Guidebook for Avon Park
Food Scene
I'm obsessed with this place because they have something for everything (vegan to beef, all delicious). Particularly I am addicted to their garden boring (sounds boring, tastes like the most decadent junk food) and Buddha Bowl, as well as the Korean Ribs. Great for lunch or dinner, or go for Wine-Down Wednesdays- $5 organic wine and tapas from 4-6 pm. Also, it really is a garden- if the weather at all permits, sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous plants and details.
ALSO: Nightlife. Stays open late-ish on weekends, has some really good wines and beers and - what? - a cigar bar in the back. Seriously charming atmosphere- sit outside in the quietly breathing greenery and drink some really
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Faded Bistro & Beer Garden
420 N Ridgewood DrI'm obsessed with this place because they have something for everything (vegan to beef, all delicious). Particularly I am addicted to their garden boring (sounds boring, tastes like the most decadent junk food) and Buddha Bowl, as well as the Korean Ribs. Great for lunch or dinner, or go for Wine-Down Wednesdays- $5 organic wine and tapas from 4-6 pm. Also, it really is a garden- if the weather at all permits, sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous plants and details.
ALSO: Nightlife. Stays open late-ish on weekends, has some really good wines and beers and - what? - a cigar bar in the back. Seriously charming atmosphere- sit outside in the quietly breathing greenery and drink some really
Yum! Serious stand-up Mexican food. Order in Spanish if you can. There is a crazy lunchtime rush here, so go early for lunch or try to slide in between lunch and dinner if you don't want to wait. Or browse the Mexican groceries and extensive Piñata collection on the left side of the store while you wait for your order. Crazy amounts of salad, cilantro, salsa and lime available, buffet-style, to pile onto your tacos or whatever delicacy you choose.
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Taqueria Merlo
1004 W Main StYum! Serious stand-up Mexican food. Order in Spanish if you can. There is a crazy lunchtime rush here, so go early for lunch or try to slide in between lunch and dinner if you don't want to wait. Or browse the Mexican groceries and extensive Piñata collection on the left side of the store while you wait for your order. Crazy amounts of salad, cilantro, salsa and lime available, buffet-style, to pile onto your tacos or whatever delicacy you choose.
It's SOUTHERN! And it closes at 2 pm! Really good bfast and lunch. Serious classics like turnip or collard greens, well done. Also something called a gold spike taco salad- fear! But yummy! Grilled cheese sandwiches, daily specials, succotash, sweet waitstaff. But best of all, if you should so desire, you can have chicken salad, tons of fresh fruit, cottage cheese and jello, all on your plate at one time.
Depot Restaurant & Catering
21 W Main StIt's SOUTHERN! And it closes at 2 pm! Really good bfast and lunch. Serious classics like turnip or collard greens, well done. Also something called a gold spike taco salad- fear! But yummy! Grilled cheese sandwiches, daily specials, succotash, sweet waitstaff. But best of all, if you should so desire, you can have chicken salad, tons of fresh fruit, cottage cheese and jello, all on your plate at one time.
Yuuuuum! Good coffee, good food, good cupcakes. Some healthier options, all made fresh. If you want more than that, can't help you. Oh, wait: the walls are decorated with coffee cups, all different- you can choose yours if you want.
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Nutmeg's Cafe
3953 US Hwy 27 SYuuuuum! Good coffee, good food, good cupcakes. Some healthier options, all made fresh. If you want more than that, can't help you. Oh, wait: the walls are decorated with coffee cups, all different- you can choose yours if you want.
Street food! You can go in, order and sit down, and some do. But why? You can get yum-a-rific tacos for $1.25 each, a cup of horchata the size of your head, something called a cebollita, which is sauteed green onions (yum!) and all the salsa you want, just by walking up to the greasy screen to the left of the main building. Eat at picnic tables mercifully shaded by corrugated iron, or take it to go. Yum! They have tongue, but being a gringa I tend to go for chicken. BONUS! Opens at 5 am. What?! Thank you, universe, for not making me get up that early. Open until 9 pm, which in Avon Park counts as late.
La Yerbita
19 N Central AveStreet food! You can go in, order and sit down, and some do. But why? You can get yum-a-rific tacos for $1.25 each, a cup of horchata the size of your head, something called a cebollita, which is sauteed green onions (yum!) and all the salsa you want, just by walking up to the greasy screen to the left of the main building. Eat at picnic tables mercifully shaded by corrugated iron, or take it to go. Yum! They have tongue, but being a gringa I tend to go for chicken. BONUS! Opens at 5 am. What?! Thank you, universe, for not making me get up that early. Open until 9 pm, which in Avon Park counts as late.
Sightseeing
This roaring-twenties era hotel is gorgeous in and out, and serves a lunch buffet (not every day- check before you go!) that is plentiful and a great deal.
Jacaranda Hotel
19 E Main StThis roaring-twenties era hotel is gorgeous in and out, and serves a lunch buffet (not every day- check before you go!) that is plentiful and a great deal.
This is a slightly odd, somewhat touristy, and very classic Florida experience. This juice shop set down in the middle of the Maxwell family orange grove a few generations ago is charming and has really good juice, and orange ice cream. It's also got a lot of weird tourist trinkets. Best: you can sit in one of about thirty rockers on the front porch and rock the afternoon away in the shade. I do truly recommend this place.
Maxwell Groves
607 E Circle StThis is a slightly odd, somewhat touristy, and very classic Florida experience. This juice shop set down in the middle of the Maxwell family orange grove a few generations ago is charming and has really good juice, and orange ice cream. It's also got a lot of weird tourist trinkets. Best: you can sit in one of about thirty rockers on the front porch and rock the afternoon away in the shade. I do truly recommend this place.
