Chad Gallivanter Chad Gallivanter

DeLand Travel Guide - Best Things to See & Do Now

Between Orlando and the beaches of Daytona is the city that’s known as the Athens of Florida.

The town of DeLand originally went by the name of Persimmon Hollow in the 19th century when it was only accessible by steamboat up the St. Johns River.

Upstate New York baking soda maker Henry Addison DeLand started buying up land here with plans for an agricultural and tourism center. By the turn of the century, he had established an academy here thanks to financial assistance from his good buddy John B. Stetson, the inventor of the cowboy hat.

The campus of Stetson University is one of the most beautiful in America and the college is routinely recognized as one of the best in the nation.

DeLand has come a long way since the days when citrus dominated here. It’s a thriving community that’s increasingly becoming a small town Florida destination for all the fun things you can do here. This video provides some tips on what you should see and do when you visit.

 
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