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Daytime

Shade, Soul Food, and Sunset Views

Start your afternoon in the shade of old oaks, fuel up with local soul food, and catch the evening light over the lake.

Best time: noneAbout 160 min

Timeline

  1. 14:00

    Paw Park

    Kick off at Paw Park. The mature oak trees provide deep shade, making it a perfect spot to relax and let your dog play off-leash in the designated area before the afternoon heat peaks.

  2. 14:15

    Shantell's Just Until

    Walk ten minutes to Shantell's Just Until for lunch. This soul food cafe is known for its live jazz events and relaxed vibe. Order a hearty meal to fuel up for the rest of the afternoon.

  3. 15:15

    Fort Mellon Park

    Head to Fort Mellon Park for the main event. Located about twenty minutes from the cafe, this lakefront park offers fitness trails and open spaces. Arrive as the sun begins to dip, positioning yourself to catch the golden light reflecting off Lake Monroe.

Local tip

The walk from Shantell's to Fort Mellon Park is a bit of a trek, so wear comfortable shoes. If you prefer a shorter stroll, consider ending your day at George Touhy Park, which is only five minutes from Paw Park, though it lacks the lake views.

Check before you go

  • Shantell's Just Until is open until 21:00 on weekdays and 24:00 on weekends. Check the hours if you plan to stay late.
  • Fort Mellon Park is a public park with no specified closing time, but lighting conditions will change quickly after sunset.

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Sanford (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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