Arts & Culture
This is on Museum Street right off Main Street in historic downtown Avon Park. It's tiny, free, and quaint, with retired people who are happy to answer obscure questions about the town. Highlight: my great-grandfather donated a cinder-block press that was used by him and my great-uncles to make every block of the house you're currently living in. Open Wed-Sat, 10 - 2 or similarly short hours.
Avon Park Depot Museum
3 N Museum AveThis is on Museum Street right off Main Street in historic downtown Avon Park. It's tiny, free, and quaint, with retired people who are happy to answer obscure questions about the town. Highlight: my great-grandfather donated a cinder-block press that was used by him and my great-uncles to make every block of the house you're currently living in. Open Wed-Sat, 10 - 2 or similarly short hours.
Most weekends they have concerts or performances, sometimes very good stuff. Check before your trip what's playing and get tickets here: http://www.sfscarts.org/
Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts
600 W College DrMost weekends they have concerts or performances, sometimes very good stuff. Check before your trip what's playing and get tickets here: http://www.sfscarts.org/
Parks & Nature
So good, so good, so good. Totally worth the drive. Hike through native plants gardens or bowers of blooms to the art-deco tower that gives the gardens its name. Picnic at the highest point in central Florida with a view to match. Enjoy actually yummy food at the one restaurant, or let your children play for literally hours in the creative playground area, which was my favorite part of the whole experience, with squirting water, dress-up, art activities, and hammocks for kids to swing wildly in or their parents to sneak off and relax in. They occasionally have live concerts outdoors, check it out!
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Bok Tower Gardens
1151 Tower BlvdSo good, so good, so good. Totally worth the drive. Hike through native plants gardens or bowers of blooms to the art-deco tower that gives the gardens its name. Picnic at the highest point in central Florida with a view to match. Enjoy actually yummy food at the one restaurant, or let your children play for literally hours in the creative playground area, which was my favorite part of the whole experience, with squirting water, dress-up, art activities, and hammocks for kids to swing wildly in or their parents to sneak off and relax in. They occasionally have live concerts outdoors, check it out!
It's gorgeous, and it's an intact old-growth cypress swamp! Can't do you better than that.
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Highlands Hammock State Park
4870-5698 Hammock RdIt's gorgeous, and it's an intact old-growth cypress swamp! Can't do you better than that.
It's got a playground AND a lake!
Yes, you and your offspring (if you have them) can rock out on the swings and then cool down in the water. Bring a swimsuit and maybe change in the car, the bathrooms are NOT five star. But it's a really nice place to spend a day with the kids. Bring lots of water and sunscreen and head over to La Yerbita for tacos when you're nice and sandy and hungry and happy. It's free and there's plenty of parking.
Donaldson Park
109 E Main StIt's got a playground AND a lake!
Yes, you and your offspring (if you have them) can rock out on the swings and then cool down in the water. Bring a swimsuit and maybe change in the car, the bathrooms are NOT five star. But it's a really nice place to spend a day with the kids. Bring lots of water and sunscreen and head over to La Yerbita for tacos when you're nice and sandy and hungry and happy. It's free and there's plenty of parking.
Essentials
This is the local natural foods store! Great for gluten-free, vegetarian stuff, raw cashews, pro-biotics and friends. I like to support this small and very cozy shop.
Heartland Granary
1200 W Avon BlvdThis is the local natural foods store! Great for gluten-free, vegetarian stuff, raw cashews, pro-biotics and friends. I like to support this small and very cozy shop.
Yaaay ALDI! Good for general groceries, especially affordable and good quality produce and organic products.
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ALDI
2900 New Life WayYaaay ALDI! Good for general groceries, especially affordable and good quality produce and organic products.
Y'all, it's Walmart. Don't expect too much here. But it is the closest food store to our place, and has a pretty big selection. My favorite: pre-made smoothie packs, just frozen fruits and vegetables you throw in your blender with water. And yes, your vacation house has a blender. :)
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Walmart Supercenter
3525 US Hwy 27 NY'all, it's Walmart. Don't expect too much here. But it is the closest food store to our place, and has a pretty big selection. My favorite: pre-made smoothie packs, just frozen fruits and vegetables you throw in your blender with water. And yes, your vacation house has a blender. :)
Shopping
Wicked awesome two-story thrift shop. While you're there, walk around the central park in the middle of the star-shaped downtown Sebring. Closes at 4, 3 on saturdays, closed sundays and maybe mondays i think?
Highlands County Habitat For Humanity
159 S Commerce AveWicked awesome two-story thrift shop. While you're there, walk around the central park in the middle of the star-shaped downtown Sebring. Closes at 4, 3 on saturdays, closed sundays and maybe mondays i think?
It's crazy cheap and has a really good selection. When's the next time you're going to get a classic novel in hardback for 50 cents? Love it.
Sebring Friends of the Library
117 E Center AveIt's crazy cheap and has a really good selection. When's the next time you're going to get a classic novel in hardback for 50 cents? Love it.
Drinks & Nightlife
I haven't actually been here, because I have a kid. But my cousin says it's very nice, good steaks, good wine. Open 'til 9 pm, so, you know, it's probably not gonna be a crazy night. ;) This is a SMALL town.
18 E Main St
18 East Main StreetI haven't actually been here, because I have a kid. But my cousin says it's very nice, good steaks, good wine. Open 'til 9 pm, so, you know, it's probably not gonna be a crazy night. ;) This is a SMALL town.