Discover the hidden gems of Orlando North with this thoughtfully crafted, wheelchair-accessible two-day itinerary. From charming eateries to scenic outdoor adventures, every stop has been carefully selected to ensure comfort and ease while exploring the vibrant towns of Sanford, Lake Mary, and beyond. Whether you’re rolling along the Sanford Riverwalk, savoring mouthwatering local dishes, or delving into Central Florida’s history through ghost tours and museums, this guide guarantees an inclusive and memorable journey through the region’s best attractions. Let’s begin your accessible adventure!
Day One
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Colonial Room Restaurant
To kick off what is going to be an amazing day in Sanford, start with a great breakfast at the Colonial Room Restaurant in the historic downtown. The menu contains everything you’d expect from a southern breakfast, like eggs, waffles, pancakes, and even a five-egg “Garbage” omelet that leaves a few ingredients untouched! The best part of this restaurant, however, is the friendly staff that makes you feel like family as soon as you roll through the door. It’s easy to navigate in between the tables, the staff will easily pull a chair away for you, and the bathroom is wheelchair accessible.
Sanford Riverwalk
After a big breakfast, you might want to walk/roll it off with some gorgeous views of Lake Monroe. The Sanford Riverwalk is a planned multi use trail that’s nearly 5 miles long on the southern shore of the lake. The entire trail is wheelchair accessible, and meanders by Fort Mellon park, a playground and splash pad, the marina, and Veterans Memorial Park for some great sunrise or sunset views. The Riverwalk extends west from North Mellonville Avenue to just east of Lake Monroe Wayside Park, where it connects seamlessly with the Cross Seminole Trail and the Spring to Spring Trail.
Shopping in Downtown Sanford
If you’re in downtown Sanford on Saturday, you have to visit the farmer’s market, more formally known as the Sanford Marketplace at Magnolia. You can find everything by local vendors from arts and crafts, jewelry, plants, locally grown produce, and plenty of food! Vendors set up in Magnolia Square every Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. If you’re an art lover, check out the beautiful art galleries featuring local talent like Gallery on First. Make sure you keep an eye out for Louis, the French bulldog who is the official “greeter”! Plenty of other locally owned and accessible shops on 1st Street offer books, soaps, candles, clothing, and a variety of other unique items.
Shantell’s Just Until
Surely all that rolling and shopping has helped you work up an appetite, so it’s time to head over to Shantell’s Just Until for a delicious soul food lunch. Just Until serves southern dishes and Caribbean-influenced seafood, as well as unique health-conscious and allergy-sensitive dishes like the only gluten-free fried chicken in Central Florida. She’s a chef, a business owner, mother of ten, and holds a Harley Davidson world record for visiting all 48 contiguous U.S. states in only 27 days. Inspired by her diabetic daughter to serve healthy food, she sees her restaurant as a gathering place, and social hall, and entertainment venue all rolled into one. She has comedy nights, music nights, and even biker brunches! The entrance is easy for wheelchair users to roll through, and there is a second wheelchair accessible bathroom in the back of the restaurant.
Central Florida Zoo
After filling up on a healthy lunch, it’s time to take a very short drive over to the Central Florida Zoo. Your visit will introduce you to a variety of animals, including some of the rarest and most endangered species on the planet. The zoo is home to more than 350 animals representing over 100 species, from tiny scorpions to graceful giraffes and even the endangered Indian rhino. The guest paths are a combination of solid surface pavement and wooden boardwalks, and are large enough to accommodate strollers, family groups, and all mobility devices. Manual wheelchairs are available for rent on a first come, first served basis at the admissions window, and guests requiring the use of a mobility device are welcome to bring their own into the zoo. Service animals are always welcome! The zoo is open from 9 AM to 4 PM, and ticket prices range from $13.95 to $21.95.
Fuel BBQ & Patio
When your body starts running on fumes from a busy day, it’s time to gas up at Fuel for dinner! The menu features “old-school low and slow” barbecue favorites like beef brisket, pulled pork and chicken, burnt ends, plenty of side dishes, and an amazing smoked mac & cheese. The scrumptious cornbread is also a fan favorite of this historic garage-inspired restaurant. Diners can eat indoors in the air-conditioning, or outside on the expansive patio while listening to acoustic live music on select evenings. Fuel has an accessible dining area, and two large wheelchair assessable bathrooms.
