Leesburg Bikefest

Everybody knows about Bikeweek and Biketoberfest in Daytona, but I have lived here for 15 plus years and never heard of Leesburg Bikefest.  My loss. 

Leesburg Bikefest is not a big and spread out as Bikeweek, but it does attract some 250,000 people and has some good entertainment.  In 2016 some of the highlights were Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, Hypersona, and Bret Michaels, but there were over 50 bands playing over the weekend. 

There is also a lot of bike related contests with some very cool bikes to look at and some more not-family friendly 'hot body' type contests involving human bodies rather than bike bodies. 

There are a lot of vendor stands set up all around the town square and the town shops, including a lot of antique stores, are open during the event.

The nice thing about this bike show is that everything is compact and walkable.  You can go from band to band, venue to venue within about a three block area. 

Since the event takes place at the end of April it is likely the weather will be dry and not intolerably hot.  It is definitely worth walking around and enjoying the festival if you have an interest in motorcycles or classic/southern rock music.

Website:  http://www.leesburgbikefest.com/

Downtown Melbourne St. Patrick's Day Parade

Every year around St. Patrick's Day, but always on a Saturday morning, Meg O'Malley's http://www.megomalleys.com/ and the Ancient Order of the Hibernians  http://www.aoh.com/ sponsor a St. Patrick's Day Parade through downtown Melbourne.  I have been attending and participating in this parade since 2009 (or maybe before that) and it has grown into a bigger more popular event every year. 

There are all of the normal small town parade participants.  Civics groups, scouts, clubs, bands, police, fire trucks, old cars, shriners, and in recent years, more and more organizations are bringing floats.  Lots of beads get handed out and candy too.  The parade participants are not allowed to actually thrown beads and candy to the spectators due to the risk of hurting someone, but that doesn't stop the crowd from yelling for them.

With it being St. Paddy's day and all, there is a lot of green going on.  And kilts.  And bagpipes.  And strange version of weird combinations like a Star Trek Storm Trooper in a kilt. 



After the parade there is time for lunch and shopping around downtown.  Usually the bar/restaurant Mainstreet Pub has visiting bag pipers on and off all day.  Meg O'Malley's is understandably busy throughout the day.  And around 5pm or so, they start shutting down the street for the street party.  All in all a very fun day out. 

Tips:  The parade is free, but bring some cash to support the downtown businesses.

Bring something to carry candy in, especially if you are bringing children.

Arrive early to get a good seat on the parade route.  The heart of downtown is the most crowded area.

Wear green and join in the fun.  It is what you make of it!

Rossetter House Museum (Eau Gallie Arts District)

Rossetter House is an historic house in the downtown Eau Gallie District.  It has the distinct architecture of the early 1900s and is fully furnished with period appropriate furnishings. 

Tours of the house are available on specific days, but hours are limited, so be sure to plan ahead. 

The family cemetery sits next to the house in a shady park.  There was a time when ghost tours were offered as part of their tours, but I do not see that listed on their website now.  It was an interesting tour.

There are other specialty tours and events that sound equally interesting.  Approximately once a month there is a seasonal event or a Murder Mystery Tour. 

This venue can be rented out for weddings and other events.  I was in the area recently when a wedding was set up in the gardens.  It was truly beautiful. 

This is an inexpensive visit in our own backyard.  It takes about an hour and it is surely worth doing. 

Tips:  Not open every day, check hours carefully.

While you are in the area, be sure to walk around the art district.  There are some beautiful art galleries, gift shops, and specialty food shops (cupcakes!).  The architecture is also interesting as is the wall art.  Don't miss the enormous red shark at the east end of the district by Shark Toof. and my personal favorite at the West End by Dave Thomas. 

Also in the area is Squid Lips Overwater dining and the public library with its fishing dock looking at Eau Gallie Causeway and a nice shady play ground.

I do not recommend Rossetter House for children.

Website:  http://rossetterhousemuseum.org/

Eau Gallie Causeway from the Library Pier

Green Springs Park and Gemini Springs (Enterprise, FL)

Green Spring

What a cool place this is!  The park is small with various short hiking paths.  The paths are various degrees of difficulty, but anyone should be able to get to the spring viewing area. 

Green Spring Hiking

This blog is going to be mostly pictures, because what can I saw except green, green, and more green!

What makes this spring special is its milky green color.  Apparently this color is caused by green Sulphur and there aren't other publically accessible springs like it around any longer.  It is very beautiful and peaceful. 







Coral Snake

Do beware of snakes while you are there (or anywhere in Florida).  We saw this beautiful, but dangerous Coral Snake underneath the viewing platform.

There is no swimming in this spring.  There is a play ground and a couple of nice pavilions.  It would be a really unique place to have a wedding, but I don't know if you can actually do that there.



Gemini Spring

If you would like a longer outing there is a Spring to Spring trail that goes from Green Springs to Gemini Springs.  Gemini Springs is a larger recreational area with fishing and kayaking/boating as well as a dog park and playground.  The two springs at Gemini are pretty, but traditional clear water.

