DeLand
may be one of Florida's best-kept secrets. Imagine a college campus
classified as a National Historic District. Add to that a downtown
brimming with notable shops and eateries. Then place it between
the jungle like shores of the St. John's River and the silvery surf
of the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, picture all this only 25 minutes
from Orlando or Daytona. DeLand delights visitors with all the possibilities
and hospitality a small Southern town can offer.
I
fell for DeLand when I was a student at Stetson University in the
1980's. Tree-shaded streets adorned with handsome homes cocoon the
campus of Florida's oldest private college. Stetson's presence enhances
the community's rich cultural offerings with theater, recitals,
and a vibrant speakers program, welcoming such individuals as Jane
Goodall and Jimmy Carter. On days without scheduled events, visit
the Duncan Gallery of Art in Sampson Hall, or peruse the gems at
the Gillespie Museum.
If I ever had to plan
a downtown, I'd design it after DeLand's. Stop in at Boston
Coffee House for a flavored hot drink and a fresh wrap sandwich.
Or try gourmet treats from Guse's Chocolates.
Nearby parks offer camping,
picnicking, swimming, scuba diving, and canoeing. Get a peek at
manatees in Blue Spring, or boat over to Hontoon Island State Park
to see a cypress swamp on the St. John's River. Explore the early
settler's history at DeLeon Springs Recreational Area, where you
can griddle your own pancakes at an old sugar mill, then paddle
a canoe through the wilderness.
When you need a beach
for cruising or sunning, drive on the sands of Daytona, or seek
out calmer shores in New Smyrna. Skydive DeLand offers instruction
on jumping from planes. I wish I could say I tried it during my
college years, but I didn't. I'm saving that for my midlife crisis
- maybe on my next visit to town.
DeLand
may be one of Florida's best-kept secrets. Imagine a college campus
classified as a National Historic District. Add to that a downtown
brimming with notable shops and eateries. Then place it between
the jungle like shores of the St. John's River and the silvery surf
of the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, picture all this only 25 minutes
from Orlando or Daytona. DeLand delights visitors with all the possibilities
and hospitality a small Southern town can offer. 
I
fell for DeLand when I was a student at Stetson University in the
1980's. Tree-shaded streets adorned with handsome homes cocoon the
campus of Florida's oldest private college. Stetson's presence enhances
the community's rich cultural offerings with theater, recitals,
and a vibrant speakers program, welcoming such individuals as Jane
Goodall and Jimmy Carter. On days without scheduled events, visit
the Duncan Gallery of Art in Sampson Hall, or peruse the gems at
the Gillespie Museum.