Gary’s guidebook
Food scene
This is one of the best places to eat in Florida. It's off the highway quite a bit in a very small town, so it's never insanely busy, but locals and people who know about good things worth the drive always keep it lively. The atmosphere is vintage central Florida in the highest sense. In a beautiful sense even. Bring your dog if you want. A large, ever-changing craft beer menu. BUT the food would be enough by itself for this place to thrive -- even if they served it from a tent at a highway rest stop. The Florida Cracker and What the Fig? are the names of the two sandwiches that I hate to choose between, and so I'll usually just get both and take one home. But all the food is top-notch and there's no place else making anything that could remotely be called similar. This place and its food are unique. In the best way.
43 locals recommend
Yellow Dog Eats
1236 Hempel AveThis is one of the best places to eat in Florida. It's off the highway quite a bit in a very small town, so it's never insanely busy, but locals and people who know about good things worth the drive always keep it lively. The atmosphere is vintage central Florida in the highest sense. In a beautiful sense even. Bring your dog if you want. A large, ever-changing craft beer menu. BUT the food would be enough by itself for this place to thrive -- even if they served it from a tent at a highway rest stop. The Florida Cracker and What the Fig? are the names of the two sandwiches that I hate to choose between, and so I'll usually just get both and take one home. But all the food is top-notch and there's no place else making anything that could remotely be called similar. This place and its food are unique. In the best way.
Silver Springs
Wild Florida Airboats & Gator Park
3301 Lake Cypress RdPeck's Old Port Cove
139 N Ozello TrailWinter Garden
Bluefin Grill & Bar
2738 Brownwood BlvdCrystal River
3266 N Sailboat AveRainbow Springs State Park
19158 SW 81st Pl RdRainbow Springs Swimming Hole
19158 SW 81st Pl RdNeighborhoods
An adorable little town on a big lake and a great food and bar scene. Festivals almost every weekend, some of which get so many people that it's pretty much impossible to find a restaurant or bar with a table or even a stool. I'd do a little research before you decide to go one, as you might like it better during the week when it's still a bustling town but it's one that you can actually enjoy everything it has to offer.
I highly recommend going on the catboat tour. They are two seater, almost sled-like boats that are very fast and also impossible to tip. You drive them yourself while a guide takes you around the lake and through the canal, which feels so much like a jungle that they literally shot a few scenes from Tarzan there back in the day.
215 locals recommend
Mount Dora
An adorable little town on a big lake and a great food and bar scene. Festivals almost every weekend, some of which get so many people that it's pretty much impossible to find a restaurant or bar with a table or even a stool. I'd do a little research before you decide to go one, as you might like it better during the week when it's still a bustling town but it's one that you can actually enjoy everything it has to offer.
I highly recommend going on the catboat tour. They are two seater, almost sled-like boats that are very fast and also impossible to tip. You drive them yourself while a guide takes you around the lake and through the canal, which feels so much like a jungle that they literally shot a few scenes from Tarzan there back in the day.