Marina Breezeway, Sanford, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Marina Breezeway is a stop in downtown Sanford, Florida, on North Palmetto Avenue, a short walk from the Lake Monroe waterfront. It is best understood as part of the city around it, a historic lakeside town that grew from citrus and celery farming and still carries the nickname "The Celery City".

The story behind it

Sanford takes its name from Henry Shelton Sanford, who from about 1870 planned a new town on the south shore of Lake Monroe and wanted it known as the "Gate City of South Florida". The lake and the St. Johns River made it a natural arrival point for people and goods heading into central Florida.

Citrus was the first cash crop in the area. Then the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895 devastated the groves, and local planters turned to celery. It thrived in the rich local soil, replaced citrus as the main crop and gave the city the nickname it still uses.

What to look for

• Notice how close this spot sits to the Lake Monroe waterfront, the reason the town was founded here in the first place.
• Look at the older commercial buildings along North Palmetto Avenue and the streets around it, which belong to Sanford's historic downtown.
• Watch for celery and citrus references in local names, signs and displays, echoes of the crops that shaped the city.
• Walk toward the lakefront and the riverside paths to see the water that once carried the town's trade.

Tips for your visit

• Allow a few minutes for the stop itself, and more if you want to wander the surrounding downtown blocks.
• Morning or late afternoon is the most comfortable time for a walk in Florida's heat, and the light on the lakefront is good then.
• Cafes, shops and restaurants are close by, so it is easy to combine with a meal or a break.
• Check current opening hours for any nearby business you want to go into, as they change.

See it on a quest

Sanford’s Most Wanted, Can You Catch the Killer? is a good way to see this part of town. You reach Marina Breezeway on foot as one stop of a longer route through downtown Sanford, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. With a crime-solving theme, it turns an ordinary stroll into something to work out as you go. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers your whole group.