Orlando's Oasis

Southern Living, Jan 2005 by Frazier, Jennifer McKenzie

Luxury finds a new home at Grande Lakes resort.

Surrounded by lush gardens and crystal blue lakes, you'll realize that Orlando has a new playground. The new Grande Lakes Orlando resort might as well be on a different continent from the famed theme parks that rule this city. There's no trace of mouse ears or roller coasters, and for some visitors, that's a good thing.

Staying Options

You have your choice of where to stay at the $600 million Grande Lakes-a 584-room Ritz-Carlton or a 1,000-room JW Marriott.

The Ritz-Carlton feels like an Italian palazzo, with hand-painted furniture, private balconies, and roomy bathrooms. Rates start at $299.

The other lodging option, less luxurious but quite nice, is the enormous, salmon-colored JW Marriott where rates start at $199. The rooms, which are spacious and comfortable, offer marble tubs, showers, and vanities as well as high-speed Internet.

If you'd rather spend a little less on accommodations by staying at one of the plentiful chain motels in the area, you can still enjoy the resort's fabulous restaurants as well as its spa and golf course.

Culinary Delights

Dining opportunities abound at Grande Lakes Orlando. At The Ritz-Carlton, you can feast on anything from a club sandwich at Fairways Pub to fresh fish at Norman's. At the JW Marriott, chef Melissa Kelly's Primo restaurant acts as the highlight eatery. She, along with chef Norman Van Aken of Norman's, are both recipients of James Beard Foundation Awards.

Where To Play

Golfers drool over the 18-hole course designed by Greg Norman. Spa-goers relax in the 40,000-square-foot, citrusthemed spa, with 40 treatment rooms. If you feel an urge to visit a theme park, both hotels offer shuttle transportation for their guests ($14 roundtrip) to the major ones. You'll find it hard to leave this glorious playground though. JENNIFER MCKENZIE FRAZIER

Grande Lakes Orlando: 4040 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, FL 32837; 1-800-576-5760 (The Ritz-Carlton), 1-800-576-5750 (JW Marriott), or www.grandelakes.com.

WANT TO BRING THE KIDS?

Grande Lakes offers so many special touches for pint-size guests that they may forget all about visiting Mickey. Young golfers can sign up to take the Golf FORE Kids Etiquette Program. At the JW Marriott, kids will love drifting down the 24,000-square-foot lazy river pool in a floating tube. Plus, Ritz Kids and Teen Spa Adventures appeals to those with discriminating tastes. When you make your reservation, let them know that you'll have kids with you.