Lake Placid Vacation Rentals

Culinary delights in and around Lake Placid

and its surrounding areas are renowned for their thriving culinary culture. Pay a visit to the Cuban Café and Bakery in North Main Avenue, which offers yummy sandwiches, espresso, Cuban breads, desserts, and lunch specials. Another local favorite is Bo David’s Restaurant and Bar, where you can sample a delicious brick oven pizza and other delicacies.

Located in downtown Lake Placid, Cow Pie's Country Store and Creamery is well worth a visit for gourmets wanting to try their signature sandwiches. For healthy snacks, head to Good News Café, a cozy eatery with a vegan menu that includes smoothies, wraps, juices, and paninis, as well as excellent hot beverages.

For more traditional fare, Jaxson's on the Lake June Road serves hearty American dishes including appetizers, soups, salads, wraps, and sandwiches. One of the must-try dishes is Jaxson's signature hookiemelt, which is fried or grilled chicken served with onions, wing sauce, sour cream, and jack cheddar cheese. The fried cheesecake is also worth trying.

Explore Lake Placid's cultural gems

Art lovers will have a great time in the downtown area, where the city's fascinating outdoor murals are on display. It is also worth stopping by the Caladium Arts & Crafts Cooperative in the downtown area, a non-profit organization showcasing crafts and artworks by local artists.

Take a tour of the Lake Placid Historical Society Depot Museum in Park Street, which showcases exhibitions focused on the region's history. The museum exhibits household items, photographs, antique furniture, documents, scrapbooks, and various other items connected to Lake Placid's history.

Another attraction is Toby’s American Clown Museum and School, a one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to American clowns, in the area of West Interlake. This unique clown museum boasts over 700 items of clown memorabilia including figurines, photographs, paintings, and clown clothes.

Discover the great outdoors in and around Lake Placid

If you love the outdoors, head over to the Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park and enjoy a picnic in a quiet corner of the park. Spread over 845 acres, the state park is home to a variety of flora and fauna. Enjoy some fishing, bird watching, or hiking during your stay in the park.

Consider visiting the Highlands Hammock State Park to explore dense tropical forestry, nature trails, and swamplands. The State Park is home to a diverse range of plants and wildlife species including panthers and black bears.

A trip to Lake Placid is incomplete without a visit to the beautiful Lake Istokpoga, one of the largest lakes in Florida, boasting the highest number of fishing spots and boat ramps in the Highlands County. Take an exciting airboat ride to enjoy scenic vistas, and spot animal species like alligators, turtles, fish, and birds.

If you love golf, make sure to tee off at the Placid Lakes Country Club or the Lake June West Golf Course. Alternatively, take a walking trip to the Henscratch Farms Vineyard & Winery to sample magnolia wine and experience feeding the farms's chickens. There is also a souvenir shop where you can buy a range of items including mugs, key chains, jams, wine, and more.

Lake Placid: festivals and events

The brilliantly colored caladium plant is the crown jewel of Lake Placid. These red-and-green plants grow in vast public gardens, which are spread across the town. These caladium gardens are often compared to Holland's famous tulip fields. The Annual Caladium Festival in July is one of Lake Placid's major events and features bus tours to the caladium fields, as well as car shows, wine tasting, craft booths, street food, and lots of open-air entertainment.

Lake Placid's annual Grape Stomp Festival is held in August at the Henscratch Farms Vineyard & Winery. Join in the fun of grape-stomping and winemaking at this unique event, which also includes wine tasting, musical performances, self-guided winery tours, contests, and delicious treats.