Sanford Ghost Tours
What better way to learn a city’s history than by hearing about some of its spooky residents? The city of Sanford was established in 1877, and was inhabited by several Native American tribes before the US Army moved in to establish a presence. Having been touched by war, disease, and tragedy over the years, there are several haunted tales to be told of ghostly events that have occurred around the downtown area. This 90-minute walking tour, led by a very knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining guide, is fully wheelchair accessible and spans several blocks in the historic downtown Sanford area. Tours are offered on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 PM, and cost $28.75 per person.
The Alley
Founded in 2005, The Alley is a family-owned and operated authentic live music bar in the historic district of downtown Sanford. You can hear some of the best local bands sing and play their hearts out on the stage every Wednesday through Sunday, and even take part in weekly jam nights. The Alley is smoke-free, has a full liquor bar, and there are four tables near the stage that are lowered and can be reserved for wheelchair users. There’s also a ramp to get up the step to the main level, a ramp that connects The Alley to Fuel BBQ next-door (you can order food from your table), and an accessible bathroom.
Day Two
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Peach Valley Café
Since 2001, Peach Valley Café has been offering breakfast, lunch, and brunch at several Central Florida locations, including their new expanded location in Heathrow. Their menu includes traditional breakfast staples like omelettes, pancakes, French toast, and waffles. But you’re in for a treat with the Café’s shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and their specialty fresh apple fritters!
Mystique Escape Room
Located in Lake Mary at the Colonial Town Park shopping plaza, the mistake escape room offers three exciting escape room options with different levels of difficulty. Themes include Secrets of the Pharaohs, Murder in London, and the Wizard’s Tower. Each room accommodates 2 to 10 players, and each set of puzzles must be solved within 60 minutes. The facility and escape rooms are wheelchair accessible. The staff is also able to remotely trigger many of the puzzles if a wheelchair user needs assistance with the experience.
Painting at Winey Wench
The Winey Wench is a fun café-style gift shop and art instruction class. Half of the shop features a huge wine selection and a store full of unique pieces of art, wine accessories, and trinkets. The back half features the painting class, where instructors walk you through the picture of the day step-by-step until you have painted a masterpiece—and after a glass or two of wine, everyone feels like Picasso! Classes are 2 ½ hours long and offered at the Seminole Town Center (Thu-Sun) and the Altamonte Mall (Fri-Sun). Fees are $30 per person and include brushes, paint, easel, apron, instruction, and a 16 x 20 stretch canvas.
Shopping at Altamonte Mall
After finishing your masterpiece, you can roll through the Altamonte Mall for some retail therapy! The Mall is one of Central Florida’s favorite shopping centers, conveniently located off of I-4 and filled with popular brands that you know and love. You can enjoy dinner and a movie, or just indulge in a shopping spree with lots of options for stores and restaurants.
Crane’s Roost Park
To wind down from your shopping experience, it’s time to get some fresh air and roll a couple of blocks down to beautiful Cranes Roost Park. It’s located at the heart of Uptown Altamonte surrounding Cranes Roost Lake, which is encircled by one mile of continuous wheelchair accessible walkway with benches and covered seating areas. Within the 45-acre park is a European-style plaza, including a choreographed fountain show, a 62-foot picturesque tower, and the Eddie Rose amphitheater with stadium-style seating and a one of a kind floating stage. The park is home to numerous festivals, events, and live music shows, all of which are accessible for wheelchair users.
Wekiwa Springs State Park
To continue your relaxing outdoor experience, it’s time to catch a beautiful sunset at Wekiwa Springs State Park. With emerald springs feeding the river and lush tropical hammocks, this unique park is perfect for observing abundant wildlife or cooling off on a summer day. There’s a wide wheelchair accessible boardwalk that circles part of the spring and the swimming area, then wanders off into the foliage. There’s also a chair that can be lowered into the springs with park ranger assistance.
Santiago’s Bodega
There’s nothing like delicious Spanish tapas and a smooth sangria to wind down after a busy day on wheels. Santiago’s Bodega is where characters, stories, cultures, and food combine to create the perfect union. It’s a quirky mix of décor, mismatched chairs, custom art, and reclaimed wood, forming the perfect environment for indulging in several scrumptious appetizer-sized plates and sharing with friends.
About the Creator
After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, this Air Force veteran refused to let MS define her. She has also refused to let her wheelchair confine her. Sylvia has visited 57 countries, 48 of those as a wheelchair user and 34 of those by herself. Her mission is to share information about the accessibility of her destinations with fellow wheelchair users around the world and inspire them to explore the world around them. She only writes about destinations she has personally visited, and as a result provides only authentic and reliable information about a location’s wheelchair accessibility. Follow Syliva on Instagram @sylvia_longmire
