Historical Winter Park: A Tour of Central Florida‘s Cultural Jewel

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Historical Winter Park: A Tour of Central Florida‘s Cultural Jewel

(3 reviews)
Winter Park, Florida audio tour: Historical Winter Park: A Tour of Central Florida‘s Cultural Jewel
This is a 1.2mi walking tour
It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.
Winter Park, Florida
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$6.99
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About the Tour

Orlando may be the home of world-famous tourist attractions, but Winter Park is home to Florida‘s cultural heart. Originally founded by land barons and citrus growers as a winter home for wealthy northerners, today its vintage charm, high density of museums and galleries, and top-rated university continue to attract travelers.

This walking tour starts at the Woman‘s Club of Winter Park, where I‘ll show you the magnificent architecture of Rollins College, one of the oldest universities in the state. I‘ll also tell you about the Annie Russell Theatre and its namesake. We‘ll pass Interlachen Avenue, close to the original site of Winter Park, and then stroll along Park Avenue, one of the most iconic blocks in the country. You‘ll visit Central Park, a treasure trove of the area‘s history, which is right next door to a number of great museums and restaurants. The tour ends on Lyman Ave near the Alfond Inn at Rollins College, an upscale hotel whose famous guests include Eleanor Roosevelt, Ray Charles, and Ronald and Nancy Reagan.

Along the way, you‘ll have a chance to:

  • See the Walk of Fame, made with over 500 stones from the homes of luminaries such as Aristotle, George Washington, and Confucius
  • Learn how Florida’s architectural tastes influenced the building of the Knowles Memorial Chapel
  • Take in the statue created by Albin Polasek, who lived in Winter Park for fifteen years and is considered one of the most renowned sculptors in 20th-century America
  • Wander iconic Winter Park, and enjoy the shops and restaurants that have made the avenue a tourist destination
  • Visit Central Park, the city‘s cultural center, and learn the history of its community
  • Find out why peacocks are such an important part of the city‘s past

So join me for this 60-minute Winter Park tour as we encounter the history hidden along its quaint streets.

Categories
Museums Parks And Gardens Architecture Food And Drink

Tour Producer

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Michael Perkins

2 tours

I have lived in beautiful central Florida for over 35 years, and travelled the entire area discovering its fascinating history. I was honored to work at the Orange County Regional History Center for over 25 years, first as Chief Curator, and then as Executive Director. For seven years I hosted a television show entitled Orange County Scrapbook that highlighted local history. There is so much fascinating history in our area, and much of it is unknown. I have spent half of my life unearthing the fascinating stories that bring central Florida to life and have served to create the dynamic community we are today. Touring central Florida and discovering its history is unlike touring almost anywhere else on earth. Orlando is so well known for its theme parks people feel like they know Orlando when they visit, but only by touring the area to find out its history can you really say you know Orlando. I love to tell these stories, and hope that you enjoy hearing them.

Preview Location

Location 5

Knowles Chapel

Once you exit the small garden square, make your way to the entrance of the chapel that is ahead of you to the left. Stop there.

In the meantime, I will start to tell you about the chapel.

This is Knowles Memorial Chapel. The building is designed in the Mediterranean R... Read More
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Major Landmarks

  • Woman's Club of Winter Park

  • Rollins College

  • Annie Russell Theatre

  • Knowles Memorial Chapel

  • Rollins College Walk Of Fame

  • Central Park

  • Peacock Fountain

  • Winter Park Station

  • The Alfond Inn

  • West Lyman Avenue

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.
  1. Start location
    419 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789, USA
  2. Total distance
    2km
  3. Final location
    290 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789, USA
  4. Distance back to start location
    76.35m

Directions to Starting Point

Park in the Sun Trust/Truist parking garage, located on Lyman Avenue one block off of Park Avenue. The garage does charge a fee to park. You are welcome to try to find free parking along Park Avenue, but it is limited.
Once parked, walk to Comstock Avenue on the opposite side of the parking garage, and follow it walking away from Park Avenue. After about 100 yards you will find the Women's Club on your left.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

There are so many great cafes and restaurants to visit, depending on your mood. If you are touring in the morning you may want to wander a few blocks further up Park Avenue for breakfast at the Briarpatch, a Winter Park institution. If you are closer to lunch or dinner, and want to try something different, check out Bosphorus, which has excellent Turkish cuisine. Staying on the tour, you will walk past Cocina 214 on Welbourne, which has excellent Spanish food.

Best time of day

You can do this tour all year. The fest times are between 9am and 9pm, when most of the shops and restaurants on Park Avenue are open.

Precautions

Much of this tour is outside in the sun. There is shade, but you may want to bring sunblock or an umbrella, particularly if there is a chance of rain. There are plenty of places to find water and drinks along the way, but you may want to bring a bottle of water.

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