Tours in Sebring

An herbaceous haven, Bok Tower Gardens' manmade Arcadia harbors the historical Pinewood Estate and a bell tower filled with a cluster of carillon bells. Delicate white azaleas, pink snapdragons, and velvety camellias peek out from behind shrubbery leaves, and lemon marigolds smile back at the sun with brilliant yellow petals. The centerpiece of the verdant paradise, the Singing Tower rings out at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily, its 60 carillon bells delighting garden strollers and frightening away tulip-thieving lawn gnomes. The garden also caters to kids with enchanting features including secret areas, a vine-covered tunnel, and a picnic area with a sandbox and toys. Built in the '30s, Pinewood Estate boasts carved woodwork and intricate wrought iron that evoke a Mediterranean manor and provide a glimpse into luxurious lifestyles of decades past. The gardens are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., when all the flowers are gently tucked into bed for the evening.

Engines start to roar, propellers spin, and a large parachute expands into the sky, carrying a light aircraft and its passengers toward the clouds. Silver Lining Aviation's certified instructors create adventures like this every day as they teach visitors to soar behind the controls of sport aircrafts such as powered parachutes, weight-shift trikes, and gyroplanes. Led by licensed FAA flight instructor Craig Ewing, Silver Lining's team takes prospective pilots on introductory flights that allow them to experience aircrafts such as the Airwolf 912 and nibble on different flavors of clouds. The aviation experts also sell sport aircrafts, which patiently wait onsite as customers work through custom ground- and flight-training programs. In most cases, the flight instructors prepare their pupils for aerial navigation in as little as two weeks. They also assist new pilots with replacement parts, provide 24/7 support, and cook oil soup to feed hungry aircraft.