This weekend I did a short trip with a couple of  friends to West Volusia which has inspired us to make future plans for the area so  I’m gonna show you the best of an area that so few—even resident of Central Florida–Know about……so let’s start. in Sanford——come up thru Sanford on 17-92——you can reach it by exiting on 434 (less traffic than a lot of the other route—just go east and you’ll come to 17-92—-then turn north and prepare for some older but some fun places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ll not go into anything that you might find along the way  at least I won’t but you’re wlcome to take your time and visit all manner of things   For instance—in Sanford you’ll pass the downtown with brick gates on both sides of the main street—in case you  would like to make a stop:     Visit downtown Sanford.

 

Sanford FL is a great place to visit with lots of things to do!

 

 

 

 

Historic Downtown Sanford, Florida just 20 minutes north of Orlando, is a global destination featuring award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, gastropubs, world-class events and concerts, one of Central Florida’s most vibrant art communities and a spectacular marina for fishing, boating and river dinner cruises.

 

 

 

 

 

4 UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY IN SANFORD FL

 

 

 

 

You’ll continue on 17-92 which turns to the left/west as there’s a Lake—Monroe there—-which you will probably notice north of the road.

 

 

 

the Sanford Zoo which is having a Lantern Festival Nov- January—I saw it a year or so ago and it’s beautiful.   So if you’re just doing a day trip you might want to check this out on your way home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll cross the Lake (Monroe) which is part of the St John’s River—on the other side of the river is a huge power plant.

 

 

 

Sanford Power plant is in Debary/Volusia County  is  on the left.

 

 

 

and after you cross the bridge—the street now bears the name of Charles Richard Beall Boulevard which  is basically another name for 17-92 in Debary:     It got this name in January 1996 and was named for  Jesse and Arbutus Beall’s son Charles who was the only Debary resident to be killed in the Vietnam War.

 

 

 

SIGN CHANGE HONORS FALLEN DEBARY SOLDIER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debary

This Small town along 17-92 north  of Lake Monroe is about 25 miles North of Orlando and 12 south of Deland.    It was started in the 60’s   (town in 1990’s)  The area was once (19th c) the estate of Count Samuel deBary who was a champane importer who lived in New York—but was of Belgian decent and was raised in Germany and eventually ended in France where he was enlisted to introduce Champagne to the USA—–and that enterprise made him a rich man.  His house DeBary Hall is part of what we’re looking at today and definately a highlight of our trip.

 

 

Exploring Historic DeBary And Enterprise Florida (Debary Hall, Memorial Park & More)

 

 

 

 

The first road on you right goes to e

Lake Monroe Park Circle

 

 

 

 

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Lake Monroe Park

 

Lake Monroe Park

is one of Volusia County’s oldest and most popular parks and is open daily, sunrise to sunset with free admission. RV camping rates are $25 including taxes and electric, and a $2 fee to launch your boat. Prices are subject to change. The following amenities are available: Boardwalks, Boat ramps, Camping, Fishing docks, Pavilion Picnic areas, Nature trails, Playground, Restrooms, and a Volleyball court. We invite you to visit this beautiful park on Lake Monroe. You also can enjoy one of the beautiful camping sites.

 

The next road on the right is  Old Deland Road and it turns South toward Lake Monroe and ends at:

 

 

 

 

Back on 17-92  you’ll come to Barwick which crosses both sides of the highway—if you’re interested you can turn left here

 

You’ll cross what appears to be two seperate man-made-waterways a short way after this the road curves north/right.

 

You’ll take the next left onto Al Camino Cardla.

 

Continue  and on your right you’ll come to:

 

 

 

Biking the Spring to Spring Trail, DeBary

 

 

 

 

 

River City Nature Park

provides the public access to the natural environment of the St. Johns River. It’s set on a 100-acre triangular-shaped parcel. The park holds a popular disc golf course. There are plans to create a passive waterfront park at the location with family picnic shelter, a fishing pier and nature walks.

 

 

River City Nature Park
(City of DeBary)

 

 

Back on 17-92

 

 

Continue north

come to light with Benson Junction Rd to thee left and

Dirksen Drive on the right….turn right.

 

There’s another branch of the Spring Trail along here to right of Dirksen Dr

 

 

Shortly on the right you’ll see the entrance to

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Documentation: Gemini Spring Debary Fl

 

 

 

 

Gemini Springs Park

 

• Picnic area.  Camping.  Fishing Pier.  Canoe Launching.  Dog park Trail – walk/jog/cycle:   Gemini Springs is a key county-run nature park. The lightly developed 210-acre site offers opportunities for outdoor activities-fishing, canoeing, walking and biking, and outings on Volusia County’s Spring-to-Spring Trail. For general users, the park includes a playground, dog park and rentable pavilions.

 

 

Oh and Gemini Springs has a Dog Park—it’s a 4.5 acres with two seperate fenced areas for large and small dogs, watering stations, benches and picnic tables and a half-mile walking trail.

