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DeLand, Florida: A Local’s Guide to 10 Places That Define the Town

DeLand often gets framed as a quick stop. A charming downtown. A college town you swing through on the way to somewhere else.

That undersells it.

In this episode of The Gallivanter Podcast, Chad and Abby walk through DeLand the way locals actually experience it, from walkable downtown streets and longtime cultural anchors to springs, waterfront parks, and one very unexpected world-class attraction.

This isn’t a ranking and it isn’t a hype reel. It’s how we’d explain DeLand to a friend who texted and said, “We’ve got a day or two. What should we actually do?”

⏱️ Episode Stops

10. Woodland Boulevard
Downtown DeLand’s main spine and most walkable stretch, lined with local shops, cafes, galleries, and cultural institutions.

9. Downtown DeLand Mural Walk
A self-guided collection of public murals scattered across downtown, including the popular DeLand Wings.

8. Stetson University
Historic private university founded in 1883 that helped shape DeLand’s identity as a cultural and educational center.

Stetson Mansion
Lavish 1886 home of John B. Stetson, known for its architecture, innovation, and guided tours.

Henry DeLand House Museum
Victorian-era home honoring the town’s founder.

7. Athens Theatre
Restored 1921 performing arts theater hosting concerts, plays, films, and community events.

6. Northwest Square Market
Former historic church reimagined as a food hall, market, and event space.

5. Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop – DeLand
Production hub and retail shop for the famous Key West–born pie company, located in DeLand’s industrial district.

4. DeLeon Springs State Park
Home to the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill, where guests cook pancakes at table-top griddles.

Blue Spring State Park
Major manatee refuge in winter and popular swimming and hiking park the rest of the year.

3. Rodeo Whip Ice Cream
Classic soft-serve stand with simple flavors and a newly updated Old West–themed interior.

2. Hontoon Island State Park
Accessible only by ferry, offering quiet trails and St. Johns River scenery.

Bartram Garden & Trail
Named for 18th-century naturalist William Bartram, who documented Florida’s landscapes in the 1770s.

1. Skydive DeLand
Internationally recognized skydiving center drawing visitors from around the world.

Airport Gin Mill & Grille
Casual restaurant next door with runway views.

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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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