Tips:   The terrain isn't rugged, so sturdy sandals are fine for walking...except, well, snakes. 

Website Green Spring:  http://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/parks-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/park-facilities-and-locations/ecological-nature-parks/green-spring-park.stml







Website Gemini Spring:  http://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/parks-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/park-facilities-and-locations/ecological-nature-parks/gemini-springs-park.stml

Swamp House River Front Grill (Debary, FL)

While we were out exploring we stumbled upon this place.  Well, we actually used a smartphone app, because you would be really unlikely just to accidentally find this place out driving around.  For one thing, it is at the end of the road.  For another, it doesn't really look like a public restaurant until you are parked and walking in.

This place is pretty unique.  We were there on a Saturday afternoon.  There was a man playing good country music.  Not too loud, just right.  They actually grill their burgers outside on a real grill.  And I'm here to tell you they are delicious.

They have a specialty drink called a Rum Bucket.  I watched the bartender pour 4 types of rum in and then a bunch of other stuff too.  Only 9.99 for the first one and 7.99 for refills.  This drink is NOT for the driver!

The restaurant sits right at a harbor where there are lots of boats parked and reserved parking for diners who wish to arrive by boat.  The country store sells fishing and boating supplies, some oddities, and also rents Pontoon boats for cruising up and down the St. John's river.  You only need a drivers license to rent one.
 

If you are up visiting the Springs, the Sanford zoo, Debary Historic House, or just in the area, it is worth stopping by here on a sunny day.

Tips:  Outside tables at the bar are first come first served, so be prepared to stand or wait or go upstairs to the inside restaurant.

Website:  http://www.swamphousegrill.com/

Andretti Thrill Park (West Melbourne)

There aren't many places in Florida with hours of entertainment for families that are as great of a bargain as Andretti Thrill Park. 

So what is it?  Well, a little bit of everything.  There are several go cart tracks (the original purpose of the place).  But there is so much more.  A not all inclusive list:  Rock climbing, mini-golf, paddle boats, batting cages, laser tag, aerial rope course, kiddie rides, picnic area for events, video games, and more.

How does it work?  They have one of the smartest pricing systems I have seen.  The price for children is based on their height, not their age.  Why?  Because the taller you are the more things you can do (safety).  So you pay less for the little ones that can't drive the big carts or do some of the other activities. 


The second great part of their pricing is that the cost is by the hour so you can spend two or three hours without feeling pressured to spend the whole day because leaving early feels like wasting money.  There is an all day price as well if you want to stay longer. 

What else makes this better?  No lines!  Or very short ones.  I have never been there when the line for any attraction was more than a few minutes.  No need for fast passes or 90 minute wait times.  (Of course I would like to see a little bit bigger crowds, this is a treasure that we would like to keep in Melbourne). 

There is a snack bar and the food is typical unhealthy park type food, but hey, who cares?  And you won't pay outrageous prices for that either. 


And birthday parties too!  Skip Chuckie Cheese (although there is one of those in Melbourne as well) and do your kids party at Andretti.  The equivalent in food, but so much more to do and a smaller price!


You can have other events there as well.  My office had a very nice corporate gathering there one year.  Less expensive than most outings and everyone had a great time. 

Tips:  This is a good place for kids of all ages, but the smaller they are the less there is to do.  If you have a wide spread of ages, make sure you have enough adults to accompany the little ones.

Website:  http://www.andrettithrillpark.com/index.html

If you have a little extra time in the area, take a stroll through the beautiful botanical gardens at Florida Tech campus.

Ginnie Springs (High Springs, FL)

Florida Springs are something everyone in Florida knows about and nobody who doesn't live here seems to understand, if they even know they exist.  Tourists want to see Disney and all of the theme parks, but they miss what Florida really is.  They go home with a great memory, but not the one I would want them to have.

There are a lot of springs on private land and in state parks that offer a bunch of different amenities.  This blog is only about Ginnie Springs.  I'll talk about some of my other favorites later.

Ginnie Springs is best known for its camping and tubing down the river.  The springs are a constant chilly 70ish degrees, but that is a great temperature for Florida summers.  The Santa Fe river is slightly warmer.

Aside from tubing in the water, you can dive, snorkel, swim, and fish.  It is about a 15 minute walk from the top of the tube run to the bottom and takes about an hour in the tube. 

This is a private spring and as such has its own fee schedule.  You can check out the costs for admission, camping, and equipment rentals on their web page. 

You should note that if you are looking for quiet out of the way interaction with nature, Ginnie Springs is probably not the right park for you.  This park is very popular with the college crowd from both University of Florida and Florida State University, so expect a bit of a party atmosphere.  Alcohol is ubiquitous.  Quiet hours don't start until midnight, so don't expect to get a lot of sleep.

Also note it is very busy on holiday weekends and spring weekends.  Make reservations early and arrive early to get a good spot.

Tips:  No pets allowed.

Everything at the camp store is a bit expensive, so plan ahead.

You can save some money by bringing your own floating devices.

Website:  http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/