Rain or shine, Port Orange's City Center bustles with activity. Even dark clouds approaching and the ominous rumbling of distant thunder on a recent Saturday morning didn't seem to deter dog walkers, joggers and cyclists from circling the half-mile path surrounding the picturesque lake.
Years ago, a billboard stood at the intersection of interstates 4 and 95 proclaiming "Port Orange -- Shaped by Choice, Not by Chance." And the choices they've made are significant. Library, sports complex, amphitheater, Y.M.C.A. - almost everything you could possibly want from a community is just a short walk or drive from dozens of Port Orange neighborhoods.
Juanita Strubel, a 15-year-resident of Port Orange, visits three or four times a week. She feels safe at City Center and finds it to be a "peaceful and serene environment to walk in and chat with friends."
Sometimes area residents aren't even aware of the treasures that lie hidden around the scenic tree-lined lake. Strubel's walking partner, Mariann Rahmani appreciates the many amenities City Center offers -- like the library, strolling pathways and park benches. But she didn't realize the Y.M.C.A. was there until many years after moving to the area. "I wish I knew about it sooner," she says.
The lake caters to fishermen, like Dave Wheeler and his grandsons Alex and Ryan Stofflet, who recently spent the morning fishing for catfish using bread for bait. They caught at least two. A couple of days before that, a group of boys used hot dogs at that same fishing spot.
"The award winning complex is a place families can come to picnic," says Kent Donahue, the assistant to the city manager. "It's where everybody can come as a community."
Within an area covering 105 acres, you'll find playgrounds, picnic areas, ball fields, a skate park, soccer field, a gymnasium with an indoor basketball court and many more recreational experiences. Additional amenities such as indoor racquetball courts and a heated Olympic size swimming pool are available at the Y.M.C.A.
The City Center Municipal Complex acts as the primary gathering space for special events, including Family Days in October, which attracts more than 60,000 visitors. It's also the home of City Hall and some of the community's public services.
It's all about fishing and seafood on Flagler Avenue Aug. 20.
The monthly parties continue on the avenue with the second annual Shrimp and Seafood Festival from 5 to 9 p.m.
Several thousand people are expected to attend the family event, where about 25 of the area's restaurants will compete for the 2009 Best on the Beach Awards. Five people will judge dish categories featuring shrimp, shellfish, fish and specialty.
The event will not only feature seafood dishes--priced between $3 and $5--but also lots of fishing related gear and information about local guides and charter boats.
Live music, beer gardens and a free kids zone will also be on Flagler Ave., which will be closed to vehicle traffic.
For more information, call the New Smyrna beach Visitors Center at 800-541-9621.
Nestled between the palm trees and locally owned shops is an old Florida appeal that disappeared from most coastal cities long ago. Flagler Avenue is New Smyrna Beach's beachside historical and shopping district. Parades, festivals, and art shows are a regular occurence for this quiet little strip of beachfront.
Flagler Avenue
Where: New Smyrna Beach, beachside between Florida Avenue and Jessamine Avenue.
What: Dining, shopping, music beach access and unique locally owned businesses.
Lined with a mix of hometown restaurants, diners, art shops, and small motels, you won't find a chain name in sight. Colorful displays of sea turtles, banana trees and hibiscus bushes beautifully accent this coastal main drag.
Flagler Avenue boasts more than 50 unique shops, a late-night seafood cafe, small pool halls, a shuffleboard court park , and drive-on beach access at the end of the street. Become part of the avenue by purchasing yourself or someone else a "Walk of Fame" brick on Flagler Ave. The bricks cost $35 each. For more information contact Gone Bonkers at (386) 427-2256.
Stop in for a bite at the Beacon Diner, just one of the many family friendly restaurants, to get a feel for the local life. Rent a bike at Nichols Surf Shop and ride by the town's mix of modest beach bungalows and fancy oceanfront estates.
Enjoy the cool shade beneath the low-flung scrub oaks sand pines and palms. In the evening, a leisurely stroll on Flagler Avenue will find you live music at one of the many bars. Finish off your night with a sunset dinner or drink at Riverview Charlie's while taking in the soothing sites and sounds of this hidden beachside treasure.
Mosquito Lagoon proves you can't judge a place by its name. Nature's little vampires are there, that's true, but so are beautiful scenery, history, birds and quiet.
Mosquito Lagoon
Where: Bordered by the barrier island on the east and the mainland on the west, from waters north of Ponce Inlet south into Canaveral National Seashore.
Hours: If entering through the seashore: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Access is also available through local fishing camps.
Information: (321) 634-6148.