 

 

 

Gemini Springs Park

 

 

 

a short distance farther east on Dirkson Drive on th left is Buena VIsta Street which will take you to the parking lot for

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Park

 

The Park is a peaceful and restful place and there are 5 pavilions for picnics. The Park features an F-15 Eagle aircraft and the USS Langley’s anchor, which are prominently displayed. The Eagle and a hillside garden are brightly illuminated each evening and are visible from Dirksen Drive. There is parking available for 12 vehicles.

 

 

 

 

Memorial Park

 

 

 

 

Turn to the Left on Mansion Blvd and continue to  Sunrise —you’ll see our destination directly in front of you but you can’t get your car in that way so turn left on Sunrise—look for the sign a short distance to you right noting house and parking and follow that road down to the parking area for

 

 

 

 

 

Debary Hall Historic Site

 

Originally th hunting estate of New York champagne importer Frederick DeBary, this magnificent 1871 house has been beautifully restored to  its early glory.

 

 

 

DeBary Hall Historic Site

 

 

There’s a very reasonably priced guided tour of the house and well worth you time

 

 

Now you can return to 17-92 turn right on Sunrise and continue till it ends at Aqua Vista Dr and turn right on Aqua Vista

 

Continue on Aqua Vista until it ends on Santiago Rd

 

Turn left on Santiago

 

 

Continue on Santiago which ends on 17-92 and turn north right again.

 

Turn Left on Austuraino Road

 

This road ends at Surina Road

 

turn left

 

A  short distance on your right is

 

 

 

 

 

Return to 17-92 the way you came here and turn north–right.

 

 

on your right is a community park

 

Continue north

 

 

turn right on North Pine Meadow Drive

 

On the right

 

 

 

 

Glen Abbey Golf

 

The 18-hole Glen Abbey course at the Glen Abbey Golf Club facility in Debary, features 6661 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.

 

 

This is an 18-hole, semi-private golf course that winds through gently rolling landscapes of sylvan splendor and a 60 acre body of water known as “No Name” Lake.  There are no parallel fairways and all fairways are tree lined  The course features three sets of tees for difference skill levels.

 

 

WELCOME TO GLEN ABBEY GOLF CLUB!

 

 

 

Return to 17-92 and go right/north again.

 

 

Just a few places from food to shopping to lodging that are actually in the town of Debary

 

 

 

Your Fashion Fix

DeBary

 

 

 

 

Hampton Inn Debary

 2.0 Star Property

 

 

 

Debary also has a 2nd golf Club:  DeBary Golf CLub

regularly choosen as a U.S Open Qualifying site.  A Golf Digest 4-star rated semi-private golf course

 

 

 

 

OK next Tues we will continue on north on 17-92 to Orange CIty

 

But before we leave Debary we’re going to give you some side trips—–in case you want to keep you advance a bit slower or want to head east instead of north or maybe look for something close and then head back south and home…..

 

 

You can make this turn when you leave Debary Hall for instance….just turn left on Sunrise  where you exit parking—

Back past the Mansion and keep on Sunrise when it makes a bit of a turn right/south.

It ends on Dirksen—take another left.

After you pass under I-4 the road becomes DeBary Ave.

 

and you’re in

 

 

All Saints Episcopal Church, Enterprise, Florida

Enterprise

 

The town which was in the days when it was founded the last Riverboat stop on the St. John’s River—-was established in the 1840’s and because the river was too shallow for boats the town built hotels for the passengers to stay and catch a train east to go on to Titusville.

 

 

It thrived into the 1870’s and was the County seat (of 3 counties:  Mosquito, Orange and Volusia), but things change and by the 1880’s Deland became the new kid in town—growing rapidly and eventually becoming the Coutny Seat, leaving Enterprise to waste away by the river that had helped make it great if only for a short time.

 

 

Continue on till just before the Temple Baptist on the left—-turn right on Main Street

 

On the right you’ll come to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Enterprise Heritage Center

is a community museum and event space located in a restored 1936 schoolhouse.  It features exhibits on the rich and varied history of historic Enterprise founded in 1841.

 

 

Exhibits feature the steamboat era, the Brock House Hotel, Thornby Park, and the Florida Methodist Children’s home founded in 1908 (and still active in the town)

 

 

It has an extensive collection of historic letters, documents, photos, artifacts and other materials.

Admission is free and museum  hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 until 2 pm.

 

HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOME, A SECOND CENTURY OF SERVING CHILDREN.

 

 

 

Reeturn to DeBary Ave and turn right

 

The road makesa long sweep right/south

 

 

Turn Right on Providence Blvd

 

 

You’ll cross

 

 

 

 

 

Then on the right:

 

 

 

Thornby Park in Deltona

 

 

THORNBY NATURE PARK

 110 Providence Blvd.

Enjoy and explore 40 acres of pristine wooded property featuring  an all inclusive “Inspiration Playground” -Thornby is one of Deltona’s Nature Parks. 

 

 

 

and Oh Yes you have wandered into  Deltona–the most populas city in Volusia County—but just pretend we’re in Enterprise cause not planning on doing any more Deltona today.

 

 

Providence ends on Lake Shore Drive

 

Turn left on Lake Shore and go till you come to

 

 

Green Springs Park

 

One of Florida’s few remaining green sulfur springs.

 

 

Florida Hikes

 

 

When you’re finished enjoying the park return to the road you drove in on and turn right—-