We're always looking for something just a little different to do when in Orlando and have often visited Winter Park a suburb to the north of Downtown Orlando but negotiating the city and finding a space to park in the village was a bit of a chore so when my SIL who lives in Orlando suggested going there by train....the idea really appealed.
You park up for free at the Sandlake Road Sunrail station and purchase tickets from the automatic ticket machines (either single or return with senior concessions). From there the ticket works a bit like the Oyster cards do in London....you tap the ticket on a validating post before boarding the train and again at your destination and the same for returning. Return tickets from Sandlake Rd. to Winter Park were only about $3 - $4 and the journey takes about 30 mins. The Sunrail train...although full size locomotive and rail stock is more like a tram system and just goes backwards and forwards between Sandlake Road (soon to be extended south) and Sanford and DeBary to the north. It's a very relaxing way to get to Winter Park passing through the industrial areas of Orlando with short stops at Orlando Health/ Orlando Hospital and Church Street Stations.
The rail station in Winter Park is right in the centre of the park area, which if you've been there before you will know is just a couple of minutes walk from the small shops and restaurants in the village and about ten minutes or less walk to the lake and boat tour area.
There are several trains in the morning period and about one every half hour in the afternoon (but it is quiet for trains over the lunchtime period.....possibly as one of the main purposes of the service is to get health workers to and from the hospitals in Orlando) but it's ideal for shopping trips too without the hassle of the city traffic.
Winter Park is quite an affluent area, full of small boutique type shops and eateries which tend to be expensive..ish but certainly well worth the visit.
For train times see http://sunrail.com/
Maybe next trip we'll try the train to Altamonte Springs or Sanford?
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