WINTER PARK

UTOPIAN COMMUNITY Often referred to as “Little Europe,” Winter Park o ers visitors a peek into Florida’s past. Cobblestone streets, pristine lakes, world-class art, an a uent main street and historic homes are just part of what makes Winter Park a must-visit destination for visitors and a beloved neighborhood for locals. Located in the bend of the railroad between Jacksonville and Orlando, their mild-climate paradise for wealthy Northerners would include schools, homes, churches and businesses nestled among the area’s scenic lakes. In 1885, Rollins College opened its doors, and the following year, Winter Park’s first hotel opened, featuring extravagant amenities like steam heat and electricity. Over the decades, the city thrived with an influx of businesses and the donation of land for parks and golf courses by wealthy retirees. Today, more than 28,000 residents call the area home, in addition to some 2,400 students.

CENTRAL PARK Situated at the heart of Winter Park is one of the city’s most beloved landmarks, Central Park. The 11-acre green space plays host to a long list of events throughout the year, including the annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival as well as the annual Olde Fashioned 4th of July Celebration. The winter holidays are an especially festive time, as the city partners with the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art to produce Christmas in the Park the first Thursday of each December. Turn-of-the-century Ti any stained glass windows provide a beautiful backdrop for a performance by the Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble. Any time of the year, the park’s bubbling fountains and seating areas, landscaped planters and a stunning oak tree canopy lure thousands of visitors from both near and far. Children play with abandon, and couples lounge lazily in the shade on picnic blankets. Central Park’s Rose Garden, located on the southern border of the park, beckons visitors to stop and sit for a spell.

COLLEGE CHARM The area’s historic charm is thanks in large part to Rollins College, the state’s oldest college, named for one of Winter Park’s founders, Alonzo W. Rollins. Spanish-Mediterranean style buildings sit on the banks of Lake Virginia, with the main gates facing Park Avenue. Visitors can step onto a boardwalk amid cypress trees and moss-draped oaks overlooking the lake. The crew team practices here, along with students piloting sailboats checked out from the campus boathouse. The public can visit Rollins Museum of Art free of charge and admire paintings by Georgia

(Left to Right): Bicycling on Park Avenue; Winter Park Farmer’s Market.

O’Kee e, Marc Chagall and Edgar Degas, as well as traveling exhibitions. Famous alumni include golf-course designer Pete Dye, actor Anthony Perkins, Paul McCartney’s stepson Arlen Shevell and Mr. (Fred) Rogers, who wrote “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” as his senior thesis.

SHOPPING & DINING At the heart of the Winter Park shopping and dining experience is famed Park Avenue. Although Central Park occupies much of the west side of the brick-paved thoroughfare, a collection of cozy cafés, upscale restaurants and quaint shops line the half-mile stretch on the east, and to the north and south of the park. You will find everything from a two-story Pottery Barn inside a 1939 art deco movie theater to boutiques like Siegel’s Winter Park, Lilly Pulitzer, Shoooz, Tuni, Tugboat & the Bird and established jewelers. Treat yourself to a coconut ice cream cone at Kilwins, chocolate-covered popcorn at Peterbrooke Chocolatier or savory samples at The Ancient Olive. Take a shopping break at The Wine Room, where you swipe your credit card for 1-, 2.5- or 5-ounce pours. Or round the corner from Park Avenue onto Morse Boulevard for an authentic French pastry at Croissant Gourmet. Dining rooms, both upscale and casual, make Winter Park a popular destination for romantic date nights and lively alfresco brunches throughout the city, both on Park Avenue and beyond. The James Beard Foundation has put its stamp of approval on many Winter Park eateries, giving James and

TIFFANY at the MORSE

The Morse Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including his chapel from the 1893 Chicago world’s fair and art objects from his Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall.

Public hours may be found online at morsemuseum.org

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445 north park avenue winter park, florida 32789 (407) 645-5311 just a 5-minute walk from the sunrail station.

Julie Petrakis of gastropub The Ravenous Pig a nod, as well as Brandon McGlamery of Prato, Park Avenue’s upscale and contemporary Italian eatery. Just west of Park Avenue, historic Hannibal Square and the surrounding area feature day spas and salons, in addition to boutique shopping and dining options. Even further to the west, visitors can stock their suitcases with goodies at Trader Joe’s, grab a Shake Shack burger or dine overlooking Lake Killarney at Hillstone. Just across Orlando Avenue are Bulla Gastrobar, a fantastic stop for tapas, as well as the tempting boutique bakery, The Glass Knife. If your visit takes place on Saturday, make your way back downtown to enjoy the Winter Park Farmers Market, o ering delights like freshly baked breads, just-picked flowers, fragrant local honey, from-scratch jams, fresh pasta and big vats of kettle corn made on the spot.

CULTURAL TREASURES Winter Park gives visitors access to significant works of art. Rollins College alumnus Hugh McKean had been a student of Louis Comfort Ti any at his Long Island, New York, estate, Laurelton Hall, in 1930. After a fire at the estate, McKean and his wife, Jeannette, salvaged much of the work and opened a museum in Winter Park. Now celebrating its 79th year, the museum is named for Jeannette’s grandfather, Winter Park benefactor Charles Hosmer Morse. Home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of Ti any’s work, guests will find a wide array of art created by the master artist and designer, including jewelry, pottery and paintings, art glass and examples of leaded glass lamps and windows. Recently, the museum was also gifted The Stebbins Collection by Theodore E. Stebbins Jr. and Susan Cragg Stebbins. The 65-piece collection includes sculpture, watercolor, drawings and paintings, with works by late 19th- and early 20th-century artists such as Albert Bierstadt, Martin Johnson Heade, John LaFarge among others.

BY WATER Walking distance from the shops of Park Avenue, Winter Park Scenic Boat Tours o ers visitors views of the city’s postcard-perfect shores as they glide along the beautiful Winter Park chain of lakes and into hidden canals, initially created to serve the interests of local logging companies. The tour, established in 1938, is one of Florida’s oldest attractions. During the hour-long voyage, observe eagles soaring above, marvel at towering cypress trees, and even spot an alligator sunning on the beach. If you prefer to be more active, just head to nearby Lake Killarney, where Paddleboard Orlando rents paddleboards by the hour.

A TRAVELER’S DREAM Just o Park Avenue is The Alfond Inn. This chic boutique hotel has been listed in the top 10 on Travel + Leisure’s prestigious list of “Best City Hotels in the Continental U.S.” “Winter Park is the hidden gem of Central Florida that’s increasingly less hidden,” says Betsy Gardner Eckbert, president/CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. “We are thrilled that now even international visitors have discovered Winter Park’s unique blend of charm and sophistication. Whether you’re here for our Venetian canals, world-class art or the finest in shopping and dining, we know you’ll understand why Winter Park has been a magnet for tourists since the 19th century.”