The lagoon is a long, narrow waterway that is part of the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in the country. The region officially known as the Mosquito Lagoon Management Area stretches 55 miles south from a point north of Ponce Inlet, and includes waters within Canaveral National Seashore.
Fishing and boating are especially popular in the southern region of Mosquito Lagoon, in Volusia and Brevard counties. There are many islands in the waters, and 11 of those islands have campsites that can be rented.
"They can fish, boat, just relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet," Seashore ranger Laura Patterson said. The camping is primitive. Plus one has to own (or know someone who owns) a boat, canoe or kayak because campers have to supply their transportation to the islands.
If the overnight camping is too much of a commitment, Patterson has something new in the works. There are plans for pontoon boat tours of the water trails around the lagoon. The tours will focus on the wildlife, plants and history of the region.
(This article was originally published in the Accent section of the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday, July 25, 2000).
The Bulow Plantation Ruins State Historic Site provides an opportunity to explore remnants of 19th century Florida and enjoy contemporary wilderness at the same time.
Bulow Plantation Ruins State Historic Site
Where: Off County Road 2001 (Old Kings Highway), south of State Road 100 in Flagler County.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, the park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Bulow Plantation was a 4,675-acre site, about half of which was cleared using slave labor, established during the early 1820s by Major Charles Wilhelm Bulow. At Bulow's death in 1823, the plantation was left to his son, John. Under John's ownership, the plantation, which featured 2,200 acres of sugar cane, cotton, indigo, and rice, flourished and became a travel destination for some of the most important people of that era.
In early 1836, the plantation was attacked and burned by Seminole Indians rebelling against white settlers' attempts to force them out of the area. Now, only the walls and chimneys of the sugar mill remain.
While it is possible to drive a loop road, walking the nature trail to the sugar mill provides a leisurely, and generally shady, way to see the historic site. Look for the "catface" pines the pine trees which had been slashed to drain turpentine during the early 20th century. There is also an interpretive center, with many artifacts and exhibits about the plantation.
Campers will find the site especially good for bird watching and the chance to see Florida's white-tailed deer, raccoons, and other smaller wildlife. Primitive camping is available for backpackers, but a permit is needed (available at the park office at Tomoka Basin GeoPark).
(This article was originally published in the Accent section of the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday, August 15, 2000).
Squeezed between the Halifax River and Riverside Drive, Sunrise Park has a lot to offer visitors.
Sunrise Park
Where: Corner of LPGA Boulevard and Riverside Drive, Holly Hill.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Amenities: Many picnic tables, boat dock, boardwalk and a long pier that reaches into the Halifax River.
Information: Holly Hill Recreation Department, (386) 248-9460.
First, it's big. It has an unusually large open play area, big enough to throw a Frisbee across comfortably.
Secondly, it has a boat dock on the south side. But only canoes and johnboats are permitted.
The triangle-shaped park's most prominent feature is the 100-yard-long wooden dock that sticks out into the river. The spot is a favorite with anglers. There are a couple of other spots that are friendly to fishermen, too, particularly the boardwalk on the park's northern edge.
Boardwalks play an integral role in the park's design, making it much easier for the handicapped to get around. A wide boardwalk connects the two halves of the park and also winds through a jungle-like section to the south.
The recreation area is popular with families. There are a lot of picnic tables (all of them sheltered), restrooms, lots of shade and plenty of parking spaces. There's even a small grocery across the street to get supplies.
The park is conveniently located in the older section of the city and is easy to find, whether on bike or in a vehicle. Despite the road and water activity surrounding it, the park exudes a silent, pleasant charm.
(This article was originally published in the Accent section of the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday, August 8, 2000).
Located on Lake McGarity in Deltona, Campbell Park features a variety of recreational opportunities for children and adults alike. Founded in the early 1960s, the park was named after William H. Campbell, a captain killed in Vietnam in 1965.
"It's the best place in town for fishing," said Deltona
Campbell Park
Where: 1315 Briarwood Ave., Deltona.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
Admission: Free.
Information: (386) 878-8900 .
Mayor John Masiarczyk. It also has a little bit of everything for everybody, he said.
Apart from fishing, visitors to the park can take advantage of the boat ramp, soccer, basketball, shuffleboard and volleyball fields. Barbecues with a pavilion and restrooms are also available. Many of the facilities were built by the Optimist Club, which had control over the park in the 1970s, Masiarczyk said. In more recent years, the park has been under county supervision. In October, the city of Deltona will take over to provide a higher level of maintenance, he said.
