Looking for something out of the ordinary to do in the Bradenton/Sarasota area? While we’ve got plenty of fun things in our beautiful area, it’s always nice to take a road trip and discover new parts of this great state. Here are four ideas for day trips, just a couple hours away.
1. Lake Placid. About 2 hours away from our city, in the center of the state, you’ll find Lake Placid, known as the Town of Murals and the Caladium Capital of the World (about 95% of the world’s caladiums are grown there). Readers Digest has named Lake Placid “America’s Most Interesting Town.” The small town’s 50+ murals depict our state's and Lake Placid history, including its vibrant agricultural heritage. Just pick up the guide to the murals from the local Chamber of Commerce or from many local stores and restaurants, and start your art walk. For something different, visit Toby’s American Clown Museum and School. Find out more about Lake Placid in this article.
2. Tarpon Springs. North of Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, is known as the Sponge Diving Capital of the World because it is home to the many sponge divers who continue to work and live there. While in town, check out the various souvenir shops, where you can learn about Tarpon Spring’s sponge diving history and buy sponges from the sea. The vast majority of the sponge divers are of Greek heritage, so Tarpon Spring also has some great Greek food and markets. Discover more about Tarpon Springs here.
3. Ocala. Who knew that there was such rich and diverse horse country in our state? The Ocala area and Marion County developed farms for thoroughbred horses in the 1930s and 1940s, leading the area to become a well-known home for thoroughbreds. The area is now home to 39 Florida-bred National Champions, according to Ocala/Marion Economic Partnership. In fact, the area has more than 900 farms, breeding, and training facilities. About 29,000 residents are employed by the county’s thoroughbred industry. One way to see the horse country in Ocala is with a Farm Tour. Find more information about the tours here.
4. Lakeland. Located between Tampa and Orlando, you’ve probably driven past the exits for Lakeland along Interstate 4 and never thought about exploring it further. If you’re looking for a day-trip diversion, give Lakeland a try. The town is home to Florida Southern College, which has a large collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings that you can explore. As you can guess by the towns name, Lakeland is full of scenic lakes. Lake Morton in the downtown area is home to a number of swans, so it’s great for pictures. Circle B Bar Reserve is home to abundant wildlife, including alligators—just look it up on Instagram and you’ll find plenty of impressive nature shots. You can be the next one to post a stunning wildlife pic.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Financial Management
At Secure Aging, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in surrounding counties. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
