Out and About In Winter Park

This cozy little city nestles around Park Avenue, just a few miles from downtown Orlando.

Any summer morning, Winter Park glows like one of the Tiffany stained glass windows that hang in the Morse Museum at the end of Park Avenue. Step closer, and you'll see why. Smell the roses flowering in Central Park, taste a sweet slice of watermelon at the farmers market, and stroll streets of fascinating shops and inviting cafes.

Pack some comfortable shoes, and slip away for a relaxing weekend. It's a wonderful time to visit.

Top Six Things To Do

Try to get here Friday in time for a 1 Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. You'll see lovely lakeside homes, including the residence of a former world champion whistler. Take the cruise, and you'll feel like whistling too. The last hour-long excursion leaves at 4 p.m. from a dock at the end of East Morse Boulevard on Lake Osceola. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 ages 2-11; www.scenicboattours.com or (407) 644-4056.

Start Saturday morning with a visit to the 2 Winter Park Farmers Market, one of the best in Florida. Rich flavors of espresso, sliced cantaloupe, fresh popcorn, and sweet-scented flowers lead you around by the nose. You can nosh your way through breakfast. The market is located in a restored train depot at the corner of New England and New York Avenues. Open 7 a.m.-l p.m. Saturday; (407) 599-3358.

Shop 3 Park Avenue for chic fashions at Synergy and Tuni, vintage timepieces at the Orlando Watch Company, and whimsical folk art at Timothy's Gallery. See the world's most comprehensive collection of Tiffany art at the 4 Morse Museum; www.morsemuseum.org or (407) 645-5311. Take a walk across the lakeside campus of 5 Rollins College, where Fred Rogers attended classes in the historic, Mediterranean-style buildings. It really is a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Tee it up Sunday morning for a 9-hole round at the 6 Winter Park Country Club, near downtown. Greens fee and club rental costs only $18 at one of the oldest courses in Florida. Greens are tight. So are the fairways. Watch out for Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. "I hit a car once," one regular player laments. "Unfortunately, it was a police car."

Where To Stay

A room at the vintage Park Plaza Hotel at 307 Park Avenue South puts you in the midst of shops, restaurants, attractions-and (unfortunately) occasional late-night train whistles. Try to get one on the Park Avenue side, unless you're a heavy sleeper. Weekend rates range $130-$250; www.parkplazahotel. com or 1-800-228-7220. The recently renovated Best Western Mt. Vernon Inn is seven blocks from Park Avenue, but it has a nice pool, a friendly staff, and rates starting at $90; 1-800-992-3379.

Where To Eat

Briarpatch Restaurant serves the best breakfast in town. It's a meal to linger over. The menu changes regularly, but one recent morning it included crabby eggs-made with scrambled eggs, dill, crab, and cream cheese ($9.95). Try a Champagne-Peach Bellini. It's a refreshing mix of fresh peach nectar and Champagne; (407) 628-8651.

Stop to eat lunch at Pannullo's Italian Restaurant near the Park Plaza Hotel for a huge antipasto salad made with cold meats, marinated vegetables, and cheese ($8.25); www. pannullos.com or (407) 629-7270. Cool off with ice cream from the Briarpatch and a stroll through Central Park.

For dinner, hop over to happening Hannibal Square, a short walk off Park Avenue. Dexter's buzzes with couples and live music; www.dexwine.com or (407) 629-1150. Hot Olives serves creative dishes in a quieter atmosphere. Start with a martini glass filled with lightly fried black olives ($9). Have the Spicy Pecan Salad with sliced Granny Smith apples, Gorgonzola cheese, and toasted pecans ($10); www.hotolivesrestaurant.com or (407) 629-1030. The weather can be a little warm if you sit outside before sunset, but fans help. It gets a lot more pleasant later in the evening.

Stay awhile. It's hard to say good-bye to a city that's packed with so much charm. -LES THOMAS

Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: www.winterpark.org or 1-877-972-4262.

For More Info

Plan your own weekend getaway: editorscityguide.com

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2007
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