Winter Park is a city of about 28, 486 residents located just north of Orlando in Orange County, Florida. One of Florida' s finest cities, it is famous for its stately trees, abundant parks, brick-lined streets, spectacular homes, museums, vibrant lakes and fine shops along Park Avenue.
Chartered in 1887, the city was originally developed as a winter resort for wealthy Northerners seeking refuge from the harsh winters and a tranquil place to rest and relax. Fortunately, the city has maintained its natural beauty throughout the years.
The city was originally named Lakeview in 1858 and re-named Osceola in 1870. Eleven years later, the name Winter Park was chosen by its founders. Loring Chase and Oliver Chapman, who during an informal discussion, decided they wanted the name to be something about a park in winter - thus the name Winter Park
Tourists came to the city originally to enjoy Winter Park' s beautiful lakes, warm temperatures and natural surroundings. Today they can enjoy these same amenities in addition to great restaurants, museums, entertainment, theater, outdoor activities, festivals and much more.
Farmers Market
The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is held at the old train depot, located at 200 West New England Avenue, that has been restored into an historical landmark that hosts this NUMBER ONE produce and plant market in Central Florida. The market takes place every Saturday morning from 7 a. m. to 1 p. m. and is a popular community gathering place that provides fine produce, plants, baked goods and so much more.
Note: The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is closed each year on the third Saturday in March due to the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
We go every year on the first Saturday after we arrive in Florida, it’s such a lovely morning out. They sell freshly baked goods, lots of fruit and veg and unique stalls with quirky bits & pieces. Also there are lots of stalls selling plants, we purchased some for the pool deck and they are a bargain compared to the big stores. There’s an outside area where you can sit with a coffee and piece of cake and enjoy the ambience.
Check out the website:-
http://www. cityofwinterpark. org/Pages/Visitors/Shopping_Dining_and_More/Saturday_Farmers_Market. aspx
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Adventuresome for the first time visitors seeking flora and fauna or savvy Orlando travelers
seeking an off-the-beaten-path vacation experience won´t be disappointed when they discover the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour.
Located on Lake Osceola in the quiet suburb less than 10 minutes from downtown Orlando, the boat tour offers hour-long, guided cruises through three of the seven lakes and two, narrow manmade canals on the tranquil Winter Park chain.
On any given tour, participants may observe large cranes swooping waterside to snag a large fish or a lazy alligator languishing on a nearby bank. An occasional water skier or racing shell full of crew members from the areas private liberal arts college, Rollins, are also enjoyable sideshows for tour goers
For over 50 years, Winter Park´s world famous Scenic Boat Tour has given enjoyment to thousands. The relaxing, narrated, one hour cruise through the beautiful lakes and canals of historic Winter Park makes it a must on every person´s list. It´s really the only way to see the true beauty of Winter Park which includes Rollins College, Kraft Azalea Gardens, Isle of Sicily, tropical birds, plants, flowers and magnificent mansions.
Climb aboard an excursion boat and let your ' Skipper' fascinate you for one hour as you cruise through beautiful lakes and canals for 12 miles. Scenic Boat Tour is not to be missed! .
Every tour, however, guarantees plenty of swaying palms, towering cypress trees, lush ferns and a variety of flourishing sub-tropical flowers. Breathtaking views of opulent private homes and exquisite estates sprawling along the shores are also a key feature of the scenic cruise.
The dock, less than 5 minutes from Park Avenue, Central Florida´s popular, upscale shopping district, is conveniently located on the East end of Morse Boulevard on Lake Osceola
The Scenic Boat Tour offers a fleet of six 18 passenger pontoon boats. Admission is $12. 00 for adults and $6. 00 for children (ages 2 through 11) under 2 are free. Operating hours are 10am to 4pm daily except Christmas.
In the height of summer it gets very hot on the boats and there is no shade at all, this is because during the tour you are taken under a very low bridge – so low in fact that everyone has to duck their heads! !
The guide tells you all about the history of Rollins College and the benefactors who made it what it is today. I believe, from memory, it’s $58, 000 a year to be a student at the college although they do offer scholarships ….
The houses that back onto the lake are superb - one of them was built by the family who own Walgreens and as the name suggests they wintered in the warm climates to escape the harsh weather.
A lovely day out and well worth a visit.