Hello again! I hope everyone has been enjoying April! It’s been a gorgeous month in Florida with the pollen levels finally going down and very few days of rain or unbearable heat. I actually can’t remember the last time it rained here, so we could probably use some!
Today’s post is a guide all about one of my favorite little towns surrounding Orlando: Sanford, Florida. Sanford is only about 30 minutes from downtown Orlando and is accessible by Sunrail. It is a date night favorite for me and Mo and we’ve even spent the weekend here before! There is always plenty of parking or you can hop on the Sunrail train from any of its stops. If you get off the Sunrail at its Sanford station, there is a free trolley to take you the 5-10 minutes right into historic downtown (where you want to be). See below for some of my favorite spots and things to do.
Shops:
Historic Downtown Sanford is a super cute little town with plenty of small businesses. The shops here are some of my favorites because each one is unique. You’ll find everything from bookstores to antique shops. Here are a few of my favorite places to stop:
- The Treehouse Antiques – Mo is a big fan of thrift shops and antique stores so we stop here all the time! It is a proper antique store with everything you can imagine. If it’s your thing, you could easily spend hours here.
- Maya Books and Music – I am a huge reader so I have to stop here each time I visit Sanford. This cozy bookstore is covered floor to ceiling in books of every genre. It is super aesthetic inside as well.
- Magpies Modern General Store – The name of the store doesn’t do it justice. I suppose it is more of a boutique, but it always reminds me of a small beach town shop when I go in. You’ll find clothes, accessories, home decor, and more. You can tell it has all been carefully selected.
Restaurants:
Sanford has a TON of restaurants so you absolutely won’t go hungry. We almost always eat at El Zocalo when we go, so I don’t feel like I can fairly give a restaurant review to any other place. The food here is delicious, seriously, we have never had a single complaint. You can choose to sit inside or outside and the food is always served quickly, with a healthy portion. The atmosphere is super friendly too. My go-to meal is the veggie fajitas! I do seriously have to try somewhere new next time, but I’ll give some honorable mentions below where I’ve at least tried some apps:
- Henry’s Depot: A modern style food hall with options ranging from seafood to pizza to chinese. In Henry’s depot, I’ve had some type of sandwich, if I remember correctly. But this hall is a great option because there is plenty to choose from!
- The Breezeway: It is what it sounds like – a little restaurant bar between two buildings. I remember enjoying both the food and my cocktail.
Bars and Breweries
Bars and breweries, I can provide more recommendations for!! Sanford is a great spot to spend Sunday funday if that is your thing, but if you are just out for one drink, you’re still guaranteed to have a great time. Below are a few places with all different vibes, but all great experiences:
1. The Wildflower – The Wildflower is a super cute little restaurant that we visit mainly for cocktails. The cocktails are specialty and you’ll get the whole neon signs and grass covered walls vibe when you go in here. If you’re looking for somewhere trendy, this is the spot for you!
2. Celery City Craft – Celery City Craft is a beer garden with an indoor and outdoor bar area. They make craft cocktails and beer of course! The outdoor area is pretty large with picnic tables and umbrellas. Perfect if you want to enjoy the outdoors in a chill environment.
3. The Basin at Henry’s Depot – All the way at the end of Henry’s Depot (the food hall, I promise it’s nicer than it sounds), there is a bar called The Basin. They have great cocktails and aesthetic seating. There’s an outdoor area as well that sometimes has live music.
4. The Manikin Lounge – If you’re looking for more of a night time scene, Manikin Lounge is for you! This cocktail bar has spooky vibes and a dance floor. There is also plenty of seating so it isn’t necessarily a club. The lounge features actual mannequins dressed up all over the bar.
5. The Imperial – The Imperial Wine Bar has locations in Orlando and Winter Park as well, but the Sanford location is my favorite. This cocktail bar has craft beer as well (pretty much every Sanford bar does) and the atmosphere is beautiful. You’ll be sitting on furniture that is handcrafted and for sale!
Transportation and Parking
Driving – If you’re driving into Sanford, there is plenty of free street parking. There are lots as well, but depending on the time of week, the parking may come with a price. It’s easy enough to find free street parking though, so definitely don’t stress about driving in.
Sunrail / Trolley – If you’re a fan of the sunrail, it has a really convenient stop in Sanford. From the stop, there is a free trolley that will take you right into downtown where you want to be! Just follow everyone else getting off at the Sanford stop.
Other
Heading to Sanford but not looking to shop or dine? Not to fear, it is a gorgeous place to walk around and take in the views! You can always go for a walk or rent a bike to explore the area. Sanford is also situated right on Lake Monroe so you can go for a walk along the water and see the boats plus Veteran Memorial Park. If you’re really interested in learning more, the city offers historical tours (I have yet to do one of these).
There is also often live music at venues such as West End Trading Co. or The Alley. I recommend visiting during a weekend there is a festival or an event, which is quite often. Sanford has tons of farmer’s markets and seasonal events all year round.
We discover something new every time we go to Sanford, so it stays fun! It’s one of those towns that is a super fun and easy day trip and we always go a few times a year. I promise it won’t disappoint!
