“Once you’re alone and life’s making you lonely you may all the time go (sing with me) DOWNTOWN,” or so croons Patula Clark in her 1964 hit. Sadly, within the years that adopted the songs’ recognition many downtown areas throughout our state and nation cleared out and shuttered, leaving solely shells of former glam and buying splendor. Fortunately, over the past decade or so, Principal Streets close to and much are experiencing a renaissance of kinds. Savvy residents of the Sunshine State have stepped in to renovate, elevate, and breathe new life into many authentic historic city facilities. Right now, Florida is full of vibrant downtown areas lined with historic buildings, commerce, and thriving foot visitors. All the time a sucker for a highway journey, a delish meal, and a buying tour, Jax Maggie hit the highway to find and rejoice three of our favourite downtowns. Our picks replicate an eclectic mixture of regionally owned boutiques, vintage outlets, eating places, micro-breweries, farmers’ markets, artwork installations, and water views.
Sanford
Distance from Jax: 2 hours
Store: Magpies Trendy Common Retailer is a self-described “eco-chic, candy, and snarky” boutique full of an ever-changing rigorously cultivated assortment of clothes and items.
Dine: Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café, an unexpectedly scrumptious German beer backyard, serves genuine fare together with, schnitzels, sausages, and pretzels. There’s additionally the Previous Jailhouse Kitchen & Spirits, a restaurant and bar inside a former county lockup. Attempt the buttermilk fried hen with smoked gouda mac and cheese.
Sip: At Celery Metropolis Craft, patrons peruse the 51 beers on faucet and luxuriate in stay music on the lovable patio or indoors.
Farmers & Artwork Market: Each Saturday, from 9 AM to 2 PM
Murals: Sure, Greater than 50 dot the downtown district.
Water Adjoining: Sure
Mount Dora
Distance from Jax: 2 hours
Store: The Salty Mare provides lovely coastal impressed house décor and clothes.
Dine: The Goblin Market is the place one can nosh on an elevated menu or sip a signature cocktail in a bespoke book-lined house.
Sip: Eden Abbey Brewing Group is a family-owned micro-brewery that gives consolation meals & stay music and, after all, pints and pints of chilly beer. You may also go for a cocktail at Tremain’s Tavern, positioned within the grand foyer of the historic Lakeside Inn.
Farmers & Artwork Market: Saturdays and Sundays, 11 AM-2 PM
Murals: Many could be discovered all through the city.
Water Adjoining: Sure
St. Pete
Distance from Jax: 3 ½ hours
Store: So many choices, so little time. Whereas Maggie might spend days in St. Pete’s many fab boutiques, we’d be remiss to not herald Tombolo Books. An area gem that gives a novel curated bookstore expertise good for essentially the most discerning bibliophile.
Dine: Bonu Taverna Italia serves a contemporary hip tackle handcrafted pasta, wood-fired p
izza and craft cocktails. Don’t miss the “Instagramable” Aperol Spritz cart out entrance and deal with your self to an ideal refreshing glass of the divine orange stuff.
Sip: SP, usually known as “The Gulp Coast” as a result of metropolis’s tremendous fashionable beer path, provides many (at least 17) chill craft and micro-breweries to go to. Our favourite is the Inexperienced Bench Brewing Co. present in an historic house that housed a Chrysler dealership courting again to the early 1900s. Ensure you have the Sunshine Metropolis IPA. The juicy citrus mix is superb.
Farmers & Artwork Market: Each Saturday (rain or shine) and boasts 50-plus distributors and sometimes has stay music.
Murals: Sure, the town is full of them. Weekly strolling excursions are provided if you want to see some.
Water Adjoining: Sure
We’re the lucky individuals who have the privilege of calling the Sunshine State house. Whereas many People write us off as a vacationer mecca overrun with cheesy memento outlets, spring break shenanigans, alligator stuffed swamps or characters just like the idiotic “Florida Man,” we all know the true secret. We’re a superbly numerous state that celebrates the outdated whereas all the time striving to innovate and develop in fantastic methods. All you should do is hop off the freeway to search out the “actual” Florida. , Petula Clark was completely proper, you actually can overlook your entire worries and cares downtown. Get out and discover a Florida fundamental road quickly.
— Maggie