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While most visitors to Orlando head straight to the theme parks, there are many incredible things to do in and around Orlando other than visiting Disney World<\/a>. In fact, north of the city, you’ll discover some of Florida’s most unique landscapes. The Lake Wales Ridge is an ancient\u00a0100-mile-long sand ridge, which includes one of Florida’s highest peaks, the\u00a0312-foot Sugarloaf Mountain.\u00a0Just north of Sugarloaf, amidst this hilly region nicknamed the “Florida Alps”, is Howey-in-the-Hills, a lakefront town right on the western shores of Little Lake Harris. The town was founded by entrepreneur\u00a0William John Howey,\u00a0who\u00a0was instrumental in developing Florida’s citrus industry in the early 20th century and owned nearly\u00a060,000 acres\u00a0in the area. He further developed Howey-in-the-Hills, building a golf club in 1917\u00a0and his personal Mediterranean Revival-style mansion in\u00a01925.<\/p>\n Today, Howey-in-the-Hills is an under-the-radar escape for golfers, history buffs, and serenity seekers. Howey’s original golf club was later transformed into the Mission Resort + Club<\/a>, a luxe retreat with upgraded rooms, suites, and\u00a0two golf courses. Howey’s private home, known as\u00a0The Howey Mansion<\/a>, brims with historic charm and has been fully\u00a0restored. The lavish estate can be toured or rented for private events. Along Little Lake Harris’ shores, you’ll also find a public park\u00a0and a lakefront\u00a0nature reserve for enjoying the area’s lush natural beauty.<\/p>\n Howey-in-the-Hills is located between Orlando and Ocala, an underrated town near one of America’s largest springs<\/a>, and is about a\u00a045-minute drive from Orlando International Airport. While you can visit Howey-in-the-Hills year-round, May through September can be very hot and rainy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Historic charm in Howey-in-the-Hills<\/p>\n To learn more about Howey-in-the-Hills’ namesake and the area’s historic charm, you’ll want to tour The Howey Mansion<\/a>. The elegant villa was designed by Katharine Cotheal Budd, a visionary architect renowned for\u00a0grand homes.\u00a0Set on a tropically landscaped 15-acre park, the pink stucco mansion is crowned by a clay-tiled roof\u00a0and boasts an opulent facade with a large turret.\u00a0<\/p>\n The entrance leads into an impressive foyer, anchored by a\u00a0sweeping staircase and marble walls. Throughout the opulent house are details such as large fireplaces,\u00a0stained glass lighting,\u00a0and even a secret passageway tucked behind a bookshelf. Fitting for its grandeur, the mansion hosted many big-name guests, including President Calvin Coolidge in 1930.<\/p>\n The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s, but in the following decades, it was abandoned and fell into disrepair. The current owners purchased The Howey Mansion in 2017 and renovated the property to preserve its original details and historic charm. Its\u00a075-minute tours are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 11 a.m. to explore this fascinating Florida treasure. Visitors have praised the experience. “Our tour guide, Fran, made the place come alive with her extensive knowledge of the history and social life descriptions of the Mansion and Howey in the Hills when Mr. Howey lived there,” raved a Tripadvisor<\/a> reviewer. To see another important Florida estate, head about an hour’s drive away to the Stetson Mansion, one of America’s most underrated tourist attractions, with spectacular grounds<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Golfing and lake views in Howey-in-the-Hills<\/p>\n Across the street from The Howey Mansion is the Mission Resort + Club, another landmark of Howey’s legacy in Howey-in-the-Hills. The\u00a0club’s\u00a0El Campe\u00f3n golf course\u00a0has been ranked as one of the 40 best public courses in Florida by GolfDigest<\/a>.\u00a0The challenging course boasts a scenic setting of steeply rolling\u00a0greens that promise stunning views\u00a0and plenty of sparkling ponds.\u00a0There is even an island green on the eighth hole.\u00a0Once you’ve mastered El Campe\u00f3n, check out the second golf course, Las Colinas, which was added in 1992.\u00a0Las Colinas is a less dramatic course than El Campe\u00f3n and has wider\u00a0fairways, yet\u00a0it still demands accurate shots.<\/p>\n For more outdoor adventure and scenic lake views, head south to some of Howey-in-the-Hills’ lakefront parks.\u00a0Griffin Park\u00a0is a petite park\u00a0boasting a prime waterfront on Little Lake Harris\u00a0with a public boat ramp and lake piers for boating or fishing. Little Lake Harris’ waters are healthy habitats for large populations of bass, making it a popular spot for anglers.<\/p>\n Drive further down the road to another Howey-in-the-Hills park, the Sara Maude Mason Nature Preserve<\/a>. Its\u00a01.4-mile trail\u00a0leads visitors through a boardwalk towered over by live oak trees and flanked by wetlands. The trail extends out to Little Lake Harris, where you can get an unobstructed view of the lake from the elevated viewing platform. After you’ve explored this lush and wild preserve, enjoy a meal at JB Boondock’s Bar and Grill<\/a>. A former fishing camp perched right on the lake’s shores, JB Boondock’s serves up tasty burgers and hearty seafood entrees \u2014 including frog legs, steamed clams, and gator tail strips \u2013\u00a0with a waterfront panorama.<\/p>\n
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