Our director of lifestyles and her staff do a fantastic job of making sure there’s always plenty for residents to do right here at Highpoint at Stonecrest — like participating in live game shows and auctions, attending live music performances and voting for their favorite entrée in a friendly battle of the chefs.
Sometimes, though, a change of scenery can be a bona fide mood-booster and satisfy the itch to get out and go.
Below are suggestions for one-day trips in Florida that older adults living in or near our community can enjoy and still make it home in time to catch their nightly quota of z’s.
#1: Visit a nearby state park.
Florida has one of the largest state park systems in the U.S., consisting of 175 state parks, trails and historic sites, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. If you’re looking for things to do near Summerfield FL, here are several state parks within about an hour’s drive:
- Blue Spring State Park on St. Johns River, where hundreds of manatees congregate during the winter
- Crystal River Preserve State Park, one of the state’s most biologically diverse estuaries
- De Leon Springs State Park, featuring birding and wildlife viewing, boat tours and the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, where you can make your own pancakes at the table
- Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, with its Wildlife Walk, Fish Bowl Underwater Observatory and Pepper Creek Birding Trail
- Silver Springs State Park, offering safari tram tours as well as glass-bottom boat tours to experience “one of America’s largest springs”
- Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, a “classic Florida destination” with a mermaid show, lots of wildlife and the country’s deepest freshwater cave system
#2: Take a friend to a baseball game.
The Grapefruit League has spring training games in more than a dozen locations throughout Florida. The closest to Highpoint is Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, roughly an hour and a half away, where the Detroit Tigers practice. If you prefer Major League Baseball, you can see the Tampa Bay Rays play in Tampa, about the same distance away.
#3: Explore history or culture at a museum or designated landmark.
Check out this eclectic mix of museums and landmark tourist attractions within easy driving distance of Summerfield:
- Appleton Museum of Art at College of Central Florida in Ocala
- Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden
- Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, featuring the world’s most comprehensive Tiffany collection
- Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, with an “unparalleled” collection of Salvador Dali’s works and The Dali Dome, offering multisensory art experiences
- Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala
- Florida Air Museum in Lakeland, with antique planes, classics, warbirds, ultra-lights and more on display, as well as educational exhibits
- Florida Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Rainforest in Gainesville, a living exhibit featuring hundreds of butterflies and birds from all over the world
- Florida Southern College Historic District, a national historic landmark in Lakeland, offering tours of the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture
- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park in Cross Creek, featuring the homestead of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Yearling”
- Stetson Mansion in DeLand — technically a landmark tourist attraction, “The House That Hats Built” dates back to 1886
#4: Learn all about elephants at Two Tails Ranch.
The only private facility of its kind, Two Tails Ranch in Williston, near Gainesville, offers tours by appointment that give you the chance to get up close and personal with elephants, including some that have been retired or rescued from circuses. If you’re feeling bold, you can feed one and even take a ride. The ranch is also home to zebras, lemurs, birds and turtles.
#5: Stroll around Mount Dora’s charming downtown district.
Nicknamed “Festival City,” Mount Dora features a walkable downtown area with waterside restaurants, antique shops, a vibrant art scene and a sizeable flea market. You can take a guided food and wine tour courtesy of Taste of Our Town Mount Dora or a pontoon boat tour on Lake Dora with Rusty Anchor Mount Dora or Premier Boat Tours.
#6: Discover a favorite new wine(ry).
Whether you’re a full-fledged oenophile or merely wine-curious, a jaunt to a local vineyard can be a delectable adventure. In addition to the Dragon Flower Winery right here in Summerfield, there are numerous other vineyards nearby:
- Island Grove Wine Co. Tasting House in Hawthorne
- Katya Vineyards in Ocala
- Lake Seneca Farms in Eustis
- Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards in Clermont
- Whispering Oaks Winery in Oxford
#7: Catch a live show at a nearby theater.
If you enjoy community theater and other live performances, you’ll be delighted to know there are many excellent venues not far from Summerfield. If you’re venturing out to a city you’ve never been to before, get there early and check out the local scene. Here are a few options:
- Athens Theatre in DeLand
- Gainesville Community Playhouse
- Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg
- Ocala Civic Theatre
- Orlando Shakes
- Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse in Mount Dora
- Valerie Theatre Cultural Center in Inverness
- The Winter Park Playhouse
#8: See the sights while on a river cruise.
Enjoy a luncheon or dinner cruise on the Barbara-Lee courtesy of St. Johns Rivership Co. or take an eco-tour on the Rainbow River and Withlacoochee River with Singing River Tours in Dunnellon. Several businesses in the surrounding cities offer airboat and charter tours, and if you feel like venturing to the Gulf Coast, Tidewater Tours in Cedar Key — about an hour and a half away — will take you on a scenic coastal tour or sunset cruise.
#9 Connect with nature at Bok Tower Gardens.
This gem of a historic landmark is situated in Lake Wales, a little over two hours away, between Tampa and Orlando. The Singing Tower at Bok Tower Gardens has one of approximately 185 carillons in all of North America. The trails within Olmstead Gardens showcase lush landscaping with splashes of seasonal color amid the greenery. Unwind on a guided tour or plan your visit to coincide with one of Bok Tower Gardens’ special events.
#10 Journey through the history of space travel.
The Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, near Cape Canaveral, is an intriguing destination for history buffs who are fascinated by space exploration. The center’s attractions and tours provide opportunities to learn about NASA’s space programs, from the earliest days all the way to missions planned for the future. The drive is slightly over two hours from Summerfield, so you’ll want to get an early start.
At the End of the Day, Come Home to Highpoint
Residents of Highpoint at Stonecrest can enjoy an abundance of things to do in Summerfield, Florida, including a variety of activities every day right here in our community. Those looking for a mini adventure can satisfy their appetite for new experiences with a day trip to dozens of destinations within an hour or two of home.
Call us at 352-549-9210 to schedule a visit and learn more about Highpoint at Stonecrest. You can also fill out our short contact form and we’ll get in touch with you promptly!
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