In the heart of the Sunshine State lies Sebring—a delightful town brimming with unique experiences and captivating locales. Sebring offers adventure, relaxation, and culinary delights, from its world-famous racetrack to its serene freshwater lakes. Here’s your ultimate guide to discovering the charms of Sebring Florida, including where to stay, eat, drink, and play.
Iconic Spots to Stay
Inn on the Lakes
Your home away from home in Sebring, the Inn on the Lakes offers 155 beautifully remodeled rooms against a picturesque lake’s backdrop. With its fabulous gardens and inviting swimming pool deck, you might find it hard to leave!
The hotel’s exceptional customer service, comfort, and hospitality make every stay memorable. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast, WiFi, and free parking, and consider booking with golf privileges for an added treat.
Personal note: This is truly one of my favorite hotels in all of Florida. You have to experience it yourself to see how special it is.
Other Accommodations
Sebring also hosts a variety of other lodging options, including the Holiday Inn Express, Residence Inn, and LaQuinta Inn & Suites. Each offers convenience and affordability, ensuring a comfortable resting place after a day of adventure.
Culinary Delights to Savor
Nutmeg’s Cafe
For a cozy dining experience, Nutmeg’s Cafe offers a gourmet bakery and coffee shop with various tasty sandwiches, salads, and quiches. The signature Mousetrap panini and English Pea Salad are must-tries.
Treat yourself to hand-dipped ice cream or decadent pastries to round off your meal.
Faded Bistro and Beer Garden
Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere at Faded Bistro and Beer Garden, where you can dine amidst vibrant gardens. Their Charcuterie Cheese Board and irresistible Irish Nachos are perfect for sharing with friends or family.
Chicanes Restaurant
Located at the Inn on the Lakes, Chicanes Restaurant serves delectable meals from breakfast to dinner. With a fine-dining aesthetic and a casual vibe, you can indulge in delicious burgers, salads, and the famous Filet Mignon rolled around Pepperjack cheese.
Try the truffle fries and save room for the delightful Bananas Foster!
Other Notable Eateries
- Jaxson’s in Lake Placid is renowned for its Hookiemelt, a chicken dish served with sour cream, onions, cheese, and wing sauce.
- Maxwell Groves in Avon Park offers unique gluten-free orange soft-serve ice cream and a range of fresh fruits, juices, and local products.
Another unique place to explore in the Sunshine State is Florida’s Space Coast. Read more about it here.
Exciting Activities and Attractions
Sebring International Raceway
A hub for motorsports enthusiasts, the Sebring International Raceway is the oldest road racing track in the United States. Though it is a NASCAR-owned park, that is not the kind of race that this track is famous for.
Sebring International hosts the prestigious Twelve Hours of Sebring event each March. It is part of the prestigious Le Mans Series and attracts luxury cars and professional racing teams.
You might even catch a thrilling Ferrari Challenge during your visit, like I did! What is the Ferrari Challenge? It includes professional racing teams and gentlemen drivers (those who can afford the vehicles and drive as a hobby).
Golfing Adventures
Sebring is a golfer’s paradise with 13 courses (Citrus Golf Trail), including the Pinecrest Golf Club and the Country Club of Sebring. Two PGA Qualifier tournaments are also held in Sebring.
The area’s affordability and quality have earned it the reputation of being one of America’s best golf value destinations.
Downtown Sebring
Stroll through downtown Sebring and explore charming local shops like Linda’s Books and Grateful Hearts Do It Yourself Craft Studio & Boutique. Relive childhood memories at Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works with craft sodas from around the country.
Sebring Soda Festival
Each April, Sebring hosts the Sebring Soda Festival, a unique event where visitors can sample various flavored sodas, enjoy live entertainment, and participate in arts and crafts. The festival’s wholesome family-friendly atmosphere makes it a fantastic outing for all ages.
My favorite parts were the sampling of the sodas, live music, and Show and Shine car show. Craft sodas you won’t want to miss are Hank’s Orange Cream, Maine Root Sarsaparilla, Boylan Black Cherry, and Triple XXX Root Beer.
Sugar Sand Distillery
For those who enjoy a good cocktail, the Sugar Sand Distillery offers tastings of moonshine, rum, vodka, and whiskeys. As Florida’s only estate-grown sugar cane distillery, it’s a must-visit for spirits enthusiasts.
Natural Beauty and Outdoor Fun
Highlands Hammock State Park
Established in 1931, Highlands Hammock State Park offers stunning oak hammocks and nine hiking trails over 9,000 acres of beautiful landscape. It’s an excellent spot for birdwatching, photography, and camping, with 143 campsites available.
My favorite path takes you on an elevated boardwalk through a picturesque cypress swamp that is merely inches from the reflective waters. It is stunning, but be aware of the wildlife as you may see Florida panthers or black bears inside the park.
Lake Placid
Nearby Lake Placid boasts 27 freshwater lakes, making it a prime destination for fishing. The town’s colorful retro murals depicting orange groves, clowns, Native Americans, and wildlife add to its charm.
Also in Lake Placid, the Caladium Festival returns for its 33rd edition and three days of festival events in late July, including unique Sugar Express steam train rides. This area grows more than 90% of the world’s caladium bulbs supply and has been compared to the Holland tulip fields in the summer months.
Lake Istokpoga
Back in Sebring, Lake Istokpoga is renowned for trophy bass fishing. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a novice, the lake’s abundant fish population promises a rewarding experience.
Sebring, Florida: Soaring High
Florida is full of so many cool towns, and Sebring has been my best find in ages. I hope you will make your way to it and see it for yourself. I feel quite sure that once the secret is out about how attractive the town’s offerings are, Sebring will be a Central Florida destination that everyone will want to visit.
To learn more about Sebring, visit the local tourism and convention & visitor’s bureau.
Thanks to Visit Sebring for hosting my visit. As always, reviews and opinions are 100% mine and unbiased.
Read about more great places to see in Florida:
Your Guide to Visiting Melbourne
Mirela | The Travel Bunny
Thursday 16th of May 2019
It looks like a really nice trip that you put together! I really love the restaurant and bar selection, with my favorite being Mon Cirque Wine Bar. It looks like a really cool place to have a glass of wine.
Ketki
Thursday 16th of May 2019
You had me at gluten free orange icecream! All the cakes look amazing too. Looks like a fun place to visit for sure.
Rhonda Albom
Tuesday 14th of May 2019
The name Sebring conjures up images of auto racing but I never knew that the track was owned by NASCAR. The gluten-free orange soft-serve ice cream from Maxwell Groves sounds like a real treat.
Cindy
Tuesday 14th of May 2019
Wow, I wasn't familiar with Sebring, but you had me at truffle fries, along with Florida orange cake and ice cream. The filet and the charcuterie board look good too. It will take some hiking in the Highlands Hammock park to work it all off. And I will be wondering, what does unicorn yak soda taste like?
MelodyPittman
Wednesday 15th of May 2019
I thought a lot like cotton candy. ;)
Delphine
Monday 13th of May 2019
The street art looks really interesting, that's always what I look for when I visit a new city!