Things to do in Sanford and the St. Johns River

Sanford sits about 35 to 45 minutes north of Orlando on the I-4, and it is one of the few stops on this list reachable by SunRail rather than a rental car. The draw is the St. Johns River itself, one of the few major rivers in North America that flows north, lined with marsh, forest, and spring runs rather than beaches.

Sanford's brick-paved historic downtown works as the entry point, with river cruises and kayak outfitters a short walk from the restaurants. Blue Spring State Park lies further north on the river, Wekiwa Springs sits to the west, and both hold at a constant 72°F (22°C) year-round.

Blue Spring closes to swimmers from November through March, when manatees move upriver to shelter in the warmer spring water.