5 Ways to Spend a Saturday in Winter Park
Minutes north of downtown Orlando is the upscale suburb of Winter Park, Florida.
Starting out as a frontier settlement in the 1850s, it evolved into a winter resort for the well-to-do by the end of the century. Real estate tycoons created a town plan that’s still evident today.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market
150 N New York Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
Kick off your Saturday exploration supporting local by spending time at the Winter Park Farmer’s Market. Held each Saturday in the Central Park West Meadow at the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard, this market is one of the most popular weekly markets in the Orlando area.
Open 8am to 1pm, the market serves as a popular gathering spot with dozens of vendors to choose from.
From locally-grown produce, plants, and freshly-baked goods, this market never disappoints.
Museums
The city of Winter Park prides itself on being the cultural epicenter of Central Florida and nowhere is that more evident than the top-notch museums it offers in the downtown core.
Visitors can easily spend a half-day or more taking in the art and history of the museums, a fun and educational way to cool off on a hot Florida day.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
445 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
Louis Comfort Tiffany - Library of Congress
Louis Comfort Tiffany (February 18, 1848 – January 17, 1933) was born into the famous Tiffany family we know today as makers of fine diamond and sterling silver jewelry, a company founded in part by his father.
Under Louis’s artistic direction, Tiffany & Co. became the American luxury brand synonymous with taste and style.
The pursuit of beauty was always a life-long mission for Tiffany.
His quest started with painting and continued with innovative interior design.
Tiffany was responsible for creating the look inside Mark Twain’s Victorian Gothic Revival mansion in Hartford, Connecticut. The home included examples of what Tiffany is best known for today - stained glass.
Tiffany windows survive in places of worship and other buildings throughout North America.
But the largest concentration of work by the prolific designer anywhere can be found inside the Morse Museum.
From Tiffany-leaded glass lamps made by the thousands to unique windows made for exhibition, seeing this American master’s works so up-close is truly awe-inspiring.
Other galleries include a major collection of American art pottery and collections of late nineteenth and early 20th century American paintings, graphics and decorative art.
Cornell Fine Arts Museum
1000 Holt Ave Box 2765, Winter Park, FL 32789
The Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College features rotating exhibitions, ongoing programs, and an extensive permanent collection that spans centuries.
Most of what we saw the day we visited was contemporary art beautifully displayed in several large galleries.
With exhibits always changing, there’s always something new to see at the museum and, with no admission charge, is well worth an hour of your time.
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
A less than five minute drive from Park Avenue is the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens. Czech-American sculptor and educator Albin Polasek created more than 400 works during his career, primarily American representational art.
He retired to a Mediterranean-style house and studio in Winter Park in 1950 when he was 70.
Many of the home’s original furnishings can be viewed as well as 200 pieces of sculpture and antiquities.
The well-manicured grounds here are breathtaking with many fine examples of the artist’s religious sculptures on display.
Shopping and Dining Along Park Avenue
When plans for the city were drawn up in the late 1800s, founding fathers envisioned a park-like setting that would provide opportunities for local businesses to thrive.
More than a century later, Park Avenue remains the heart of the city.
Block after block offers something for every taste and style.
From locally-owned clothing stores, shops that focus on home design and chains you might be familiar with from your favorite mall, there’s enough variety here for even the most discriminating shopper.
Scenic Boat Tour
312 E Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789
Set aside an hour to go on a leisurely Scenic Boat Tour on the pristine Winter Park chain of lakes.
Cruises by knowledgeable and entertaining guides are offered daily on an 18-passenger pontoon boat.
The tour floats down two man-made canals full of towering cypress trees, lush ferns and a variety of flourishing sub-tropical flowers.
A number of opulent private homes and sprawling estates can be viewed along the shore.
Boats depart every hour on the hour each day of the year except Christmas.
Here’s Your License to Chill at Hollywood’s Margaritaville Resort
Florida’s number one chill ambassador Jimmy Buffett added to his growing business empire in late 2015 with the opening of Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. The 17-story, $150-million hotel strikes the perfect balance of coastal luxury and the laid-back lifestyle Buffett is known for around the world.