This year, Campbell Park also became home to the Deltona branch of the Boys and Girls Club. Club members are helping clean up the site, said John Buchanan, Deltona's Parks and Recreation coordinator. In the next several weeks, the nature trails also will be rebuilt, with the help of Boy Scouts, he said.
(This article was originally published in the Accent section of the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday, August 1, 2000).
Long before Walt Disney began carving his "Mouse House" out of Central Florida, Blanche Butler Ames had a dream of creating a park that would appeal to both adults and children.
Ames Park
Where: 173 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
Amenities: Small gazebo and a short pier that reaches into the Halifax River.
Information: Ormond Beach Department of Leisure Services, (386) 676-3250.
After the native New Englander purchased land in 1914 on the shore of the Halifax River (just south of the present-day Granada Bridge), she set about pursuing that dream one that was far more modest than that of Mr. Disney, yet one that brimmed with childlike charm.
With an adjoining house already constructed, Ames dubbed the land Whim Garden, then set about creating a whimsical park whose playful remnants survive today: a concrete walrus that peeks up from the Halifax by the park's short pier, a concrete alligator whose back is ridged with seashells, a small stone statue of a cherubic boy carrying a turtle on his back, a carved owl, and an Indian head sculpture with the inscription "Indian Well," which is situated beside the park's bubbling artesian well. No doubt Ames knew the history of the Timucuan Indian mound, across Beach Street from the park.
Ames Park also features crisscrossing canals and ponds, a gazebo, flower beds and plenty of shade trees.
(This article was originally published in the Accent section of the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday, July 18, 2000).
Bicentennial Park is one of those recreational facilities with a bit of something for everyone. Families will find ample picnic space at the park, which is owned and operated by Volusia County. Exercise buffs will enjoy the health trail; beachcombers will find a quiet, though not isolated, strip of the beach right across the road from the park.
Bicentennial Park
Where: 1800 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. (A1A), Ormond-by-the-Sea.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily.
Pets: Must be leashed and under control.
Information: (386) 257-6000, ask for Recreation.
On a good day, bird-watchers may see everything from the area's ubiquitous pelicans to scissor-tails. For those who are truly lucky and observant, there may be an occasional glimpse of the large, beautifully colored pileated woodpeckers which were once seen throughout Florida and are now rare.
The park also features a variety of recreational facilities and programs, including tennis courts, summer children's programs and unusual events such as the annual flashlight Easter-egg hunt.
Newcomers sometimes find the park's layout a bit confusing, thinking that the part of the park that faces A1A is all there is. The road passes through the front parking lot and actually winds far back from beachside to a much larger area, where the tennis courts, meeting hall, restrooms and other facilities can be found.
(This article was originally published in the Accent section of the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday, July 4, 2000).
Horseback riders and ambitious hikers should love the Lake Monroe Conservation Area.
The 7,390 acres just southwest of Osteen offers two horse trails and three hiking loops. The
Lake Monroe Conservation Area
Where: Entrances are on Reed Ellis Road off S.R. 415 in Osteen, and on the south side of S.R. 415, just west of Reed Ellis Road.
Admission: Free.
Pets: Allowed if on leash.
: (386) 329-4404.
remote area provides opportunities for peace, quiet and wildlife viewing, particularly birds.
The trails lead through hammocks and swamp. It's interesting to observe the changes taking place as the St. Johns River Water Management District oversees the transformation of old cow pasture into more native ecosystems.
One hiking loop off Reed Ellis Road leads to a picnic and camping area.
The river serves as the rough western border for the conservation area. The area is broken up into two tracts, which are roughly split by State Road 415. The Kratzert tract, north of the state road, is named for the woman whose family formerly owned the property, Minnie Beck Kratzert.
The Brickyard Slough tract lies to the south. Boaters will find an inclement weather shelter on the river on the southwest side of the slough. Primitive camping areas are available on either tract. Camping is by permit only.
(This article was originally published in the Accent section of the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday, June 20, 2000).
By JANICE CAHILL
Sometimes area residents aren't even aware of the treasures that lie hidden around the scenic tree-lined lake. Strubel's walking partner, Mariann Rahmani appreciates the many amenities City Center offers -- like the library, strolling pathways and park benches. But she didn't realize the Y.M.C.A. was there until many years after moving to the area. "I wish I knew about it sooner," she says. 
Bicentennial Park is one of those recreational facilities with a bit of something for everyone. Families will find ample picnic space at the park, which is owned and operated by Volusia County. Exercise buffs will enjoy the health trail; beachcombers will find a quiet, though not isolated, strip of the beach right across the road from the park.
Horseback riders and ambitious hikers should love the Lake Monroe Conservation Area.
