Floral City

YOU DON’T HAVE TO CLAIM OLYMPICLEVEL FITNESS TO ENJOY BIKING ON THE WITHLACOOCHEE STATE TRAIL (WST). THE TERRAIN IS MOSTLY FLAT, SO IT ISN’T OVERLY STRENUOUS. The longest paved rail trail in the state, the WST is 46 miles long and runs from Citrus Springs in the north to Trilby on the southern end. Floral City finds itself basically in the middle, allowing you to easily cycle in either direction. Walkers and hikers also frequent the WST, so if cycling isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy this scenic trail. Don’t have your own bike or a way to transport it? No problem. Head to Hampton’s Edge Trailside Bicycles, located on Orange Avenue (State Road 48) between State Road 41 and the WST, where the friendly staff will happily answer your questions about the trail and rent you a bike. You might want to test ride and rent a “bent,” one of the wildly popular recumbent bikes that promise a truly comfortable ride. Just be sure to reserve your rental ahead of time and remember that the shop is closed on Sundays and Tuesdays.

The Shamrock Inn is the place for “refueling,” whether you head out of town to ride first or stop in before hitting the trail. Located adjacent to the WST, the Shamrock Inn is popular with both locals and visitors. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, this small town pub and grill offers standard pub fare, with their burgers, wings and sandwiches earning rave reviews.

You’ll want to take a short break from pedaling and walk through the Florida Artists Gallery on Orange Avenue, just a block from the WST. The historic Florida Cracker house features a great collection of works in various media by area artists.

If you happen to be visiting on a Friday or Saturday, stop in at the Floral City Heritage Museum and Country Store, also on Orange Avenue. Soak in a little history about the area as you tour the museum, which is located in the former downtown fire station. Be sure to browse the country store where you’ll find plenty of interesting merchandise not available at the area Wal-Mart, including books, reproduction maps and classic kids’ toys directly related to Floral City and Citrus County. There are also items made by local artists.

MAKE PLANS:

WITHLACOOCHEE STATE TRAIL dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/crossflorida/trails/with_state. htm, (352) 726-2251

To print a bike map, visit: railstotrailsonline.com/images/bikemap.pdf

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FLORIDA ARTISTS GALLERY flartistsgallery.com, (352) 344-9300

SHAMROCK INN shamrockinn-floralcity.com, (352) 726-6414

FLORAL CITY HERITAGE MUSEUM AND COUNTRY STORE floralcityhc.org/museum.html, (352) 860-0101

VISIT:

HAMPTON’S EDGE TRAILSIDE BICYCLES RENT A “BENT,” ONE OF THE WILDLY POPULAR RECUMBENT BIKES THAT PROMISE A TRULY COMFORTABLE RIDE

WITH A NAME ROOTED IN SEMINOLE AND CREEK HERITAGE, HOMOSASSA MEANS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF “PLACE WHERE WILD PEPPER GROWS.”