When visitors think about traveling to Central Florida, they think of Disneyworld. However, twenty minutes from Downtown Orlando is the charming city of Winter Park. Winter Park isn’t known by a lot of people, but it should be. It feels like many American cities mixed with its beautiful streets, cozy boutiques, beautiful campus, and walkable downtown areas.
If you’re looking to take a break from the magic of Disneyworld, Winter Park is a great destination that is a 45-minute drive from Disneyworld and a great place to relax away from the parks. If you’re visiting Disneyworld, Winter Park is a great place to stay if you’re looking for a boutique hotel with character. There is a vast number of things to do throughout the area. Below are some of the top things to do in Winter Park.
Winter Park offers excellent cultural activities in part due to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. This is an excellent stop on a rainy day or even on a sunny day. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art has a vast collection of Louis Tiffany’s glass windows and other artworks. There are rooms full of paintings, furniture, and other ceramics. You also enjoy the Albin Polasek Museum and Gardens as it offers terrific sculptures crafted by Alkin Polasek. Albin Polasek was a multi-talented Czech sculptor who lived in Winter Park.
A very popular activity to do in Winter Park is the scenic boat tour that departs each hour for the various lakes around Winter Park. The lakes are full of beautiful homes. Also, the boat ride itself is relaxing and intimate. The boat tour passes through seven lakes, and it’s a great opportunity to see wildlife.
The Winter Park Farmer’s Market is an old restored train station in the middle of the park dating back to 1913. However, today the building is used as a Farmer’s Market and is open every Saturday starting at 8 am.
There are several independently run bookstores in Winter Park. Writer’s Block Bookstore and the New Leaf Bookstore, both have a great selection of books, including autographed copies of books.
If you’re looking for a great meal away from the crowds of Orlando, Winter Park is a great destination for a good meal. If you are in the mood for Middle Eastern food, Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine is a great choice. It’s always popular with the locals and has great pricing. The Winter Park Fish Company is also another great restaurant. It offers extremely fresh fish for lunch and dinner. Winter Park also has vegetarian and American restaurants nearby, so you have plenty of choices.
For coffee and tea, Barnie’s Coffee & Tea is a great choice. If you’re hungry while you’re in there, they also serve breakfast and lunch, which includes tacos and salads. There is also Stardust Video & Coffee where you can enjoy specialty coffee and a vast menu of vegan options.