Panera Bread in Lake Mary is one of my favorite Panera Breads in the entire Orlando area. That’s because it’s so idyllic and peaceful there! As the pictures I took this morning after a business breakfast prove (try the spinach with bacon souffle!), you will experience a relaxing atmosphere with gorgeous views of nature from the back terrace.
And right behind Panera Bread is one of the best recreation opportunities Lake Mary has to offer: the bike trail that will soon connect Lake Mary and Maitland. When completed the trail will offer 24 miles of bicycle fun! Currently 2 sections of almost 10 miles are ready for use.
When sitting on Panera’s terrace on a weekend, you will notice plenty of people already taking advantage of this fun, relaxing activity. I think it’s an awesome way to just enjoy and unwind! Especially now that it is not so hot and humid anymore it’s time to get out those bikes and saddle up! Just imagine, we live in a place that is sunny almost every day of the year, and ideal for bicycle activities October through April, why wouldn’t we all be out there using the trail?
I’m from Europe and literally grew up on a bicycle (of course not, but pretty much anywhere I would go I would ride my bike, meaning with exception of snow storm days, I used my beloved bicycle every single day! I have to admit though, I currently live in a community that doesn’t have the ideal access to the bike trail, but this season I am determined to get out my bicycle at least twice a month, just throw it on the car, and drive down to where the trail starts. From there or any other assigned parking spot it really is no big deal anymore because it is a safe route, very bike friendly!
Bicycles don’t have to be expensive if you’re not a pro. Just check WalMart or Target, I found my bike long time ago for $60.00 and I’ve seen good quality bicycles for less than $200.00. Believe it or not, when I first moved to the US I didn’t perceive the need to purchase a car, so I was using solely my bicycle to get from A to B, just like in Europe. I did that for about 3 months until I realized how crazy hot and dangerous it can get on the road. People are just not used to us bicycle users…
However, I can guarantee you, you will find more of us in Lake Mary because this city in Central Florida (neighboring if not merging into Sanford) is indeed very bike friendly. From communities like Heathrow, Timacuan, Manderley and some more you can start right from your garage door! So wait no more! I want to count even more people on the trail next weekend when I’m enjoying my afternoon dessert at Panera Bread in Lake Mary 🙂 Well, and obviously, Panera makes a great stop to re-energize!
Here’s the map, courtesy of semniolecountyfl.gov: