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and courteous and kind, and it’s very much a
community here in Sanford.”
The District opened in spring 2017, and
its scratch-made America-inspired fare has
been winning over diners in the months since,
with hearty dishes such as bourbon bone-in
pork chops and classic shrimp and grits. The
bar does well, too. Locals amble in and wash
the day away with their choice of more than a
dozen beers on tap — including a few brewed
in the area — and six signature cocktails.
As for shopping, Sanford has long been
known as an antiquing town (and to some
degree, it still is), but these days, shoppers
have far more to peruse than dusty racks. Washburn Imports fea-
tures breathtaking home furnishings from exotic, far-flung corners
(plus, there’s a cool wine and cocktail bar inside). Magpies Modern
General Store sells gifts of all sorts, from jewelry to home goods to
delicious artisan popsicles that’ll keep you cool while strolling about.
And an abundance of little galleries offer one-of-a-kind items unlike
anything you’ll find in the resort zone.
Speaking of one of a kind, how about some gourmet marsh-
mallows? You’ll find them at Wondermade, where friendly workers
will fire ’em up special for fresh s’mores, or you can just buy a box
for later — maybe the birthday cake or gold Champagne flavors —
while you enjoy the homemade ice cream.
Of course, as is the case with other area neighborhoods, Sanford
boasts a mix of culinary — and entertainment — choices, some of
which are quintessentially American and others that are decidedly not.
“A five-minute walk in any direction in downtown [Sanford] will
lead to multiple food options: Greek, German, Jamaican, Korean,
American, seafood, gastropubs, barbecue, gourmet ice cream,
diners, and bar grub,” Ping rattles off. “We have breweries, craft
cocktail bars, a handful of juke joints, and [The Alley], the best
place to see live blues music in Central Florida.”
And the coolest part? In the Main Street neighborhoods of
Orlando, that’s all just the beginning. n
Freelance journalist and travel writer Amy Drew Thompson is the Orlando
Expert for USA Today’s She enjoys the madness of theme
parks with fervor, but finds immeasurable magic in the outer-lying
reaches of Mickey’s long shadow, as well.
INTERVAL WORLD ■ Issue 1, 2018 45
“I tell all my friends from out of town that when they get tired of the
parks, to make the 20-minute drive to Mills 50 to explore Asian
eats, and some of the coolest bars and shops Orlando has to offer!”
If you’re headed to the Orlando Science Center — or any of its
adjacent museums — Mills 50 also is the place to wet your whistle
after a day of enlightenment. Stop by BART for a craft beer and
to play the video games you remember from the ’80s, or have an
expertly poured cocktail at The Guesthouse.
SMALL TOWN CHARM AND SUDS IN SANFORD
Northeast of Orlando lies the town of Sanford. It retains its small-
town charm in part because it retains its town. The brick-lined
streets and buildings are authentic, and the phenomenal residential
architecture that surrounds it only bolsters the sleepy, but increas-
ingly hip, vibe. Sanford, for years on the upswing, has definitely
arrived. It was voted Best Kept Secret in Orlando Weekly’s 2016
Best of Orlando issue.
“Orlando has world-class attractions. It’s why more than 65
million people each year come here,” says Dan Ping, founder of The
Bokey, a blog about Sanford and Seminole County. “But it’s much
more than that. When you visit Sanford
or other Main Street neighborhoods,
what you find is a community that
embraces the culture of craft when
it comes to food, drink, arts, enter-
tainment, and shopping. You’re also
visiting a town that is truly historic,
not make-believe.”
Ping isn’t knocking the parks. In
fact, a successful visit to any of them
only serves to make his point. What
they do is expertly manufactured.
What Sanford offers is 100-percent
real and local.
It’s one of the many reasons Anne
McNamara and Brad Plummer chose
to open their restaurant, The District,
right in the heart of Sanford.
“We liked the neighborhood and
wanted to be part of the revival,” says
Plummer. “Being one of the oldest cities
in Central Florida, it has that charm and
the people are great! They’re wonderful
Marc Schechter/PhotoResourceHawaii.com
AREA RESORTS
Located right in the heart of Orlando’s theme
park action and just 20 minutes from downtown
Orlando, Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa offers
accommodations ranging from studios to spacious
four-bedroom villas, which feature full kitchens, and
patios or balconies. Guests can enjoy seven outdoor
heated pools, hot tubs, a marina and dock, or, after a
long day of park hopping, relaxation at Serenity Spa.
Located just 1 mile from Walt Disney World,
Westgate Town Center has all the comforts of
home. On-site amenities include 14 outdoor heated
pools, 14 hot tubs, a children’s wading pool, pool
bars, dining at Cordovano Joe’s pizza and Drafts
Sports Bar & Grill, Starbucks, a minimarket with
deli, an exercise facility, the Disney Movie Theater,
and a lakeside marina and dock.
From spacious studios to one-, two-, and three-
bedroom units with fully equipped kitchens,
separate living and dining areas, washers and
dryers, private balconies, and Wi-Fi, Marriott’s
Grande Vista offers accommodations for every
family’s need. Enjoy four separate pool complexes
and a quiet lake offering paddleboat rentals,
on-site dining, The Marketplace convenience store,
The Spa at Grande Vista, and a nine-hole golf
course with a full-service golf school.
.
44 INTERVAL WORLD n Issue 1, 2018
Whether you spend your time at the
parks, power shopping, or simply
soaking up the abundant sunshine,
there’s no doubt you’re going to
work up a thirst. Not to worry. Central
Florida’s microbrew scene is begin-
ning to rival Tampa’s. And Orlando’s
local brewers are not only a convivial
bunch, they’re collaborative.
“We were always recom-
mending other breweries for our
customers to check out,” says
Mike Wallace, co-owner of Ten10
Brewing Company, a cool Mills 50
taproom.And so he and several other
area brewers got together to help
create the Central Florida Ale Trail.
“It’s not a new idea,” he contin-
ues. “A lot of other cities do it and,
with all the breweries opening, we
thought it would be a great idea so
that people could eventually visit all
the local places.”
The map — available at
Ten10 and all the other participat-
ing stops — reps the region with
retro-postcard appeal, and dou-
bles as a stampable “passport.”
Hit up the establishment, get your
map stamped, and if you man-
age to finish, you’ll be rewarded
with a special growler to mark
the accomplishment. If not, the
map itself is a neat souvenir, and
you’ll have sampled some great
local beer.
Ten10 is within easy walking
distance of the aforementioned
Hawkers Asian Street Fare. In the
Audubon Park Garden District,
Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour
and Brewery began its life as a
craft beer bar, and expanded to
include its own specialty sours
and wild beers a few years ago.
Up in Sanford, the list keeps grow-
ing. Ale Trail breweries include
Sanford Brewing Company,
where dogs are not only welcome,
they’re offered homemade treats
made from the brewery’s own
spent grains, and Wop’s Hops
Brewing Company, with fun
brews such as the Hail Caesar
and Smokin’ Hot Italian that keep
beer lovers coming back.
It’s Crafty
Kirsco