Sleepy Sebring Varooms Awake

by Adele Woodyard
For 60 years this sleepy Florida town has hosted a 12-hour Endurance Race for sportscars built by Audi, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and others with drivers from around the world. This year Audi won, the first time since 2009, another Audi R18 came in 2nd and Honda was third.. So what does Sebring offer visitors besides the International Raceway? An attractive, expanding town that is built around Lake Jackson, largest of several lakes that dot the area. Called “City on the Circle” it is easily reached from U.S, Hwy 27/98 or State Rd. 17 that joins 27 south of the lake.
Founded in 1912 by George Sebring, the Historic District located off 17, was based on the Circle Plan design of Heliopolis, a city in ancient Egypt. Here is where you’ll find the Lakeside Playhouse, Historic and Public Libraries, Highlands Museum of the Arts and Children’s Museum of the Highlands for ages 1-12. Rocking chairs on the broad veranda of Kennilworth Lodge at 1610 Lakeview Drive, overlook the lake. Built by founder Sebring in 1916, it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The many celebrities the lodge has hosted include Adolph Ochs, owner/publisher of the New York Times, Amelia Earhart, Paul Newman, Tom Cruise.and Debra Winger. An HCA Art and Music Gallery is housed within the lodge and along with lodge rooms, accommodations include villas, suites, efficiencies and apartments.863-385-0111. http://www.kenlodge.com
The Sebring Regional Airport started out as Hendricks Field, a WWII bomber training base. The 12-hour race began on the excess runways that turned into the International Raceway..Two events are currently listed for the site: Saturday, March 24, visitors can watch Historic T-6 and T-28 Warbirds practice universal takeoffs, landings and formation flying from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sebring Cruising Inc. presents a Thunder Car Show, where Classic cars drive the Raceway Sept. 14-16. 863-655-6444. http://www.sebring-airport.com
In nearby Highlands Hammock State Park you can hike an elevated boardwalk across a swamp or take a three-mile scenic tram ride to catch sight of birds, gators, and other wildlife. One of the first Florida state parks to be built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) during the 1930s, there’s a CCC Museum on site as well as picnic tables, a restaurant and full service campground. Park open daily, 8 a.m to sunset; Museum 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m 863-386-6094.-http://www.floridastateparks.org
For more information on Sebring, 863-385-8448; http://www sebring.org. You’ll find other small towns along Florida highways in my book, Florida “Freebies” and “Cheapies” 250 Daytrips for Lille or No Money, http://www.adelesbooksandblogs.com or look for them on these blogs. You may find a place you’d like to visit this summer and save both money and gas.

Odds and Ends

by Adele Woodyard
A good title for this blog since it will be on changes, updates, and general information. Like a new festival– on grapefruit, of all things. But first a change in monthly Bargains: what used to be on vaationfunflorida.com will now appear on the blog. Bargains that are continual, such as FREE admission to Lowry Park Zoo on your birthday (with ID of course) will remain on the site.

Safety Harbor first Grapefruit Legacy Fest began April 15 and 16 with a variety of events that included a recipe contest, kayak tours, and an original Grapefruit Line Dance. Live music, grapefruit murals, frozen grapefruit margaritas were all part of the festivities and admission was FREE. Although myths surround honoree Count Odet Philippe, this part is true. The Frenchman, and supposed surgeon in Napoleon’s service, brought grapefruit to Florida, via his Safety Harbor plantation in the 1830s. His plantation St. Helena, became Philippe Park in 1948

Kids Museums
Great Explorations in St. Petersburg has brought back the Touch Tunnel that disappeared when the hands-on museum moved about eight years ago. Kids love to be scared as they crawl through the pitch black maze. Unable to see in the darkness, they feel their way on hands and knees around corners, past obstacles and where a two-foot incline seems as if they can tumble down stairs. Once again it joins such interactive exhibits as a giant tree house to climb, become a firefighter or a veterinarian, make a pizza or build a robot. Open 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-4:30 p.m. Sun. $10 ages 2-54, $9, 55 and up. 1925 4th St. N; 727-821-8992. http://greatexplorations.org

The Children’s Museum of the Highlands, Sebring has a 16 foot Rock Wall you climb sideways among its hands-on exhibits. Said to be harder than it sounds. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues-Sat. open to 8 p.m. Thurs. $4. 219 N. Ridgewood Ave. 563-385-5437. http://www.childrensmuseumhighlands.com

The Miami Children’s Museum has a two-story sandcastle of dreams amid its 14 galleries. There’s even a police motorcycle and fire truck to ride. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; $15, $12 Florida resident. 980 MacArthur Causeway; 305-373-5437. http://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org

