Tuesday, 25 March
The Journey from Fort Lauderdale to Davenport
The journey from Yacht Haven Park and Marina in Fort Lauderdale to Orlando Southwest KOA Holiday covered approximately 218 miles and took around four hours. We began by heading north on I-95, leaving the bustling city behind as we transitioned onto the open highway.
At Exit 76, we veered west onto FL-710 (Beeline Highway), winding through quieter stretches of countryside before merging onto FL-70. From there, we continued westward before joining US-27 North, a scenic route that carried us through rolling landscapes and small Florida towns.
Eventually, we arrived at our campground, southwest of Orlando, to settle in for the next leg of our adventure.
Orlando Southwest KOA Holiday
Orlando Southwest KOA Holiday, located in Davenport, Florida, has over 300 sites, including full-hookup sites and cable TV. Amenities include a heated pool, hot tub, playground, and a dog park for pet owners. The park also offers bike rentals and organized activities, especially for families, such as themed weekends and seasonal events. There’s a clubhouse, a snack bar, and plenty of outdoor seating areas for those looking to relax. The park also has a well-stocked camp store for supplies and essentials.
Celebration Brewing Company
After setting up our camper, we headed up I-4 to Celebration Brewing Company, located just outside the Disney-planned community of Celebration. The traffic on I-4 was bumper-to-bumper for most of the drive, but we covered the 8.2 miles in about 30 minutes.
At the brewery, we enjoyed a flight of beers featuring Community Kölsch, How Now Brown Ale, Lakeside Lager, and Storm Strong. To go with our drinks, we ordered a Carnivore Pizza topped with charred pepperoni, sausage, and soppressata. As we sipped our beers and savored the pizza, we had fun playing along with trivia displayed on the TV.
Food & Gas
The drive back was just as congested, but we made a quick stop at a Publix grocery store a couple of miles from the campground to stock up on food. Before returning to the camper, we also stopped at Wawa for gas, where we saved 25 cents per gallon using the mobile app. While inside, we couldn’t resist trying a “hand-crafted iced coffee,” which we grabbed for just $2 through the app.
With our errands complete, we finally made it back to the camper and settled in for a relaxing evening.
Wednesday, 26 March
The Caravan was picked up at 10:15 a.m. by a motorcoach for sightseeing in Clermont, visiting several notable attractions.
Presidents Hall of Fame
We first visited the President’s Hall of Fame, a small museum dedicated to the history and legacy of the U.S. presidency. Established in the 1960s, this museum had an extensive collection of presidential memorabilia, life-sized wax figures, and a meticulously crafted miniature replica of the White House. It was very junky and musty smelling, and the collections were packed together, often making it difficult to see the individual items. A docent wandered around sharing random trivia about the presidents. Outside, a large replica of Mount Rushmore and the Lincoln Memorial.
Nearby was the Citrus Tower, a 226-foot-tall observation tower built in 1956 to showcase the vast citrus groves that once covered the region. Today, the citrus fields have largely disappeared due to a combination of factors, including devastating freezes, disease, and urban development. Though the vast citrus fields are gone, the Citrus Tower still stands as a nostalgic reminder of Clermont’s past as the heart of Florida’s citrus industry.
Historic Downtown Clermont
The motorcoach took us to the Historic District of Clermont for lunch, where we found a charming area centered around Montrose Street. This lively neighborhood was full of small restaurants, bars, and ice cream shops. We first explored the Montrose Food Market, home to a variety of small fast-food eateries, before deciding on Corelli’s, an Italian deli just down the street. We shared a foot-long turkey sub that came with pasta salad on the side, along with house-made diet sodas. The meal was delicious, though we couldn’t quite finish the generous sandwich.
After lunch, we strolled through downtown and discovered an alley with vibrant murals adorning the walls. We then made our way to Waterfront Park, located along the shores of Lake Minneola. The park featured a well-maintained paved walkway, with benches offering peaceful views of the water. The lake had a reddish tint, due to tannins from the nearby cypress and oak trees. We continued our walk to a three-story observation tower overlooking a stormwater retention pond covered in lily pads. Though we never figured out the tower’s purpose, it was open to the public, providing a great spot to take in the scenery.
