Things to Do in Historic Sanford and Lake Monroe
The county seat, with a brick downtown on the shore of Lake Monroe.
See top-rated activities »About Sanford
Sanford grew up as a river port. Steamboats on the St. Johns stopped at its docks on Lake Monroe in the 1800s, and the railroad that followed made it a shipping point for oranges and later celery. Many of the two-story brick buildings from those years still line First Street and the streets that cross it, and today they hold restaurants, beer bars, antique dealers and a candy shop that makes marshmallows by hand. The downtown is compact enough to see on foot in an afternoon.
The lakefront is the other half of the town. The Sanford RiverWalk runs along Lake Monroe past the marina and connects to a longer multi-use loop around the lake. Mornings are cool and quiet, and sunsets over the water draw a crowd to the seawall. St. Johns Rivership Co. runs lunch and dinner cruises on the river from its dock near the marina, and anglers fish from the shore and the boat ramps.
History is easy to find. The city-run Sanford Museum on First Street keeps the papers and library of Henry Shelton Sanford, the diplomat who founded the town, along with exhibits on the steamboat and celery eras. The Museum of Seminole County History collects artifacts from around the county. The Ritz Theater on Magnolia Avenue presents a season of plays, concerts and comedy, and the historic residential district south of downtown fills with musicians on the February day of Sanford Porchfest.
West of downtown, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens covers a wooded site off Seminole Boulevard, with animals from Florida and around the world, boardwalks under the trees and seasonal events such as a fall lantern festival. Orlando Sanford International Airport and the Amtrak Auto Train terminal are both on the east side of the city, so Sanford also makes a convenient first or last night of a Florida trip.
Don’t Miss
Brick blocks on First Street and the cross streets, with more than sixty places to eat and drink plus antique and gift shops.
A paved path along Lake Monroe past the marina, good for sunrise walks, bike rides and sunset views across the water.
A wooded zoo with boardwalks, Florida wildlife and animals from around the world, plus seasonal evening events.
Lunch and dinner cruises on the St. Johns River aboard a riverboat that leaves from North Palmetto Avenue near the marina.
A free city museum holding Henry Shelton Sanford's papers and library, with exhibits on the town's river and farming history.
A downtown theater on Magnolia Avenue with a season of plays, concerts and touring shows.
A county-run museum of donated artifacts and photographs from the county's farming, railroad and lakefront past. Check hours before you go.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Sanford
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TiqetsTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Seminole County may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Sanford — FAQ
Is downtown Sanford walkable?
Yes. The historic blocks around First Street, the marina and the RiverWalk are all within a few minutes' walk of each other, and street parking and public lots are close by.
Can you take a boat ride from Sanford?
St. Johns Rivership Co. runs scheduled lunch and dinner cruises on the St. Johns River from its dock near the Sanford marina. Check its weekly schedule and book ahead for weekends.
How far is the Central Florida Zoo from downtown Sanford?
The zoo is a short drive west of downtown on West Seminole Boulevard, near Interstate 4.
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