society came to be. Harriet and Porter are featured at the top of the mural. Since its inception the society has placed 142 pieces of artwork in town, including over 33,000 sq. ft. of murals. The murals have increased tourism which has had a positive economic impact on the town. The first mural painted was by Thomas Freeman on the side of the Caladium Arts and Crafts Cooperative, also a new business started by Bob and Harriet. This mural was sponsored by Friends of the Porters, as a surprise and thank you for their 20 years of service to the community of Lake Placid. You can find Town of Murals How it all Began on the side of the Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce. It was painted by artist Keith Goodson who also painted another mural I love, Stuck in Time which tell the story of when Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone visited Lake Placid and had to be rescued when their Model T got stuck in sand. Florida artist Keith Goodson has been a professional artist since 1994. His artwork features Christian themes, nature, and history. He does murals, portraits, and illustrations. He uses his art to express his faith and to spiritually connect with the viewer.

I can't believe I missed reviewing this place! Several years ago, I moved down to Florida to take…read morecare of my elderly mother. About once a month she would decree she wanted to play Bingo so off we went to this joint with the dutiful son pushing the wheelchair! Arriving- They are on Main Street in a tiny plaza 200 yards off US 27 North. On popular days attendees monopolize all the parking places much to the dismay of the neighboring pizza place! On those days, parking can be a challenge! They are open most every day. Ambience- Wild and crazy, mostly elderly folks having a great time and occasionally screaming BINGO like they just won a new lease on life. A sprinkling of sons and daughters like me looking like they'd rather be sent to the 7th level of hell or maybe they were there already! They don't call it a Bingo Hall for nothing because it's just a big room with tables and chairs and of course the caller's station. There is a kitchen with food, mostly fried, and drinks available for purchase. It's strictly non-smoking and every so often they call a smoke break where the addicted stagger outside for their fix. Cost- It's hard to tell. It's like a casino. There are all kinds of different Bingo games, single and multiple jackpots, progressive games, games with crazy rules etc. I'd make sure my mother had $25 cash in her purse, and she could play for hours and have the occasional drink and snack without taking out a 2nd mortgage! Customer Service- Sometimes the elderly need a little help, especially the games with non-standard rules. These folks were wonderful! It is what it is. Some people will yell that it's gambling and treat it like it's an illegal drug, but I say it's a wonderful diversion for folks that are finishing up their life. Sadly, my mother passed away but wherever she is, maybe there is a Bingo Hall!

Great place to play bingo for an afternoon or evening. They play paper and have computer machines…read more We played both, being from Lakeland, didn't want to drive home at night so played the matinee game on Sunday. We had fun, won a little, great people. If we were to go again we'd go for the evening game. I think they are closed on Monday, but open rest of week with matinee on Wednesday and Sunday.

I have wanted to go to this yard sale event along the Scenic Highway for a few years now but it is…read morequite a distance from where I live. It required the commitment of leaving my house at 5 AM to make it to the first stop closest to me, Frostproof by 8 AM. This was the year I finally made it. The sale is always held the first Saturday in November and attracts thousands of people. It takes place from 8Am to 3 PM. The sale is sponsored by Ridge Scenic Highway Corridor, Corridor Management Entity, City of Lake Wales, Frostproof Chamber of Commerce, Lake Wales Woman's Club, Lake of the Hills Community Club, Town of Lake Hamilton, Dundee Methodist Church, and the City of Frostproof. These civic, religious, and non profit groups have been working together since 2007 to promote tourism along the Lake Wales Ridge. While you shop at the sale you can also dine at local restaurants and shop at businesses. While I pretty much stuck to the sale it was hard not to get sidetracked by some of the places I have always wanted to visit. I got to visit a few on this trip in addition to reaching each of the official sale stops. The sale runs along the Lake Wales Ridge and extends 38.7 miles from its intersection with US 27 S of Frostproof to where it intersects with US 17/92 in Haines City. There are five official locations for the sale. These are downtown Frostproof, Lake Wales at the Woman's Club, Lake of the Hills at the Community Clubhouse, Dundee at the Methodist Church, and Lake Hamilton at the Town Hall grounds. In between the official stops are many other unofficial sales. It would be impossible to stop at every sale in one day. Along the route are a number of cultural and historical sites along with lakes, natural areas, citrus groves, and unique Florida attractions. The first stop in Frostproof was the perfect way to start the sale. I loved shopping among the historic buildings of Frostproof. I got coffee with Mr. Chris in a historic train depot and visited the friendly folks at the Chamber of Commerce. I love how this sale introduced me to the beautiful Lake Wales Ridge. There is still so much more I want to explore.