[kyle19125]

Florida has a surprising number of small towns full of shops/restaurants many like to take day-trips to on the weekends and places like Mount Dora, St Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Stuart and Micanopy have been "main street-like" destinations for years where one can spend a few hours or more walking/shopping/eating. Would love to hear predictions of towns that have potential to become similarly popular that haven't been in the past. Thoughts?

[perry335654]

The beautiful rolling hills of Brooksville and Clermont, they probably are already pretty popular.


I would like to see Palatka, Florida as it has potential, I went there through my Junior College years at St. Johns River Community College now known as St Johns River State College presently. Georgia Pacific is located there along with Seminole Electric as far as industry goes.


A lot of great fishing south on 17 and 19, west on 20 and 100 along with the Saint Johns River right there in Palatka.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj3UuKOkI1g

[gypsychic]

I think Lakeland and Winter Haven are very underrated. They have beautiful, restored, vintage downtowns, surrounding a core park area. Very beautiful. Everyone usually wants coastal. Both these cities/towns, have so many lakes they almost seem coastal, and the downtown cores are absolutely gorgeous. Great for people who don't want the hustle/bustle of the popular coastal areas. We lived in Lakeland for a couple years and enjoyed it very much. It lacks the "cache" of some of the more popular coastal cities, but that isn't always a bad thing.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by perry335654

The beautiful rolling hills of Brooksville and Clermont, they probably are already pretty popular.


I would like to see Palatka, Florida as it has potential, I went there through my Junior College years at St. Johns River Community College now known as St Johns River State College presently. Georgia Pacific is located there along with Seminole Electric as far as industry goes.


A lot of great fishing south on 17 and 19, west on 20 and 100 along with the Saint Johns River right there in Palatka.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj3UuKOkI1g

Palatka would be nice but think maybe given it's proximity to St Augustine that it could be a tough nut to crack.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

I think Lakeland and Winter Haven are very underrated. They have beautiful, restored, vintage downtowns, surrounding a core park area. Very beautiful. Everyone usually wants coastal. Both these cities/towns, have so many lakes they almost seem coastal, and the downtown cores are absolutely gorgeous. Great for people who don't want the hustle/bustle of the popular coastal areas. We lived in Lakeland for a couple years and enjoyed it very much. It lacks the "cache" of some of the more popular coastal cities, but that isn't always a bad thing.

I agree regarding Winter Haven, it's a little gem. I haven't been to Lakeland but it does look like it has potential from what I've seen online. That whole area of the state has some cute towns with downtown areas begging for revitalization like Lake Wales and Frostproof. They're just so far off the beaten track though...

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I agree regarding Winter Haven, it's a little gem. I haven't been to Lakeland but it does look like it has potential from what I've seen online. That whole area of the state has some cute towns with downtown areas begging for revitalization like Lake Wales and Frostproof. They're just so far off the beaten track though...

Yes, Lake Wales is absolutely beautiful. The downtown is very sad, though. I thought it was coming up a few years ago, they painted beautiful murals on the sides of buildings, but last time I was there (last year) more businesses had folded and the old hotel there was still derelict. But having Bok Tower there and the gorgeous hills and lakes seems like it should have more potential. Like you said, I guess it's just too far off the beaten path right now.

[RedneckRebel]

Originally Posted by perry335654

The beautiful rolling hills of Brooksville and Clermont, they probably are already pretty popular.


I would like to see Palatka, Florida as it has potential, I went there through my Junior College years at St. Johns River Community College now known as St Johns River State College presently. Georgia Pacific is located there along with Seminole Electric as far as industry goes.


A lot of great fishing south on 17 and 19, west on 20 and 100 along with the Saint Johns River right there in Palatka.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj3UuKOkI1g

I live in Clermont, the downtown is nice, but the stores, for the most part, are nothing to write home about. The events that are regularly held downtown are great though

[manny118]

Jensen Beach is next door to Stuart which was already mentioned by the original poster. However, Jensen Beach also has a nice but small downtown right on the Indian River Lagoon. The causeway to the beach is less than a mile north of the downtown. About a mile south of the downtown is beautiful Indian Riverside Park. West of the downtown are homes on sand hills that reach as high as 80 feet above sea level, which is quite impressive for a coastal community in South Florida.

[ByeByeLW]

Lake Worth is supposed to be the next "it" town down here. Like there's anything else left��

[ByeByeLW]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Yes, Lake Wales is absolutely beautiful. The downtown is very sad, though. I thought it was coming up a few years ago, they painted beautiful murals on the sides of buildings, but last time I was there (last year) more businesses had folded and the old hotel there was still derelict. But having Bok Tower there and the gorgeous hills and lakes seems like it should have more potential. Like you said, I guess it's just too far off the beaten path right now.

Sounds like Lake Worth now, as far as downtown and derelict old hotel that is supposed to be renovated.