I do love a ride on a thrilling rollercoaster, but on a recent trip to Orlando—Florida’s tourism star—I was happy to discover this Central Florida city beyond the theme parks.
While many clients travel to Orlando for SeaWorld, Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, adding on a 1-day itinerary through the city’s vibey downtown and tony Winter Park neighborhood can broaden their experience.
Here are 5 places you’ll want to include:
1. The Heart of Downtown Orlando—In the city’s Downtown area, set within the lively Thornton Park District, you’ll find Lake Eola Park. Embraced by the city’s skyline, this picturesque public park is home to a lovely amphitheater, unique art pieces and a scenic nearly-mile-long path that loops around the lake. There are live swans for gorgeous photos, but a must is hopping on the swan-shaped paddle boats for a spin around the lake. Those visiting on Sunday will be there for the weekly Orlando
Farmers Market.
2. The Orange County Regional History Center—Located a short walk from Lake Eola Park in a restored 1927 courthouse, this thoughtfully curated museum transports visitors across 14,000 years, charting the region’s story from early inhabitants to the modern day. A Smithsonian affiliate, the History Center’s core exhibits spotlight Florida’s indigenous people; its 100-year prowess as a tourism destination; its African American history; and its aviation history, among other stories that have shaped the region.
3. Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour—No trip to Orlando is complete without checking out one of the boat tours across Winter Park’s lakes and canals. The boat tour, said to be one of Florida’s oldest, continuously running tourist attractions, is an hour of delightful storytelling, as captains share stories with passengers about the magnificent lakeside homes, noted for their eye-catching architecture, landscaping and design (look for the bronze elephant).
4. Winter Park’s Very Own Park Avenue—Founded by wealthy Northerners in the 1800s, it’s no wonder that this elegant city’s main street is named Park Avenue. Cozying up to the lovely and aptly named Central Park, this leafy avenue is home to coffee shops, chic boutiques, chocolatiers and renowned restaurants. We slipped into boca restaurant, where the appetizers, including ahi tuna crisps, lobster wontons and fried green tomatoes, and main dishes, which range from burgers to salmon, were the cat’s meow.
5. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum—If Tiffany lamps are your client’s thing, then a must-stop is at this Park Avenue museum, where they’ll find the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co. The collection includes the fully restored Daffodil Terrace from Tiffany’s Long Island home, Laurelton Hall, as well as those iconic lamps, door panels and windows. The museum’s standout piece, though, has to be the chapel interior Tiffany created for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Recommend clients read the history of how the chapel made its way from the World’s Fair to the Morse Museum.
