History, beauty, nature, beaches, great food and amazing shopping. Central Florida has all you need for a fun, unique and restorative weekend vacation.

If you're ready to get away from the daily routine for a few days, why not think of spending a two or three day weekend in our neck of the woods? Central Florida has got a wealth of one-of-a-kind activities as well as numerous hotels, restaurants and resorts that welcome weekend vacationers. Here's a small sampling of the options.

Our Very Own Lake Wales
Lake Wales, a small city south of Orlando, is an area with distinctive historical sites and unique activities--and, of course, the Florida's Natural Visitor's Center! The area's other weekend vacationer hot spots include Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Florida's first theme park, which now offers amusement rides and spectacular water ski shows. The area's one-of-a-kind Bok Historic Sanctuary is home to gardens designed by famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., and also boasts Florida's first carillon, housed in a coquina and marble belltower. And nearby Lake Kissimmee State Park has something for everyone, including camping, biking and horseback riding.

Eclectic Tampa
The city of Tampa has a nice mixture of culture, food and shopping, among other activities. On a weekend getaway to Tampa, don't miss the opportunity to visit the Ybor City area. Once a major cigar manufacturing district, Ybor City has a plethora of Cuban restaurants, the Ybor City Museum State Park and a variety of shopping opportunities. Tampa is also home to the Channelside District, which features shopping, restaurants and the Florida Aquarium, and historic neighborhoods like Hyde Park and Bayshore Boulevard.

Sailfishing in Stuart
If you want to try your hand at ocean fishing on your weekend getaway, then the Atlantic Coast city of Stuart (aka "Sailfish Capital of the World") is a smart choice. Situated on the Treasure Coast south of Vero Beach, Stuart also has plenty of walking and biking opportunities, nearby nature areas like Jonathan Dickinson State Park, and the St. Lucie Canal. For those that need more action, Stuart regularly hosts high speed hydroplane boat races and other professional sporting events.

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