Page 58 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA
into one. The remains of the sugar cane refinery, leftover from the 1800s, is adorned with kitschy dinosaur statues throughout the park. The gardens are visually appealing, which is why many choose this site for marriage ceremonies.
Take an inland trip to the Stetson Mansion in DeLand. Built in 1886, this gorgeous Victorian mansion was the winter home of the famous milliner John B. Stetson. Tour this spectacular home and note the elaborate inlaid parquet floors and more than 10,000 original leaded glass windows.
SHOPPING
The adorable town of Stuart is ideal for browsing boutiques and dining. From beach-themed to upscale kitchen shops, it is a favorite destination for tourists and locals alike. You’re sure to find clothing, shoes, jewelry and handmade arts and crafts.
When it comes to shopping in Central East Florida, Vero Beach is the crème de la crème with ritzy boutiques and galleries on Ocean Drive. Nearby, Miracle Mile features shopping venues such as Bark Avenue (goodies for your pet) and the Vero Beach Book Center, which is one of the best independent bookstores in the state, due to its jam-packed calendar full of best-selling author signings and events.
Florida is renowned for outlet shopping and one of the best is the Vero Beach Outlets showcasing designer and brand-name shops, including Williams Sonoma and Coach.
The Avenue Viera, on the outskirts of Melbourne, is a pleasant outdoor shopping mall flanked with specialty restaurants, shops and an AMC Cinemas movie theater on palm tree-lined sidewalks. Visit all the chain store biggies such as Kohl’s, Ethan Allen and Books-A-Million.
Historic Downtown Melbourne’s main street, East New Haven, is fun-packed with eye-catching delights, boutiques and antique stores.
The tree-lined Cocoa Village is home to one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and other points of interest. In this surfers’ paradise, be sure to check out the Ron Jon Surf Shop, a Cocoa Beach landmark and the largest surf shop in the world.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach
atlanticcenterforthearts.org
Eau Gallie Arts District, Melbourne
artworksofeaugallie.org
Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers’ Market
fortpiercefarmersmarket.com
Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach
moas.org
The Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach
riversidetheatre.com
Sunrise Theatre, Fort Pierce sunrisetheatre.com Vero Beach Museum of Art vbmuseum.org
ATTRACTIONS
Andretti Thrill Park, Melbourne
andrettithrillpark.com
Brevard Zoo, Melbourne
brevardzoo.org
Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, Jensen Beach
childrensmuseumtc.org
Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Fort Pierce
heathcotebotanicalgardens.org
Marine Science Center, Ponce Inlet
marinesciencecenter.com
McKee Botanical Garden mckeegarden.org The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle
House, De Leon Springs
oldspanishsugarmill.com
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
ponceinlet.org
Richard Petty Driving Experience, Daytona Beach drivepetty.com
Salty's Water Sports saltyswatersports.com
ONE DAYTONA SHOPPING • DAYTONA BEACH CVB
BEACHES AND OUTDOOR GEMS
Hutchinson Island
floridashutchinsonisland.com
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ jonathan-dickinson-state-park
St. Johns River Eco Tours, DeBary
stjohnsriverecotours.com
Sebastian Inlet State Park
floridastateparks.org/Sebastian-Inlet
ENTERTAINMENT
PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie
pgavillage.com
Skydive Deland Inc.
skydivedeland.com
Taste of Little Italy, Port St. Lucie
tasteoflittleitaly.net
ROAD TRIPS
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
fws.gov/refuge/archie_carr
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, Port Orange
dunlawtonsugarmillgardens.org
House of Refuge, Stuart
hsmc-fl.com/house-of-refuge
Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, Titusville
valiantaircommand.com
SHOPPING
ONE DAYTONA
onedaytona.com
Tanger Outlets, Daytona Beach
tangeroutlet.com/daytona
Vero Beach Outlets
verobeachoutlets.com
56 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA
FEATURED LINKS