What's In Palm Coast?

Palm Coast - right between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach along the scenic A1A River- and the River to Sea Preserve, Palm Coast offers a perfect mix of golf resorts and lush nature parks.With a population of around 80,000, the town is small enough to be quaint, and large enough to offer some sound tourist attractions. Since Palm Coast was developed and did not organically grow, you will not find that many historic landmarks there. However, two things really stand out and make Palm Coast worth a visit!

Palm Coast Farmer's Market

Every Sunday, at the European Village in Palm Coast, you can find a diverse and well-visited gourmet farmer's market. In the summer, the market is open from 4-7pm. Locally grown produce as well as artisan foods are part of the offerings of this market. 

• Culinary artisan olives, oils, vinegars
• Artisanal truffles and chocolates
• Fresh citrus juices, 100% Arabica fresh roasted coffee
• Fresh baked breads and desserts
• Cheeses, seafood, and jerk seasonings
• Grass fed meats and more

In addition the market also features arts, crafts, and designer pieces: 

• Handmade soaps and lotions, amazing crystals and shells
• Beautiful crafts and stones
• Native silversmith jewelry and more
• Original Designer Works

Plenty of restaurants and bars invite you to sit down for a drink and a bite, or stroll with your drink! Whether you live along the Central Florida Coast or are visiting, take a trip up to Palm Coast one of these Sundays to experience this vibrant market!

Admission is free. European Village, 101 Palm Harbor Parkway, Palm Coast 32137

 Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is  a place where you will find unanticipated beauty. It is located on a barrier island and contains remarkable natural spaces with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Matanzas River to the west. 

Because of its unique coquina rock formations, the beach side of the park is not for swimming, it’s for exploring. Low tide is the best time to investigate the secret world of the tidal pools enclosed in the ancient coquina.

The middle of the park is no less beautiful; it is dominated by a live oak hammock with majestic, 200 year old trees covered in Spanish moss. Within this hammock lies the heart of the park – a twenty acre botanical garden. Within the center of this heart – a lovely watercourse fed by an artesian spring.

Admission to the park is $5 per car. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast, Florida 32137, 386-446-6780

You can enjoy activities, such a First Friday Garden Walk with a park ranger who will tell you all about the history of the park - and a Second Saturday of the month plant sale. There is an exquisite rose garden, as well as the famous Washington Oak itself - 300 year old tree that has withstood the test of time!  So take a jaunt up the coast to see this beauty yourself!

Creative Florida Living

Janet Sells

Lunch on the Farm

Farm to table events are becoming increasingly popular as awareness about our agriculture and food industry is rising.  More and more people are seeking out local, organic, sustainable produce from local farmers markets.

Outdoor farm-to-table experiences bring the freshness of fields and orchards directly to your table. Chefs procure bountiful ingredients from local farms and prepare simple but beautiful dishes for guests to savor while sitting near fields, orchards, and ranches where some of the ingredients were harvested. These special experiences not only deliver amazing meals in unforgettable settings, but also a chance to see and learn firsthand how farmers and ranchers make the most of organic, sustainable farming. 

Lunch on the Farm

One such event is coming up on Sunday, February 21, 11AM at Tomazin Farm in New Smyrna Beach! Lunch on the Farm is an annual event hosted by the Port Orange Cooking and Wine meetup group.

Tomazin's Farm - a family owned, third generation Florida  farm. The Tomazins practice sustainable, organic agriculture and sell their produce at many markets, to restaurants, and to Florida Hospital.

Upon everyone's arrival on the farm on February 21, you can enjoy a refreshing beverage and a few farm-fresh munchies during introductions.

THEN Paul Tomazin, the so called “barefoot farmer” himself, will give you a tour of his farm, where the most amazing organic vegetables are grown. You may have the opportunity to pick and purchase some of that awesome produce directly at the farm.

After the tour, you will sit and enjoy a farm-fresh buffet-style lunch which the event organizer, Alicia and I, Janet, will have prepared for you! There will be lots of vegetarian options and refreshing drinks!

Lunch will be enjoyed al fresco - rain or shine (in the case of rain, we will be under cover)!

Event price is $25 for adults (children’s prices are available) and includes lunch, drinks, farm tour, and the unforgettable experience. 

To purchase tickets, click HERE.  Seating is limited and the event fills up fast – so hurry!

Lunch and drinks are included in the price. If you wish to purchase produce, please bring cash.

• Lunch on the Farm
• Farm-to-table event with food, drinks, and farm tour
• Sunday, February 21, 2016, 11AM
• Tomazin Farm - 191 South Cucumber Lane, New Smyrna Beach, FL 
• Cost: $25 for adults

 

Creative Florida Living 

Janet Sells 

Dog Friendly? Woof!