Have a Pet?
Get it’s face painted on a wall and help animal rescue groups at the same time. Tampapets.org started a Pup Art mural program last year with a bar and restaurant in Ybor City, with Anna Hamilton, an artist who’d already done one in Dunedin. Her mural, “Dogedin” has hundreds of dogs and cats that benefited Dunedin Doggie Rescue. Since she mostly paints to scale, donations are based on weight; e.g. a Chihuahua runs $75 while a biggie like a Labrador retriever costs $175. =”http://www.tampapets.org

Florida State Parks and the CCC

by Adele Woodyard

Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring is over 8000 acres of hardwood forest, pine flatwoods, scrub brush and marsh. You can ride a tram, bike a three-mile loop drive, or hike to remote areas for a possible glimpse of white-tailed deer, wading birds, otters, a bald eagle. Gators are a sure sight from the elevated boardwalk through a cypress swamp. A museum is open 9:30-3 p.m.. There’s a full service campground for overnighters and non-picnickers can enjoy a meal at an onsite restaurant. And on Saturday, November 6 you can have a day of fun at a special celebration of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). For more information, click on http://www.vacationfunflorida.com/bargains

During the Great Depression when one out of every four people was out of work, then. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created the “New Deal”. One of the relief projects started in 1935, was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). By the time Congress pulled the plug in June 30, 1942, a total of three million young men had planted nearly three billion trees, constructed more than 800 parks and thousands of miles of roadway nationwide. In fact the CCC was the start of most of the nation’s state parks.

In Florida, a smaller Highlands Hammock park begun by private citizens. had opened to the public in 1931. The CCC came and built additional park facilities and began a botanical garden.

“Young men 18 to 25 signed on with the CCC for a year,” Ranger Eric Reardon told me. “They were paid $25 a month, $20 or which would be sent to the family. On the train, their first meal was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk. But they were assured three meals a day, and guys often gained 10 pounds a month.”

A statue of a young corpsman stands before the museum. Dedicated to members who were “injured, disabled, or lost their lives in performance of their duty,” the plaque claims 228 alone perished in a 1935 hurricane in the Upper Keys.
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The Florida state park system was established in 1935 to take advantage of the CCC program. Other parks beside Highlands Hammock that were built in the 1930s, were Hillsborough River, Myakka River, Torreya , O’Leno, Mike Roesss Gold Head Branch and Ravine Gardens. Many of the CCC structures still stand.

At last count Florida State Parks that include historic sites, preserves, and recreation areas number 159—not counting the Skyway Fishing Pier. Entrance fee to 117 of them range from $2 per person, or $2 to $8 per vehicle holding up to 8 people. 40 of them have no admission fee at all. So pack a picnic basket and spend a family fun day in the state park nearest you. You’ll be glad you did.

Florida Fun For Little Money

by Adele Woodyard

November spells Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday (pre-Xmas shopping) and, in Florida, the month that finally beats the summer’s heat. So turn off the A/C, open the windows  and get outdoors. Some of the best places to go for no or  few bucks are city and state parks.   

Veteran’s Day, November 11, is a FREE day to hike or bike the trails, go birding or shelling on a beach, in your nearest Florida State Park. In honor of veterans and active military personnel, there will be NO entrance fees for day-use at all state parks. Can’t beat that bargain.

 No matter what the month, many parks have special events. Here are a few around the state in November:

Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring celebrates their 24^th annual CCC Festival from 9 a.m. to 4.p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) started the state park system in Florida in 1935. $6 per vehicle (up to 8 persons). 863-634-7695.

Egmont Key State Park (on the water) will have guided tours  that Discover the Island the weekend of 11/14-11/15. Shuttle boats leave Fort DeSoto on the hour beginning at 9 a.m.  $15 , kids 12 and under FREE. www.egmontkey.org.

Silver River State Park, Ocala honors Central Florida history with an annual festival weekend of 11/14-11/15.10 a.m.-4 p.m. Entry fee waived, Silver River Museum and Education Center $5 adult, under 6 FREE. 352-236-5401.

Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon presents a guided bird walk on Saturday, 11/14 from 8-10 a.m. $2. Bring binoculars and a birding book if you have them. 352-465-8555.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, N. Palm Beach celebrates Pioneer Day of Cracker Cowboy and Barefoot Mailman with music, storytelling, wood carving and more at the Nature Center. Saturday, 11/14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. 561-624-6952.

O’leno State Park, High Springs trips the light fantastic with 1800s dances to the live music of the Flying Turtle String Band. Old Time Dance, Sunday, 11/15 from 2-5 p.m. Park admission $5 per vehicle, plus $5 adult, $3 students and kids under 18 386-454-1853.

Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales offers an overnight primitive backpack jaunt with a park ranger guide. 7 miles round-trip begins around 1 p.m. Saturday, 11/21, ends ? Sunday afternoon, 11/22. $10 plus tax. Reservations required, 863-696-1112.

 Many more can be found at www.floridastateparks.org/events. For city parks, check your local Parks and Recreation Dept. sites.  For some other November BARGAINS , click on www.vacationfunflorida.com/bargains.