DeLand may be one of Florida's best-kept secrets. Imagine a college campus classified as a National Historic District. Add to that a downtown brimming with notable shops and eateries. Then place it between the jungle like shores of the St. John's River and the silvery surf of the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, picture all this only 25 minutes from Orlando or Daytona. DeLand delights visitors with all the possibilities and hospitality a small Southern town can offer.

I fell for DeLand when I was a student at Stetson University in the 1980's. Tree-shaded streets adorned with handsome homes cocoon the campus of Florida's oldest private college. Stetson's presence enhances the community's rich cultural offerings with theater, recitals, and a vibrant speakers program, welcoming such individuals as Jane Goodall and Jimmy Carter. On days without scheduled events, visit the Duncan Gallery of Art in Sampson Hall, or peruse the gems at the Gillespie Museum.

If I ever had to plan a downtown, I'd design it after DeLand's. Stop in at Boston Gourmet Coffee House for a flavored hot drink and a fresh wrap sandwich. Or try gourmet treats from Guse's Chocolates.

Nearby parks offer camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving, and canoeing. Get a peek at manatees in Blue Spring, or boat over to Hontoon Island State Park to see a cypress swamp on the St. John's River. Explore the early settler's history at DeLeon Springs Recreational Area, where you can griddle your own pancakes at an old sugar mill, then paddle a canoe through the wilderness.

When you need a beach for cruising or sunning, drive on the sands of Daytona, or seek out calmer shores in New Smyrna. Skydive DeLand offers instruction on jumping from planes. I wish I could say I tried it during my college years, but I didn't. I'm saving that for my midlife crisis - maybe on my next visit to town.

- Annette Thompson