Things to Do in Palatka

With an inventory of canoes and kayaks—as well as a choice launch point on the banks of the Santa Fe River – Santa Fe Canoe Outpost is a starting point for a wide range of aquatic daytrips. There are adventures of varying length, from the 7-mile downriver trip to Rum Island, to multi-day canoe-camping trips to their furthest destination, 39 miles away.

For years, New Smyrna residents have paddled throughout the marshy backwaters of the Indian River lagoon, finding solace among the area's gentle tides, unclouded skies, and abundance of marine life. United by a respect for their natural surroundings and a knack for paddleboarding, a local family joined forces to form the award-winning New Smyrna Stand Up. With dolphins and manatees swimming below and ospreys sailing above, the experienced guides lead tours down the river, journeying out into the ocean when weather permits. In the summer months, the center conducts children's camps, in which youngsters learn paddleboarding techniques while exploring the area's ecosystem. They study local wildlife and marine creatures and learn to identify the origins of passing inner-tubers by the shape of their heads. In addition to tours and camps, the staff offers paddleboard rentals and standup-paddleboard surfing lessons.

In the wide pastures of The Gypsy Gold Farm, sunlight dances playfully upon the long, flowing manes of Gypsy Vanner mares and stallions. The rare horses, which were first bred in the gypsy camps of Great Britain nearly 70 years ago, made their North American debut at The Gypsy Gold Farm after a chance discovery by owner Dennis Thompson and his late wife Cindy.

The couple had been driving through the countryside of England when the oddly compelling sight of a far-off stallion prompted them to pull over. Soon after, the two tracked down the owner and found themselves immersed in a culture rich with vibrant caravans and music.

The selectively bred horses currently roam the Ocala farm where Dennis educates visitors on their smart, affectionate nature and origin. Colorful painted vardo wagons—the type the horses were designed to pair with—also help enliven the landscape.

Elite Auto Shares has assembled a fleet of luxury speedsters to grant their clientele the ultimate driving experience. With vehicles such as a 430-horsepower Corvette, an Audi R8, and a Mercedes-Benz E350, Elite Auto Shares has the right wheels for any occasion, be it a wedding, a night on the town, or an impromptu, one-person parade down Main Street.:m]]

Traveling to homes across Illinois, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin with an array of hand-selected bottles in tow, the knowledgable consultants of PRP Wine International save their customers the time they would spend searching stores and the jail time that could result from trespassing on private vineyards. The staffers of this private wine company spend almost every day of the year unearthing the best bottles across the United States, Europe, Australia, South America, and South Africa, and then present their selections to eager palates at homes, private clubs, and hotel suites during private tastings and special events. As the wine spills forth into glasses, the consultants impart background information on the wines, share pairing ideas, and encourage guests to ask any questions they might be embarrassed to ask at restaurants, such as, “How do you pronounce pinot noir?” or “Where is the giant laser that transforms the grapes into wine?” As the evening progresses, conversations will also cover grape varieties and facts about specific growing regions.

Allowing for occasional naps in a plush theater armchair or across a leather bowling lounge, it's conceivable that you could stay within Latitude 30's 50,000-square-foot entertainment emporium for days without falling victim to boredom. The roar of the crowd fills a 100-seat sports theater as fans track the main event on the 12.5-foot jumbotron, taking advantage of commercial breaks to eye the 13 surrounding HD screens and keep up with the scores of important football games and spelling bees. At CineGrille, another vast HD screen plays current adventure flicks and romantic comedies as guests enjoy legroom fit for a very tall king. Meanwhile, waitstaff quietly delivers an extensive menu of prime rib kebab, pizza, and gourmet burgers.

For more active entertainment, pins thunder in the 20-lane bowling alley, and at the arcade, players compete on big-screen video games or work redemption games to win prizes ranging from Legos to PlayStations. Colored lights spill across comedians, musical acts, and DJs at the Vegas–inspired Latitude Live before the Axis Bar keeps the party going with drinks and dancing.