Central Florida Might Surprise You

Thanks to its status as a peninsula, many Florida destinations brag about their oceanfront digs as a way to entice visitors to their sandy shores. It’s hard to imagine a vacation here that wouldn’t involve swimming, boating and dining on the catch of the day, and you don’t have to give these things up just because you’re visiting the middle of the state.

It isn’t a dry, monochromatic desert here in Central Florida; rather, the lakes are crystal blue, the breeze is balmy and the list of diversions is practically endless. Going inland has its advantages, as you’ll soon find out.

Lakes are the name of the game. Lake Eustis is 30 miles from Orlando’s airport but feels like it could be in another country; an activity-filled and historic town plus a picturesque body of water begging to be explored make it a fine place to plunk yourself down in a vacation home. In other words, a Disney daytrip wouldn’t be out of the question but you’ll be set-up for plenty of peace and quiet, too.

Ocala National Forest contains several other lovely lakes, including Lake George and Lake Kerr, and fishermen will want to take advantage of Lake Istapoga, which is known for being jumping with bass.

Golf, antique hunting, happy hour festivities and hiding away in the cottage you’ve chosen for yourself are a few more options available during this trip. Up and down the heart of Florida are towns, parks and quiet places to find solace within – and yes, this is generally a convenient place to stay if you want to see what all the fuss is about over in the Orlando Region.

This broad swath of lesser-known Florida has a lot to it, so give yourself enough time to properly stray from the beaten path and discover a different view of the Sunshine State.