It features 349 guest rooms/suites (including the 2,834-square-foot Jimmy Buffett Presidential Suite that can cost up to $5,000 a night), full-service spa, eight bars and restaurants, multiple pools, surf simulator, kid’s club, and beach and resort shops that stock exclusive Margaritaville merchandise.
Here are 8 reasons why we think the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is beyond cool.
Blown Out Flip Flop
Walking in the front door of the hotel, you immediately notice a 14-foot-tall electric blue flip flop sculpture with a pop top nearby. The sign at its base reads: “Blown Out Flip Flop. The acclaimed artist, whose more contemplative works appear in museum collections around the world (often featuring his signature sun baked canvases covered in oil), has gone to the beach this season. He prefers to remain anonymous, allowing his first work in the emerging genre of POP-top-ART to speak for itself.” It’s almost mandatory that everyone who visits has to take a selfie with this unique piece of art.
Inviting Colorful Lobby
Without a doubt, this has to be the most creatively designed, eye-catching hotel lobby we’ve ever seen. Every element in this comfortable space is designed to provoke conversation and encourage guests to linger. (We seriously didn’t want to leave!) You could easily roll up on one of the large modern sofas and take a long nap. Suspended with ropes from the ceiling are oversized porch swings, possibly a first for any hotel lobby. Hanging in the middle of the room is a lighting structure made entirely of margarita glasses that give the space an unpretentious hint of sophistication. Antique wooden surf boards hang on the walls and parrots in flight are everywhere you look. Lining a walkway to some of the rooms are three indoor cabanas adorned with the lyrics from Buffett’s signature song Margaritaville: “Strumming my six-string, Nibblin’ on sponge cake, Watchin’ the sun bake.”
So Many Places to Eat & Drink
In addition to the on-site Margaritaville Restaurant, the resort has enough food and bar options to make you never want to leave the property. Adjacent to the lobby is JWB (James William Buffett) Prime Steak & Seafood, a new upscale restaurant concept that’s only open for dinner. The Landshark Bar & Grill offers panoramic views of the Atlantic on the oceanfront deck while Floridays provides quick food truck fare out of a vintage airstream trailer parked on the Broadwalk. There’s also a rooftop bar on the 11th floor that’s exclusive to guests and the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill across A1A overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
Catch a Wave
Adventurous types can attempt to surf on the resort’s FlowRider Double, a surfing simulator directly on the Broadwalk that’s open to the public and guests. While we weren’t brave enough to try it ourselves, we spent more than an hour having fun laughing at all those who did and ended up wiping out instead. Next time, we conquer it!
Spa Day
The spas of South Beach can’t top the resort’s St. Somewhere Spa, a serene 11,000 square-foot getaway with eleven treatment rooms (two designed specifically for couples), steam rooms, scrub room, and rainfall showers. There’s also a co-ed wet lounge featuring a hot tub and relaxation benches.
Minimalist-Tropical Rooms & Suites
Influenced by the colors of the sea, sand and sky, the resort’s guestrooms and suites boast teak-finished furnishings accompanied by subtle maritime accents. On the sea-colored wall above the bed is a series of strategically-placed window shutters which provide texture and depth and give the space plenty of character. The bathroom has a spacious walk-in shower with sea glass colored tile. Every element in the room is designed to transport the guest to the Caribbean paradise they’ve always imagined.
Fun Activities for All Ages
This island-inspired paradise features three unique pools — two on the beach level and one incredible rooftop pool on the 11th floor. The beach is just a few steps away from the hotel’s back door while across the street on the Intracoastal, guests can paddleboard or take part in other water activities. For the younger set, there’s the Parakeet Kids Club with tons of games and crafts supervised by trained counselors.
Live Entertainment
What would a resort by a legendary singer and songwriter be without live music? You’ll find plenty at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. On any given night, guests can enjoy performances from some of South Florida’s hottest local musicians who play at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurant, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill and Landshark Bar & Grill. MHBR has also taken over the iconic Hollywood Bandshell, allowing the resort to put on almost nightly concerts for everyone on the Hollywood Broadwalk. It’s truly a party atmosphere you have to experience.
