At 131 feet, Sebring sits on five square miles in Highland County of what is known as The Ridge, the highest point on the Florida peninsula. Ironically, perhaps, the city of Sebring is renowned for its international raceway. Surrounding it, however, is an ecological wonder and the home of more animals and plants on the endangered list than any other region of the state. The three Highland County cities--Avon Park, Lake Placid, and Sebring--are botanical showcases.

Sebring: Raceway and Nature Preserve

The Audubon Society, for example, lists more than 150 native bird species and three endangered species as living on the 82,000 acres of the Avon Park Air Force Bombing Range. Just to the west of Sebring, white-tailed deer, panther, pileated woodpeckers, osprey, and bald eagle call Highland Hammock State Park their home. Nearby Lake Placid is called the caladium capital of the world, supplying more than 95 percent of these flowers sold commercially.

What Sebring doesn't offer, clearly, is pristine white beaches and either Atlantic or Gulf fishing and water sports. They're not far away, however, are in fact within easy reach. Vero Beach, for example, is 110 miles to the east. Sarasota lies only 90 miles to the west. But the pristine rivers and lakes of Florida's high country are just as exquisite. You can enjoy hiking, canoeing, and home town quiet, from Lake Okeechobee to Peace River valley to the Highlands Ridge.

What's more, real estate in south central Florida is not only desirable and convenient, but affordable as well. Sebring is a good example. Its diverse and well-educated population of barely 10,000 average only an 18-minute commute to work, have easy access to five regional hospitals and medical centers, and send their children to one of 10 public and private primary/middle schools and either the public or the private high school. Where the median house value at the last census was only about $60,000, selling prices today range from about $100,000 up to $600,000.