Things to do
Eats
Lake Placid has many options for dining out, including Jaxon’s, right across the street from the cottage. Jaxon’s is a classic supper club featuring seafood and steak along with many local favorites, like gator bites. There is also live music on the weekends. Here are a just a few other great options:
Morty and Edna’s Craft Kitchen for great coffee, breakfast, lunch, and sandwiches
Happy Chef or Glenda Jean’s Country Kitchen for a classic diner breakfast
Wet Dogs Brewing for locally brewed craft beer and music
La Pupusa Queen for genuine Salvadoran food
Faded Bistro and Beer Garden—definitely worth the drive up to Sebring, but you may want to make a reservation
sites
If you’re looking for something else to do besides all that swimming, floating, and paddling, there are many more options around and near Lake Placid. A recent article from the Florida Rambler goes into greater detail, but here are some highlights:
Lake Placid and Lake June in Winter are both known as clearwater bass fishing havens and there are charters available to rent for the avid angler. Boats and pontoons are available to rent with free delivery from Woohoo Watersports in Lake Placid.
There’s fresh produce and craft items at the farm market every Saturday in Journal Plaza, and while you’re there check out the murals in downtown Lake Placid.
Highland Hammocks State Park is only about a twenty minute drive from the cottage and “has more rare and endemic species than any other Florida State Park. It is a place where wilderness and history are preserved.”
Lake Placid is the caladium capital of the world and there are many farms—Florida Boys Caladiums, Happiness Farms, and Caladiums Florida—that sell bulbs to the public.
In addition to being known for its numerous murals, Lake Placid is also home to the American Clown Museum and School.
Go to Henscratch Farms Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting or Sugar and Sand Distillery for unique spirits distilled from sugar cane.
About a half hour drive to the north of Lake Placid is the town of Sebring, known for the Sebring International Raceway that hosts the famous annual 12 Hours of Sebring. It also has a charming historic district.
The town of Arcadia, about 45 minutes west of Lake Placid, has a charming and historic downtown that has one of the highest number of antique shops in the state.
And Lake Placid is only about an hour and a half from either coast, making for an easy day trip to an ocean beach.