Go There: A Weekend Getaway Full of Fun Things To Do in Sebring, FL
We're talking airboat rides, cypress swamps, soda shops, and orange groves.
Halfway between Orlando and the Everglades, Sebring, Florida, is far from the well-trodden path of Florida tourism. No long lines or ridiculously overpriced souvenirs here. Instead, you might go fishing or mural-hopping, or just relax on a front porch sipping a cream soda — there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Sebring, FL!
This mix of small-town charm with outdoor adventure makes your days feel full yet lazy. If you’ve got a weekend free, pack your bags (and sunscreen) for a few days in Sebring and the nearby towns of Lake Placid and Avon Park. It’s the ultimate Old Florida getaway.
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Where To Stay in Sebring, FL
First off, you need a good home base, and you’ll find a variety of excellent hotels in Sebring, FL. The Inn On The Lakes is classy but not so posh you’ll feel out of place in shorts and flip-flops. The back patio, with pool and lounge chairs, is a quiet retreat overlooking the lakes and blooming with flowers. Spacious rooms come equipped with a microwave and mini fridge for all your snacking needs, while breakfast is conveniently delivered to your door.
For something more back-to-nature, head to The PARC, a new 15-acre resort opening its eco-friendly villas at the end of the year. They’ll sleep up to six people, offering modern comforts in a forest setting.
Another new lodging option, the Roanoke Hotel, is slated to open on the second floor of Sebring’s downtown circle this fall. Downstairs, you’ll find an Irish pub, Gavaghan’s, if you fancy a Guinness as a nightcap.
Things To Do in Sebring, FL
When it comes to things to do in Sebring, FL, think outdoors first. There are more than 100 lakes close by for watersports, such as fishing, swimming, scuba and stand-up paddleboarding.
But if you choose only one water activity, make it an airboat ride. Skim across the swampy grasslands with Airboat Wildlife Adventures as your guide points out herons, egrets, and — you better believe it — alligators. There are also night tours and frog gigging trips for those who really want the full Florida experience.
Explore the local flora and fauna by land at Highlands Hammock State Park. This 9,000-acre preserve features a tram tour, ADA-accessible boardwalks, a museum, and plenty of trails, the most daring known as the “catwalk,” a thin wooden path through the cypress swamp.
For more agritourism fun, hit up local farms. Pick your own berries at Sunshine Blueberry Farm in spring or taste muscadine wine and play cornhole at Secret Gardens Winery & Farm. At Maxwell Groves Country Store, which opened in 1935, you can sample their fresh orange juice or a swirl of orange ice cream.
But Old Florida isn’t just nature. Stroll down the streets of charming Lake Placid — population 2,200 — to discover trendy boutiques, a free history museum, a Saturday farmers market, and nearly 50 murals (that’s a mural for every 45 residents if you’re counting). Some even have motion-activated sounds or hidden items like eyes or citrus-wearing sunglasses.
For unique souvenirs, stop into Lake Placid’s clown school, where they study the essentials such as balloon-twisting and pie-throwing and also offer a small museum and gift shop. Or bring back a taste of South Central Florida from Everglades Seasonings in Sebring, with meat rubs, mopping sauce, and a delicious but secret seasoning recipe dating back to 1944.
Where To Eat (and Drink) in Sebring, FL
Whether you like frog legs or escargot, there are many unique restaurants in Sebring, FL, and you’ll eat heartily. Start the day at Chez Mireille with decadent waffles made by a culinary couple from Belgium. For lunch, Nutmeg’s Cafe serves up excellent salads, sandwiches, and all-natural, no-sugar-added smoothies. Or you could opt for authentic Cuban food from Sophie’s Café.
Dinner is a time to indulge. Enjoy the convivial vibe at Cowpoke’s Watering Hole with its tiki bar, live music, 12 TV screens, and alligator art. You can choose from seafood or steaks, the latter clocking in as large as a 32-ounce tomahawk. The fried gator appetizer is, of course, obligatory.
To impress your date, reserve a table at Chicanes Restaurant inside Inn On The Lakes, where you can dine on pan-fried Florida grouper or Tuscan linguine. This is not the place to skip dessert. Get the gelato.
Thirsty? In addition to the plethora of restaurants in Sebring, FL, the county has some truly unusual places to drink. All ages can enjoy Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works with its hundreds of craft sodas from around the world and mix-and-match ice cream floats — try the Cheerwine, or peach soda poured over a few scoops of vanilla or perhaps salted caramel. The combinations are staggering.
But it’s adults only for tastings at Sugar Sand Distillery, the country’s only estate-grown sugar cane distillery as far as anyone knows. Meanwhile, Mon Cirque Wine Bar is the French circus-themed hangout of your fantasies, hosting monthly soirees, burlesque, live music, and an open costume closet so you can feel fancy in a feather boa or Venetian mask as you savor your chardonnay.
Local Obsession: Festivals
Sebring has a few obsessions, and invariably, there’s a festival to go with it. Time your trip accordingly.
Like racing? Go for the 12 Hours of Sebring, America’s oldest sports car endurance race, held the third weekend in March at the Sebring International Raceway.
Are you a fan of craft soda? The Sebring Soda Festival happens in early April. Get a tasting card and dazzle your palate with a rainbow of soda flavors: sour apple, cucumber, raspberry, espresso, and the surprisingly refreshing grapefruit, among others.
Into horticulture? Lucky for you, Lake Placid is the Caladium Capital of the World, growing over 90% of the world’s stock of this heart-shaped perennial. Don’t miss the Caladium Festival in July, two days of food, music, crafts, a car show, a floral arrangement contest, and bus tours to the surrounding fields blooming green, pink, and red every summer.
