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‘It’s Old Florida:’ 10 things to love about Sanford

When Jeanine Taylor first moved her art gallery from Winter Park to Sanford 15 years ago, she was betting on what she saw as one of Central Florida’s last undeveloped frontiers.

Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café opened its doors in 2001 when Sanford’s historic area had a few scattered shops and restaurants, but otherwise, it felt a little bit like a “ghost town.”

“I’m originally from Miami. I thought Sanford looked like Old Florida,” said Taylor, the director of Jeanine Taylor Folk Art and the Gallery on First. “I didn’t want it to develop that much, but I thought this was one of the last frontiers as far as being in Central Florida.”

Now Taylor’s bet is paying off as the historic Seminole County community is bustling with countless restaurants, bars and shops — almost all owned and run by locals.

“The city won’t let any chains in, which is great. These are all mom-and-pop owners, so they’re very creative people,” Taylor said.

In the last 30 years, the population of Sanford has almost doubled from around 32,000 in 1990 to more than 60,000 in recent years, according to U.S. Census data.

But even as the city grows, residents and business owners are dedicated to preserving Sanford’s history and small-town charm.

While far from an exhaustive list, here are 10 things to love about the hip, up-and-coming town of Sanford, Florida.

The Craft Beer/Bar Scene

Few places in Central Florida boast as robust of a bar and craft beer scene as Sanford does. There are at least five breweries that craft unique concoctions in-house, one distillery, four beer gardens and more than a dozen bars — all within walking distance. Cigar enthusiasts can find three different venues for puffing and sipping.

Many of these venues offer live music on the weekends, including Tuffy’s Music Box, Celery City Craft, The Alley, West End Trading Co, Sanford Brewing, Wops Hops Brewing Co., Dees Brothers Brewery, The Sullivan and several others.

Unique Experiences

In the name of exploring Sanford’s bar scene in style, hop on a LimoCycle, which is a “pedaled party and sightseeing bike.” Take in the town and hop around to different bars and historical sites on a two-hour cruise.

For a water-based outing, hop aboard the Barbara-Lee, a historic sternwheeler run by the St. Johns Rivership Co., which has luncheon cruises, dinner cruises and special events.

When the weather gets hot or rainy, consider an indoor adventure at Elev8 Fun, an entertainment center with arcade games, electric go-karts, axe throwing, a ropes course, bowling, food, drinks and more. Sanford also offers a chance for friends and family to test their skills in an “Escape Artists” escape room.

Sanford RiverWalk

While downtown Sanford is easy to experience by foot, the town’s walkability extends to the scenic shoreline of Lake Monroe, thanks to the RiverWalk. The paved multi-use path allows walkers, runners, cyclists and skaters to explore miles of waterfront outdoor space with parks along the way.

This RiverWalk connects with the Spring-to-Spring Trail, allowing recreationists to access Blue Spring State Park on a dedicated trail or make a loop around Lake Monroe. Other nearby outdoor experiences abound, such as the popular 7-mile hiking loop at Black Bear Wilderness Area.

Small-town Charm

From quaint brick streets to historic Victorian homes with large front porches, small-town charm is abundant in Sanford.

“It’s Old Florida. It just reminds me of places that I grew up in. People know each other,” said Taylor, who grew up in Miami. “I like that they’re preserving the environment and buildings around here.”

In terms of getting around, Sanford has unique forms of transportation. Golf carts are allowed to roam the downtown district, and the city offers a free trolley that connects to the SunRail and takes visitors to various places around town.

For people who drive into town, one of Sanford’s biggest perks is plenty of free parking.

Midway, Goldsboro and Black History

While the Mayaca and Jororo people were the first known inhabitants of the greater Sanford community, the area’s Black history is integral to Seminole County’s past.

The settlement of Midway/Canaan City was established for the area’s Black workers during the celery boom of the 1920s and still serves as home to residents whose family history in the area dates back generations. The Midway Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, works in the name of community service, economic development, education and preserving history.

The historic African-American community of Goldsboro was annexed and incorporated into the city of Sanford in 1911 (despite petitions from Goldsboro residents to stay independent). Now, the Goldsboro Museum holds the keys to the community’s history.

It’s still possible to see the historic building that formerly housed Hopper Academy, a school for African Americans in Sanford. Part of the Florida Black Heritage Trail, the building is now a community center with arts programming for children.

Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Nominated as one of the best zoos in the country on USA Today’s 10Best list, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is home to more than 350 animals representing more than 100 species.

Curious guests can view rare species such as foosas, which are endemic to Madagascar, and an array of big cats, including leopards, a cougar and cheetahs. Special experiences include Seminole Aerial Adventures zipline courses, a miniature train ride, rhinoceros encounters and giraffe feedings. The property is also a certified botanical garden with butterflies and other pollinators fluttering about.

This holiday season, explore the annual Asian Lantern Festival with dozens of hand-crafted lanterns scattered across the attraction’s grounds.

Shop Small

Since Sanford is notoriously unfriendly to chain establishments, shoppers benefit from a wide array of stores run by Central Floridians. From Unfurl Collective, which has an array of art, antiques, foliage and gifts, to the eclectic offerings of Magpies Modern General Store, there’s no shortage of ways to shop small.

Sanford also serves as home to a homebrew shop, two bookstores, an imported furniture store, two bike shops, a hot sauce store and countless other places that have unique retail offerings.

Local Flavor, Global Tastes

While Sanford has plenty of food made by locals, the tastes visitors can experience are more global in nature. The most obvious destination that first comes to mind is Hollerbach’s German Restaurant, which serves up schnitzel, bratwurst, Spätzle and other staples with an adjacent German Market full of imported goods.

Inside Henry’s Depot, a food hall and cocktail bar, visitors can sample seafood, barbecue, Italian sandwiches, island cuisine, ramen, ice cream, coffee and pizza.

Downtown Sanford also has coffee shops, bakeries, a waterfront seafood restaurant, sushi, Jamaican cuisine, Greek food and Shantell’s Soul Food.

Get Artsy

When it comes to visual arts, Taylor’s Gallery on First is the prime place to experience folk art and visit eight studios of working artists. Hollerbach’s also now has its own venue for art with its Art Haus above the restaurant.

In terms of performing arts, visit Theater West End for an array of plays, musicals and live shows. The Ritz Theater, a historic space that just celebrated 100 years, houses the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center where programming includes concerts, comedy, musicals, movies, variety shows and more.

Every third Thursday of the month from 6-9 p.m., experience Sanford Art & Jazz Night, which has various bars and venues opening their doors for a celebration of arts, music and spirits.

Festivals Galore

With such a warm, welcoming community, Sanford finds itself as the landing place for annual festivals, including Sanford Porchfest, Sofas and Suds Couch Racing, the Orlando Air Show, Jingle Jam, the St. Johns River Festival of the Arts and more.

To learn more, visit historicdowntownsanford.com.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.