24 Hours In Sanford, Florida

Sanford is about 15 minutes north of Orlando and 30 minutes south of Daytona Beach. While it doesn't have the over-the-top tourism industry that these nearby cities do, you can still keep yourself busy for a day or two in Sanford. In fact, here's where you'll find the only zoo in the Orlando metropolitan area! Check out what else you can do during your 24 Hours In Sanford, Florida.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando North / Sanford

To call this hotel "North Orlando" is a stretch, but it's perfectly located for a day in Sanford. It has easy access to I-4 (which, incidentally, is how you get to North Orlando from Sanford) and the Seminole Towne Center. This hotel is in a busy part of town, so you may want to pack ear plugs. When it's time to eat, you'll have plenty of restaurants near by to choose from, including fast food and great sit-down restaurants.

Don Pablos Mexican Kitchen

Don Pablo's is right across the street from Spring Hill Suites and a popular place for shoppers at the nearby Seminole Towne Center who want a better meal than what can be found at the food court. The Mexican food here is delicious and the atmosphere is very cool. Avoid the temptation to fill up on chips and salsa - which are great -... More >

The Mexican food here is delicious and the atmosphere is very cool.

Willow Tree Cafe

This restaurant is so much fun that people from Orlando actually drive out to enjoy it - and they have a popular Facebook page! The menu offers classic German cuisine - and that's it - which is great if you love German food. Think sausages and strudel and really big mugs of beer. The polka band and impromptu dancing along with a super fun and friendly staff makes this restaurant a family favorite. Resist the urge to sit outside in the summer, however, unless you want to be eaten alive by mosquitoes.

Seminole Towne Center

This is a much better mall than what you'd expect to find in a town the size of Stanford. It's clean and offers a wide range of stores and restaurants. There's even a Sephora and an H&M! You'll also find a lot of stores near the mall, which is convenient for a full day of shopping - especially around the holidays.

UA Seminole Towne Center 10

This movie theater is right behind the mall but has it's own large parking lot, which is great for late night showings of popular films. They offer many titles in 3D and have a full concession station with great popcorn and deals on kid packs. If you've been to a movie theater before, you know what to expect here.

The Sanford Zoo is the only Zoo in the Orlando area.

Central Florida Zoological Park

The Sanford Zoo is the only Zoo in the Orlando area. It's a little on the small side, but there are still plenty of animals to see and exhibits to learn from. There's also a train ride, a carousel and a zip line and rope obstacle course. An annual membership to the zoo is a great idea if you live in the area. The monkeys here are a lot of fun to watch! You might also enjoy the animal encounters when zoo employees bring... More

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