On our Florida coast the weather invites outside entertainment and dining all year round. If you are a dog owner, you might appreciate being able to bring your pooch along for lunch or dinner, as well as to the beach. However, who really knows where you can take Fido? Better to know ahead of time than to be turned away. 

 

Beaches

If you think you can just take your dog to the beach to frolic in the waves, think again. Beach patrol will quickly inform you that your dog is not welcome. BUT! In Flagler, there is a beach where your dog can feel the sea breeze in her fur as she races along the sand and surf! Well, as long as she’s on a leash. North of Gamble Rogers State park to 13th Street South is the beach area in which dogs are welcome.

Ponce Inlet Dunes Park also welcomes leashed dogs.

Restaurants

In New Smyrna Beach, there are lots of places to bring your dog! Spanish River Grill, Dolphin View Seafood Restaurant, Third Wave Café and Wine Bar, Café Heavenly, Norwood’s Seafood Restaurant, and a few more. Moreover, you can bring your dogs to the NSB Farmers Market on Saturdays, both at Old Fort Park and at Norwood’s Restaurant.

In Port Orange you can enjoy outside dining with Fluffy at Boondocks on the river, at Hidden Treasure on Rose Bay, the popular Aunt Catfish, also on the river, and TGIF on Nova and Dunlawton Avenues.

In Ormond Beach, Lulu’s Oceanside Grill, Lagerhead’s Bar and Grill, the famous Hull’s Seafood, the upscale Vince Carter’s, and Black Sheep Pub are all dog friendly!

In Daytona Beach, the Blue Grotto is open to you bringing your canine friend. In Ponce Inlet you can visit Hidden Treasure Rum Bar and Grill (same owner as the Hidden Treasure in Port Orange) also welcomes dogs.

Your best bet is to call ahead, of course. Also check out Bring Fido for your area, which has fairly up-to-date listings of where dogs are welcome. 

 

Creative Florida Living 

Janet's Real Estate Site 

Farm to Table Dinners

Find out where your food is grown!

Farm to Table Lunches and Dinners are memorable events. Whether you live here, are relocating to the area, or are visiting, you should definitely try one of our Volusia County Farm Events. 

·         You eat al fresco in a beautiful setting.

·         You enjoy dishes made from foods predominantly grown on the local farm hosting the event.

·         You get to know your local farmer/s.

·         You will go on a farm tour.

·         Often you can buy produce while you’re there.

·         The atmosphere is amazing – and so is the food.

Two such events are coming up this Saturday, March 28! 

 

Green Flamingo Farm is in Oak Hill.  With 3 acres in production, Green Flamingo aims to introduce the community to an amazingly tasty and beautifully unique way of eating.  Their beautiful produce can be found at the New Smyrna Beach Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings, the Brevard County Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, and through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program from August to May. 

 The dinner at Green Flamingo is a rustic farm to table event. They will serve foods that have been harvested freshly from fields, source local seafood, dairy, and other goodies from other local farms. The food will be prepared right at the farm. Farm tours will take place during hors d'oeuvres to show their fields and educate visitors about where the food comes from. This meal that will be served is all about fresh and seasonal ingredients.  It will be featuring homemade cheese, home brewed beers, and the best produce and proteins that the farm has to offer.

The event runs from 4-7pm and costs $40 per person ($35 for CSA members). To purchase tickets, visit Green Flamingo Organics or call Liz: 386.576.4298.

398 N Putnam Grove Rd, Oak Hill

100 Years Tomazin Farms!

 Tomazin’s is a 3^rd generation farm, founded in 1915, now operated by father and son, who are also known as the Barefoot Farmers. And yes, they actually do all their farming barefoot, in any weather. The Tomazin’s farm grows more than 70 different vegetables throughout the year, including broccoli, carrots, kale, and cabbage, as well as the most beautiful lettuce you will ever taste. Several restaurants, including Cress and Dalley in the Alley in downtown DeLand, buy ingredients from the farm. Tomazin also delivers to Florida Hospital, and they can be found on Saturday mornings at the New Smyrna Beach Farmers Market. 

The farm to table dinner runs from 5-9PM and costs $75 per person:

·         Four-Course Dinner Sourced from the Farm

·         A Special Farm Tour

·         Live Music

·         Bonfires

·         Wine and Beer Bar

·         A Historical Display of Tomazin Farms Last 100 Years

Go HERE to buy tickets for this magical event!

3779 Honey Dew Lane, New Smyrna Beach