Altoona offers a country lifestyle, about 50 miles from Daytona Beach
Altoona, about 50 miles from Daytona Beach, offers country living and outdoor recreation, from hiking to boating. The area is surrounded by lush greenery and features small subdivisions dotted with homes. Much of Altoona is taken up by campgrounds, lakes and recreational areas. The community is just outside the Ocala National Forest, the second-largest protected forest in the United States. Entertainment, shopping and dining can be found in nearby cities and communities.
Ranch-style and Minimal Traditional homes near lakes and farmland
Homes are built far back from the road and spread out into subdivisions throughout the greenery of Altoona. Just off Main Street, the Lakeview Terrace Retirement Community offers villas and apartments. This care community surrounds two lakes and provides recreation and enrichment programs to its residents. Homes outside the community are surrounded by large lots bordered by sidewalks, while others sit lakeside or on acres of farmland. Homes near lakes may experience flooding and rising water during inclement weather. Minimal Traditional and ranch-style homes are common in Altoona. They range in price from $225,000 to $600,000.
Parks and recreation on lakes, campgrounds and forests
Lake Dorr, open to the public, is lined with homes and includes a campground and boat launch. Campers have access to restrooms, showers, grills and a fire pit. Alexander Springs, near Spring Creek, is a popular swimming and camping site. The area has access to hiking, biking and equestrian trails as well as space for picnicks, hunting and fishing. The Ocala National Forest is 2 miles from Altoona and spans nearly 400,000 acres. The forest has trails, lakes and campgrounds. It allows activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, hunting and more.
Commuters use county Road 42 to reach nearby cities
Residents may commute to work in nearby towns and communities such as Astor Park, Astor, Deland, Deltona and Daytona Beach. State Route 19 leads 14 miles to Astor Park and 17 miles to Astor. County Road 42 leads 24 miles to DeLand and 36 miles to Deltona. State Route 44 leads to Daytona Beach. The Orlando Sanford International Airport is 35 miles away, and the AdventHealth Waterman hospital and emergency room are 11 miles away. Houses of worship such as the First Baptist Church Altoona and the Altoona Methodist Church are along Main Street.
Lake County schools get Bs and Cs
Lake County Schools serves the area and earns a B from Niche. Umatilla Elementary School receives a B, Umatilla Middle School gets a B-minus and Umatilla High School receives a C-plus. High school students may participate in the career-technical education program, which offers advanced studies in culinary arts, engineering and horticulture. Children may also attend the Altoona School, a public charter school, which receives a B for kindergarten through fifth grade. To attend, students are entered into a lottery system. Florida has school choice, allowing children to attend schools outside their district and zoning boundaries.
Altoona residents may join events in Astor
“Drifters Riverfront Bar & Grill sponsored a lighted boat parade,” says Meagan Harrington, a Lake County resident and the marketing director at River Realty. “In the morning, the town has a street parade and a boat parade at night.” In December, boats decorated with lights congregate along the St. Johns River, while residents watch from the shore. During the day, a street parade takes place outside Drifters, featuring ornamented pets, bands, floats and cars. Throughout the holiday season, businesses in Astor collect toy donations. “Every local business will get a toy box, and they all post them at their businesses, and people can go anywhere and drop these toys off,” says Harrington.
Convenience stores on Main Street and eateries in nearby communities
Convenience stores such as Circle K, Dollar General and Krispy Krunchy Chicken line Main Street for quick meals and essentials. Off County Road 445, there’s a Country Grocery Store. For sit-down restaurants, residents head to Pizza Over Yonder in Astor Park for Italian pies or Drifters Riverfront Bar & Grill in Astor for American cuisine.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
