Sebring was home of the famous 12 Hours of Sebring, the crown jewel of the American Le Mans Series. It consisted of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Smack in the middle of Florida's peninsula, Sebring is a fairly quiet town that comes alive once a year. The 12 Hours of Sebring has put the town on the map, but the rest of the time it's a relaxed community that loves fun in the sun. It's a relaxed town, always casual, and provides plenty of opportunities for enjoying the warm weather and friendly neighbors.
Moving to Sebring
If you're looking to move to Sebring, be prepared for the weather, particularly if you are coming from the north. It is humid, subtropical, with plenty of rainfall throughout the year - bring an umbrella and a raincoat. You won't see any snow, and Sebring's winter weather can't be beat.
Finding the right rental housing shouldn't be all that difficult, and you won't need much in the way of lead time to dig a place up. Places for rent in Sebring are common, as just under half of the housing units are renter-occupied. What's more, the vacancy rate has always been on the higher end, so the supply is plentiful. You won't even need a massive check for your security deposit - the average apartment rental is quite affordable. You will want to make sure that your references are in order, because luxury apartments get picked up quick, so if you want a nicer spot, you need to hop on it right away.
Your best bet to start your apartment search is on the eastern side of Lake Jackson, where the majority of the apartment buildings are. Sebring doesn't have any significant neighborhoods, but the west side is mostly owner-occupied. You can get a good view if you check out Bayside Apartments or Highlands Village Apartments, particularly if you're looking for one bedroom apartments. Best of all, these buildings are only a short walk from the lake and all the recreation it provides.
Another thing you'll need is a vehicle. Some parts of town are walkable, but the big lake in the middle of town can make it a pain to get from one side to each other -- you need to go around the lake. A bicycle will certainly help things out, and Sebring does have a decent public transportation set-up, with intermittent bus routes and an Amtrak station in town.
Living in Sebring
If you're a fan of the tropical outdoors, spending your time sunning and swimming, Sebring will be hard to beat. The centerpiece of the town is Lake Jackson, a massive haven for pleasure boaters, swimmers, and sunbathers. The lake also provides some decent fishing, and makes for a top weekend destination for many of the residents, or even simply a nice way to end the day. If you're looking for a bit more of a wild experience, head on out of town to see the wildlife and cypress groves in Highlands Hammock State Park.
If you've got to work, there are a number of industries and business around, a mix of local and national. Don't worry about cooking: head out to one of the many restaurants around town that feature a wide variety of cuisines. From tacos at Don Jose Mexican, to tastes of the Far East at Taste of India, you've got some good choices. Just remember that you're in the south, so checking out a good barbecue restaurant is obligatory -- Sonny's is the place to go.
Sebring isn't just sun and cars - they're putting a good foot forward in the area of the arts, particularly with the Highland Little Theater and a variety of exhibits rotating through the Highlands Museum of the Arts. The Highlands Art League supports these functions, and plenty more. Get involved in classes or performances, or just go to watch.
However you choose to support the arts is up to you; but you'll never be able to say they don't give you a chance in Sebring.