Visiting the Shell Factory, One of Florida’s Original Tourist Traps
“Tourist trap” doesn’t have a negative connotation when used in relation to the World’s Largest Shell Factory and Nature Park in Fort Myers. This behemoth gift shop (68-thousand square feet, to be exact) has been peddling in Florida kitsch since the early days of the state’s tourism industry.
The Shell Factory name is a little misleading. Sure, there are lots of varieties of shells for purchase here. But it’s not your run-of-the-mill shell shop.
Anyone who attempts to describe this place always falls short. That’s because it’s impossible.
Inside, you’ll find the normal tacky t-shirts and souvenirs available at every beach gift shop in the state. But as you move down the aisles, it becomes clear this place has a bigger mission to entertain and even educate.
There are mini-museums on everything from pirates and fossils to exhibits about the military, the JFK assassination and exotic animals. One room called the Museum of Natural History contains nearly 200 taxidermied animals, a collection valued at $6 million.
On the grounds outside is a Nature Park with live animals like zebras, camels and lemurs. There’s also a dinosaur exhibit, reptile exhibit, walk-thru aviary, petting farm and eco lab.
It’s almost like a miniature Busch Gardens, minus the big coasters! Kids of all ages can ride the bumper boats, paddle boats and zip line or play a round of miniature golf.
Food options run the gamut from a full-service restaurant to homemade fudge and even a Subway.
The owners say the Shell Factory is always evolving; that changes will never be complete. It’s hard to imagine what the place will look like in 5 or 10 years. But I’m excited to return!
5 Fun Places to Visit in Downtown Orlando
It’s no secret Orlando sometimes gets an undeserved reputation for being all about the Mouse House, Shamu and Harry Potter. The general thinking is there’s not much to do in downtown Orlando. But the City Beautiful is a nice place to spend a few hours soaking up local culture and taking in the arts scene. What’s even better, there are plenty of free (or really inexpensive) things to do in the downtown area, if you know where to look.
Take a Stroll Around Lake Eola
Smack-dab in the middle of downtown Orlando is the city’s most famous body of water — Lake Eola. The lake and its iconic fountain are used to advertise the city near and far, and the park that encircles the water is a popular spot for festivals, a weekly farmer’s market, holiday fireworks shows, concerts and other special events. Runners and walkers love the .9-mile sidewalk. Kids love seeing all the ducks. And couples enjoy leisurely trips inside the giant, swan paddle boats, which can be rented for $15 per half hour.
Tour the Orange County Regional History Center
Housed in a restored 1927 courthouse, the Orange County Regional History Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian and the best place to learn about the area’s past. Four floors of permanent exhibits immerse you in 12,000 years of Central Florida history. Admission to the museum is $8 for adults and $6 for children (prices effective September 5, 2015). The first full weekend of every month, the History Center offers free admission to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders.
Check Out Exhibits at CityArts Factory
Look for the giant half Mona Lisa on the building at the corner of Pine Street and Orange Avenue and walk inside. Since opening in 2006, the CityArts Factory has been one of the best places in Central Florida to see art from local and international creatives. The collection is rotated on a monthly basis and the facility regularly hosts special events. Best of all, admission is free!
Stop By Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe
A new rad hangout is Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe at 703 North Orange Avenue. This place is so much more than just a record store. It’s a community gathering spot that Orlando has desperately needed for some time. Uncle Tony’s carries a nicely-curated selection of rare vinyl, old-school boom boxes, vintage record players, and hip hop fashions from BBoy.
View Artwork at the Grand Bohemian Hotel
If you’ve ever stayed at or visited a Grand Bohemian Hotel, you know the owners have impeccable taste. And that’s reflected in the hotel’s very own art gallery. The gallery at the Orlando location showcases over 100 works of art by local, regional and internationally recognized artists. Glass, ceramics, jewelry, contemporary paintings and sculptures are on display. There’s no charge to look around the gallery.
