A Breakfast to Dinner Tour

Breakfast

Head to DeLeon Springs State Park for a Florida breakfast tradition at the Old Spanish Mill where servers bring you pancake mix and you customize your pancakes on a griddle built into your table. The restaurant is in the historic mill situated on the edge of picturesque DeLeon Springs call (386) 985-5644.

After breakfast stroll around the spring, visit the visitor center, or take a 50-minute historic tour on the Fountain of Youth Eco/History pontoon boat call Capt. Frank at (386) 837-5537.

It’s a great swimming place for the kids to jump right in for a frolic next to the Mill. The spring water is beautiful here.

DeLeon Springs State Park

De Leon Springs State Park is on the Great Florida Birding Trail, which has a bird checklist of more than 125 species. Activities include swimming in the spring pool (which is accessible to visitors with disabilities), snorkeling and picnicking. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboats are available to rent. There is also a boat ramp, fishing areas, a nature trail, a 4-mile hiking trail, a playground and picnic pavilions. Trails wind through hardwood forests, oak hammocks, cypress swamps, grasslands and floodplain forests filled with the sounds of woodpeckers and songbirds. The endangered yellow anise tree is abundant, and a paved walkway leads to “Old Methuselah” a huge bald cypress that is more than 500 years old. The spring run hosts a variety of wading birds, alligators, otters and manatees. Adjacent to the spring, the famous Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant features cook-your-own pancakes made from stone-ground flours. A Butterfly Garden has more than 600 plants for the benefit of native and migrating butterflies and hummingbirds. Kiosks and exhibits in the visitor center interpret the park’s natural and cultural history. The Fountain of Youth Eco/History narrated riverboat tour departs four times daily from the park.

De Leon Springs State Park
601 Ponce Deleon Blvd, De Leon Springs, FL 32130
(386) 985-4212

Lunch

Head south from DeLeon Springs on U.S. 17 toward Historic Downtown DeLand (only a 15 min. drive) where you can browse along the shops on Woodland Blvd. or visit a museum (Florida Museum of Art, DeLand, Homer & Dolly Hand Art Center on Stetson University, the Henry DeLand Historic Home, or the Naval Air Station Museum) or two before lunch. We will not list all the dining options available for lunch in historic downtown DeLand. Depending on your palate, here are a few options:

Latin Fusion

De La Vega Restaurante y Galeria

“Savor the difference”  De La Vega is a vibrant modern Latin fusion or flavors and traditions with a unique blend of Spanish and Latin influences. It’s distinctive, fresh and original menu of fine food is an unexpected treat. Located right in historic downtown Deland, they also feature vegetarian and gluten free meal options. Just reading the menu online will make your mouth water. Nice wine selection. Reservations are accepted.

De La Vega Restaurante y Galeria
128 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720
(386) 734-4444

Greek

Santorini Greek Cuisine

If you like Greek food, or if you’ve never tried Greek food…You’ll love this place. It is unassuming traditional Greek fare. They are open for lunch and dinner. It is a cute little place that fills up fast!

Santorini Greek Cuisine
210 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720
(386) 736-7726

Thai

Oudom’s Thai & Sushi

Better get there early because this place gets crowded! Some of the best Thai and Sushi around. Family owned and operated, Oudom’s is located in historic downtown DeLand on Woodland Blvd. Fresh, with vegetarian options. Beer, wine & sake.

Oudom’s Thai & Sushi
116 E 5th Ave, Mt Dora, FL 32757
(352) 385-4700

American

Pat & Toni’s Sweet Things Candy Shop

If you need some old-fashioned hand-made chocolates after lunch, Pat & Toni’s Sweet Things on Woodland Blvd. has a delicious array of nearly every imaginable chocolate. You can purchase a handful or bagful and mix and match as you choose.

Pat & Toni’s Sweet Things Candy Shop
132 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720
(386) 734-0066

Dinner

After lunch, you can head south again on US 17 to Historic Downtown Sanford. Here you can stroll along the shores of Lake Monroe at the Waterfront Park or head two blocks west to Sanford’s main street. If you want to stroll downtown before dinner, you can browse the Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery on Main Street (open until 6 PM Tue-Saturday, and until 5 on Sunday) or one of the downtown shops before dinner. There are many events in downtown Sanford, for which all the galleries open – we suggest planning to have dinner to coincide with the Sanford Art Walk which happens every fourth Friday each month.

Here are three good bets for dinner on Sanford’s Historic Downtown area:

Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café

Hollerbach’s is a notoriously fun and delicious casual German restaurant in the center of Downtown Sanford. The Hollerbach’s (Theo, Linda, and Christina) invite you to share in a memorable meal and experience German Gemuetlichkeit. Gemuetlichkeit is German and means: “is a sense of well-being and happiness that comes from enjoying the company of friends and family while savoring good food and drink.” Their menus feature traditional German dishes, as well as American favorites and original menu creations. They also have over 50 different German Beers and wines. There is often eclectic German-folkstyle entertainment – it can get rowdy!

Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café
205 E 1st St, Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 321-2204

The Breezeway Restaurant and Bar

The Breezeway has a menu that is distinctly “American” with a mix of items for just about everyone and a nice patio and outdoor seating area. They pride themselves as the “home of the big fish sandwich,” and on fresh ingredients and homemade dressings. Aside from the good food, it’s a fun atmosphere.

The Breezeway Restaurant and Bar
112 E 1st St, Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 878-1284

The Original Christo’s

Christo’s has been serving up American, Italian & Greek dishes in Historic Downtown Sanford since 1971. Pizza, calzones, sandwiches, gyros, and a wine bar. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at reasonable prices. There is outdoor seating along Sanford’s First Ave.

The Original Christo’s
107 W 1st St, Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 320-0799