Scenic Drive through Northern Florida

[LadyBeBop]

We're driving to Orlando next month. We'll probably spend Saturday night in Valdosta, GA, leaving us with a 3 1/2 hour drive the following day if we keep to the expressway. Our check-in time at Orange Lake isn't until 4 PM, so we don't want to get there early.

We're thinking about taking the back roads into our destination. Are there any attractions we could consider along the way that wouldn't take too much time? We've done Silver Springs about 10 years ago.

As always, thanks in advance.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

There aren't a whole lot of options.

You could get off the interstate at Gainesville and head to Lake Alice at the University of Florida campus. If it's a sunny day, you'll see dozens of alligators sunning along the shore, just a dozen feet from the road you're driving on.

From there you can head to Cross Creek, home of the Yearling Restaurant and the home of Marjorie Kinan Rawlings. This would be an interesting stop for lunch with some genuine Florida Cracker country cooking.
http://www.yearlingrestaurant.net/

From there take the US441 to US 27 routing south to Kissimmee via Ocala and Leesburg. It's not that scenic but will kill a bit more time verus the expressway. If you're into wine, there is a vineyard called Lakeridge along US27 between the Turnpike and Clermont.

Sorry....that's all I could think of.

BobK/Orlando