Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by Marybeth
Is it you, or is it your travel partner, who never wants to make stops along the way? Is someone in your car reminiscent of most dads when we were kids, making our little bladders stronger by making us hold it until we almost couldn’t? Is the goal reaching our destination ASAP, or is the goal enjoying the journey? (I know: how many times have we heard that overused phrase? Almost as much as Life Laugh Love?)
We began this series – Fun Stops on Your Way Somewhere (Not Necessarily) Better – while driving (you’ve probably guessed the rest) to one of our little blog trip destinations, and someone in the car was destination-bound-and-determined and the other someone saw the cutest little café (waterfront! colorful!) flash by her window. While I do understand being goal-oriented, and plan-specific, and getting there is certainly key…. Take the pit stop. Don’t be that dad.
Ocoee, Florida had not been on our radar to visit – just being honest! – but our friends suggested we check out award-winning Toll Road Brewing Company during a couple nights’ camping visit to Kelly Park / Rock Springs, as a little detour from our constant (joyful!) lazy tubing rides down the gorgeous Rock Springs run. Driving into Ocoee I was struck by the simple old Florida charm combined with some trend-forward updates, which included a couple of hip spots, mostly for food and drink but also the sweetest independent bookstore, plus the gorgeous lake just down the street.
Ocoee’s next-door neighbor, Winter Garden, has been getting all the press and attention for a few years now – and yes, deservedly so. The historic downtown, the farmer’s market, the upscale shops and eateries all have that wow factor, but having that can equal crowds. Fair price for its “The Coolest Suburb in Florida” designation!
Next time, drive an extra seven minutes to Ocoee.
Not pictured but some additional popular stops for your day in Ocoee:
Just a day trip for us (as we were staying in our 13 ft. 1972 Boler camper that we’re renovating – we’ll show you the whole project, someday… ) Ocoee was well worth the drive from Kelly Park. A quick search for lodging found a very intriguing Airbnb “tiny house” boat house on Starke Lake. There is just something about a boat house… This would be my choice for an overnight! The listing talks more about Winter Garden than Ocoee, but Winter Garden is that coolest suburb… Check out the listing, here.
Related: Fun Stops On Your Way Somewhere (Not Necessarily) Better: Lake Nona
Have you been to Ocoee, Florida? Let us know; we’d love to hear your experience.
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