Pop quiz:
Name the first municipality in the state of Florida to become a Monarch City USA.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Got it yet?
Hint:
Check out the photograph below.
And the answer is DeLand, Florida.
Yeah for DeLand! This is a really big deal. Monarchs have declined 80 percent in the last 19 years. Monarch City USA, a non-profit based in Washington state, looks to partner with municipalities to support the monarch population.
Local residents encouraged DeLand officials to apply. They did and were awarded the designation in the spring of 2019. City staff will work with conservation and garden groups to create butterfly gardens throughout the city and encourage residents to plant natives like different species of native milkweed. Milkweed is the host plant that monarchs need in order to lay their eggs.
DeLand, already famous for its historical murals painted on the sides of buildings, celebrated becoming a Monarch City USA by commissioning a new outdoor mural featuring monarchs.
Speaking of murals, get your wings on by following the Wings of the West Mural Trail (#DeLandWings, #Wingsofthewest), six murals in West Volusia County, each with a pair of wings waiting for your photo moments.
Find fairy wings for a photo op on the Fairy Trail at Horseshoe Park inside Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp. Or go to historic downtown DeLand on Persimmon Lane and pose with the original DeLand Wings mural. That is two murals right there. The Wings trail hits the right notes to harmonize with Visit West Volusia’s mantra:
Old Florida. New Vibe.
Downtown DeLand is an award-winning Florida Main Street community. Translated that means every storefront is occupied with an eclectic mix of antiques, collectibles, eateries, coffee shops and art galleries.
Sidewalks are wide. Street corners feature planters, maintained by the City and the DeLand Garden Club, all overflowing with flowers.
Be advised: Parking on North Woodland Blvd., the main drag, is two hours max. This is not nearly enough time for browsing and brunching. Head for a side street where the time limit goes up to three hours. Parking limits are enforced.
On a recent downtown DeLand promenade I revisited the venerable Muse bookstore on North Woodland Blvd., famous for its extensive collection of Florida books. Want to know more about Florida history or read wild and crazy stories that could only happen in the Sunshine State? Buy your books here.
Owner Janet Bollum brings in book authors (check the schedule) and just to make things interesting – every second Wednesday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. participating merchants including Muse offer wine and chocolate. Need I say more?
History matters in DeLand. The lovely Volusia County Courthouse opened in 1929 is an example. Instead of tearing down the old courthouse to build a parking lot, like many Florida cities did during the “any new building must be better” 1960s, this one still stands in its original form and is well worth a tour.
The building no longer functions as a courthouse but instead contains county offices and several collections of artwork. The courthouse is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tours are available by calling the Museum of Florida Art at 386-734-4371.
Speaking of history, on my walk I passed two record stores with vinyl records on display outside. Vinyl? Yes. It is making a comeback. What goes around comes around.
All that strolling leads to an appetite. My favorite lunch or dinner stop is Santorini Greek Cuisine on N. Woodland Blvd. Simple really. If the Greeks are cooking just show up. That’s my motto and I’m sticking to it.
Faithful readers know I’m addicted to caffeine. So after lunch I head for Dick and Jane’s not far away on N. Woodland Blvd., a popular lunch spot (every seat in the place was taken) plus a varied menu of coffee and tea. Mine was an iced caramel latte to go.
Another go-to coffee place is Boston Coffee House on East New York Avenue that has a long list of temping coffee drinks along with smoothies and tea plus breakfast and lunch. Whew!
Fortified with food and caffeine you are ready for some more DeLand discoveries. Here is a sampling:
Take a self-guided walking tour of Stetson University, founded in 1883. While on campus visit the Gillespie Museum with more than 15,000 rock and mineral collections.
Do a tour of Stetson Mansion. This private home is not on the Stetson University grounds but in a different part of DeLand. Closed September 15 through November 14 as every room in the house is prepared for Christmas tours from November 15 through January 15. All tours are guided. Reservations required.
Visit Florida Victorian Architectural Salvage on West Georgia Avenue. Often they are called when a historic building is going to be demolished and so they have doorways, posts, fireplaces, all kinds of salvage, all fascinating.
Get outdoors with a visit to Hontoon Island State Park accessible only by private boat or park ferry. Call 386-736-5309.
Lucy Tobias is a former New York Times Regional Reporter and a travel journalist living in Sarasota, Florida. The 2019 annual conference of Florida Outdoor Writers Association in Daytona Beach provided the perfect timing for a day trip to DeLand and writing this story.
Upcoming in DeLand
October 19, 2019, noon to 7:30
Thin Man Watts Jazz Fest in DeLand with live jazz, blues and gospel music. Get your dancing shoes on and get in the groove.
A Book Note
Chapter 25 in the book 50 Great Walks in Florida by Lucy Beebe Tobias is about the painted history walk in DeLand. A very good read.
