SPONSORED CONTENT A SECRET SPOT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA: SEBRING DONALDSON PARK, AVON PARK HIGHLANDS HAMMOCK STATE PARK LAKE PLACID MURALS While located just two hours from Orlando or Tampa, Sebring feels like an under-the-radar destination. You may learn about it in early 2025, when HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover” features the renovation of Sebring businesses, public spaces and more. But visitors in-the-know have been retreating to this historic lakeside town, and its surrounding communities Avon Park and Lake Placid, for generations. Here are a few activities to inspire your visit: See how towns become outdoor galleries: Snap selfies at any of the 50-plus Lake Placid Murals or three postcard murals by Florida artist Joe Starkweather, and tag your photos with #VisitSebring. Raise a glass: Sip your way through April’s Sebring Soda Festival. (Anytime of year, stop into Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works for a sweet and/or bubbly treat.) Sample fruit wines on the gorgeous grounds of Sebring’s Secret Gardens Winery. In Lake Placid, tour Sugar Sand Distillery with a craft cocktail in hand or order kombucha to cider at Wet Dogs Brewing. Have a brush with fame: Catch the action at Sebring International Raceway, North America’s oldest permanent road-racing facility that opened in 1950 and was highlighted in the recent film Ford v Ferrari. Drop into the 1920s-era Jacaranda Hotel for elegant vibes and free events (Babe Ruth and Clark Gable were patrons). Choose your natural adventure: Sebring, “America’s Value Golf Capital,” is home to the Citrus Golf Trail; one of Florida’s oldest state parks (Highlands Hammock, where you might spot alligators and black bears from the boardwalk, trails or tram); calm lake beaches — ideal for swimming and fishing — such as you’ll find at H.L. Bishop and Donaldson Parks; and geocaching fun for all ages. To start planning your Sebring adventure, visit VisitSebring.com.
Visit Florida Visit Florida 2025: Page 81