Next, we visited the Clermont Historic Village, an open-air museum showcasing the area’s history from the late 1800s to World War II. The village included notable sites such as the Townsend House (home to Clermont’s first African-American residents), the Kern House (built in 1885 by early settlers), the Cooper Memorial Library (the town’s first public library, dating back to 1914), a one-room schoolhouse, the original Clermont train depot, and the Quonset Hut WWII Museum, which preserves artifacts from the war. While all the buildings were locked, we were scheduled for a tour later in the day, but unfortunately, due to time constraints, our wagonmaster had to remove this stop from the itinerary.
Before leaving, we stopped by Epic Cycles World, a shop featuring high-end bicycles priced at $6,000 and up. A staff member shared that Clermont is well-known for its vibrant cycling community and has become a training hub for Olympic athletes, especially in swimming and triathlon. With its ideal location, warm climate, and numerous training facilities, Clermont has attracted athletes from around the globe looking to train in a top-tier environment.
Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards
Next, the motorcoach took us to Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, Florida’s largest premium winery, nestled on a picturesque 127-acre estate. Known for specializing in wines made from the region’s native Muscadine grapes, the winery offers complimentary daily tours and tastings, making it a popular destination for wine enthusiasts.
Our visit began with a short informative movie that introduced us to the art of winemaking and the history of the winery. After the film, we were led on a guided tour of the state-of-the-art production facility, where we learned about the winemaking process, from grape harvesting to fermentation and bottling. The tour also took us through the vineyards, where we had the chance to admire the lush grapevines and scenic views of the sprawling estate.
The tour concluded with a wine tasting session, where we sampled a selection of award-winning wines. The tasting included a variety of wines, ranging from dry to sweet, with a special sparkling option included. Although we appreciated the opportunity to taste the wines, neither of us are particularly passionate about wine, so we decided not to purchase any bottles to take with us. The experience was still enjoyable, offering a glimpse into the history of the area and craftsmanship and dedication that goes into each bottle of Lakeridge wine.
Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show
We headed over to the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, located in the ICON Park shopping area of Orlando. After being dropped off in front of the theater, we had about 45 minutes to explore the vibrant area before the show began. ICON Park is a lively entertainment hub on International Drive, offering a mix of shops, restaurants, and attractions. It’s best known for ICON Orlando, a 400-foot-tall observation wheel that provides breathtaking views of the city. Other attractions include the Museum of Illusions, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, Madame Tussauds Orlando, and the StarFlyer, a thrilling ride that swings guests 450 feet into the air. The sidewalks were lined with street vendors, adding to the carnival-like atmosphere. While it wasn’t overly crowded yet, the large parking structure and numerous valet options suggested that the area can get busy.
When we returned to the theater, we were given our tickets and then relaxed in the bar area with the rest of our group. Shortly after, we were escorted into the small theater for the 2.5-hour interactive performance that combined comedy, mystery, and dining. The evening kicked off with a light salad course, followed by the first half of the show. The performance felt very improvisational, adding a fun, spontaneous element to the experience. Sleuths rotates through eleven different shows, and ours was titled “Roast ’em and Toast ’em.”
In this particular show, Arty Miller, the head of the Celebrity Elite Agency, hosted a roast for his stepmother, Margaret Petrovich. Arty was joined by three other characters: Margaret’s sister, Arty’s assistant, and the agency’s handyman. The plot took a dramatic turn when Margaret was murdered on her way to the roast, and the audience was tasked with figuring out who the killer was. While we worked on formulating questions for the characters, dinner was served. Lisa and I opted for the cheese lasagna, with me choosing to add meatballs to mine. The meal came with unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks.
The second half of the performance was a fun and engaging interactive session where the audience asked the characters questions in an attempt to uncover the murderer’s identity. Meanwhile, we were treated to dessert: either chocolate mousse or key lime pie. The entire production was filled with laughter and kept us thoroughly entertained throughout the evening.
After the show, we boarded the bus for the drive back, which was unfortunately made longer by the notorious I-4 traffic. Despite the congestion, we arrived back at the hotel around 9:45 p.m., still smiling from the fun evening we had just experienced.
Thursday, 27 March
In the morning, the caravan staff served some Dunkin Donuts for us. We took off around 10:30 heading for Titusville, FL