Winter Park

[stanleycamel]

Originally Posted by SimonV

For those who are on the 2nd, 3rd (or more!) trip to Orlando, or those wanting a break from the parks, we always recommend a day out at Winter Park as a great way to slow down and see something of the REAL Orlando. And Winter Park is keen to welcome more UK visitors, too, with a distinctly more user-friendly approach from the Chamber of Commerce. Their new Welcome Center on Lyman Avenue (just half a block from the main drag of Park Avenue) is now offering all British visitors a special service that we at the Brit Guide have been working on with them for the past six months or so.

Now, if you're looking to get the best out of a Winter Park visit, just head to the Welcome Center first and let them know you are a British visitor, and you will be given a free bottle of water, area map and a series of seasonal discounts for the local shops and restaurants (all of which should also be geared up for UK guests). It is a new initiative we are keen to expand and cultivate as we think this is a great area for people to visit and de-stress from the overall hectic pace of an Orlando holiday (as well as enjoy some fab food!), so feel free to let us have your feedback about this idea and how it works for you, if you get the chance to try it out

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Thanks for the information SimonV - we visit Winter Park every time we visit Orlando and love the area. We sometimes stay for a couple of nights at the Alfond Inn which is beautiful inside, we enjoy walking around Rollins College and, of course, trying the many restaurants and shops on Park Avenue. I just love it when the train comes into the station and you hear that evocative noise. Next time we visit I certainly will visit the Welcome Centre.

[SimonV]

The Alfond Inn is a GREAT call for any visit to Winter Park, even if you're not staying there. We love Hamilton's Kitchen for a great lunch or dinner, and the bar area is just superb.

[Pumba75]

Thanks for the information. Hoping to finally go this year!

[Mel49]

We went last May on recommendations from here but unfortunately the Scenic Boat Ride wasn't running due to the wet weather. We did have a lovely meal in the Cheesecake Factory before driving back in torrential rain all the way ! Will hopefully return on our next visit.

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by Mel49

We went last May on recommendations from here but unfortunately the Scenic Boat Ride wasn't running due to the wet weather. We did have a lovely meal in the Cheesecake Factory before driving back in torrential rain all the way ! Will hopefully return on our next visit.

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That's a serious bummer about the weather, Mel. It's a pretty rare event for heavy rain to intervene like that but it can happen with the summer afternoon thunderstorms. We've finished that tour once under a huge tarpaulin as the rain came down while we were actually out on the boat!

[mexico07]

Originally Posted by SimonV

For those who are on the 2nd, 3rd (or more!) trip to Orlando, or those wanting a break from the parks, we always recommend a day out at Winter Park as a great way to slow down and see something of the REAL Orlando. And Winter Park is keen to welcome more UK visitors, too, with a distinctly more user-friendly approach from the Chamber of Commerce. Their new Welcome Center on Lyman Avenue (just half a block from the main drag of Park Avenue) is now offering all British visitors a special service that we at the Brit Guide have been working on with them for the past six months or so.

Now, if you're looking to get the best out of a Winter Park visit, just head to the Welcome Center first and let them know you are a British visitor, and you will be given a free bottle of water, area map and a series of seasonal discounts for the local shops and restaurants (all of which should also be geared up for UK guests). It is a new initiative we are keen to expand and cultivate as we think this is a great area for people to visit and de-stress from the overall hectic pace of an Orlando holiday (as well as enjoy some fab food!), so feel free to let us have your feedback about this idea and how it works for you, if you get the chance to try it out

See more...

Hi Simon we visited winter park today and as suggested called into the welcome centre and although they were very helpful and gave us a map and a few leaflets they had absolutely no clue about the above mentioned British visitor pack , I showed the lady your post and she said I would need to contact you regarding any discounts etc as they have no knowledge of any such thing , but we still had a lovely afternoon xxx

[adidassler]

Originally Posted by SimonV

Winter Park is packed full of boutique shops, cafes and restaurants; two great museums; the Scenic Boat Tour (scenicboattours/; cash only); some nice gardens; a small theatre, distillery and brewery; Rollins College (dating to 1885, and a very pretty campus); the unique 9-hole Golf Course; the historic Casa Feliz home; and the superb Alfond Inn hotel, which is worth visiting on its own. There are self-guided walking tours of the area, and it has some of the best dining in Central Florida. Quite enough for a full day out!

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Matt Ginella does a great job along with the rest of The Winter Park golf community in promoting the course and the town, every Friday they open up for a fun 9 under the auspice of Mandatory Golf Friday, $18 for a round, $20 for the game with some prizes, it looks like heaven, and I'm hoping I can convince my wife and kids to travel up for a few hours...I play golf, they look at the shops and then some food.

There's some pics on his insta page: instagram/matt_ginella/?hl=en

Also, The No Laying Up guys from JAX did a great wee vid of the course and town:

[Mrs Valentine]

Absolutely love Winter Park, its one of my favourite areas to go for the lovely boat trips around the lakes. Feels very homey and safe as well.
I'd buy a house here if I was a lottery winner

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by mexico07

Hi Simon we visited winter park today and as suggested called into the welcome centre and although they were very helpful and gave us a map and a few leaflets they had absolutely no clue about the above mentioned British visitor pack , I showed the lady your post and she said I would need to contact you regarding any discounts etc as they have no knowledge of any such thing , but we still had a lovely afternoon xxx

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Many thanks for the feedback. We will look into it

[Lisbon]

Originally Posted by SimonV

Many thanks for the feedback. We will look into it

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We went on Monday and also the same for us - just a few leaflets
Rob