What to do on the weekend in Winter Park

Everything has changed when the “new normal” came around. But why should you let that ruin a great weekend with your family? Continue reading below to find out some family fun activities to do this weekend in Winter Park. All while staying safe and socially distanced.

Park Avenue

The centerpiece of a lavish winter retreat since 1887, Park Avenue has long been the place for a relaxing stroll in elegant surroundings. Experience a unique destination for fine dining, fashion, and art in one of Florida’s most unique and flourishing communities. Bordered by a shady park that plays host to concerts and art festivals, Park Avenue is home to one-of-a-kind boutiques and well-known shops, sidewalk cafes, and fine dining restaurants, as well as world-renowned art collections in the area’s museums.

Downtown Winter Park’s charm is magnified in the truly unique details: hidden gardens and side streets that are home to locally-owned shops, a farmers’ market that attracts both locals and visitors alike each Saturday morning, festive parades that mark the seasons and a scenic boat tour that cruises the canals between the City’s lakes overlooking the area’s most prestigious homes. Often called “Little Europe,” Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park is a year-round destination that is sure to charm visitors of all ages.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is an 18-passenger pontoon boat ride on the pristine Winter Park chain of lakes. The tour offers hour-long, guided cruises through three of the seven lakes and two man-made canals on the tranquil Winter Park chain.

Every tour guarantees plenty of swaying palms, towering cypress trees, lush ferns, and a variety of flourishing sub-tropical flowers. You will also experience breathtaking views of opulent private homes and exquisite estates sprawling along the shores. Tour guides are sure to point out sights of Rollins College, Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Kraft Azalea Gardens, and more. Tours are available for individuals and groups throughout the year. To learn more about the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour and to make your reservation, click here.

weekend in Winter Park

Rollins College

Located along the banks of Lake Virginia in the heart of Central Florida. The beautiful Rollins College campus encourages visitors to take advantage. To see Florida’s natural beauty and Winter Park’s history and charm. With its Spanish Mediterranean architecture, lush grounds, and gorgeous setting. Rollins was named one of the 50 Most Amazing College Campuses in 2011 by The Best Colleges.

Feel free to stroll across the lush landscaped 80-acre campus through the beautiful rose garden. Or enjoy a walk along the Walk of Fame containing more than 200 stones. All gathered from the birthplaces of influential cultural and historical figures. Take a relaxing walk on the lakeside walking trail, visit the Cornell Fine Arts Museum or attend one of the many cultural, sporting, or educational events offered by Rollins College throughout the year.

Mead Botanical Garden

It has been described as “an urban oasis, a refuge for wildlife. A botanical garden emphasizing nature, sustainability, and environmental learning. A beautiful place for contemplation, celebration, and recreation”. Mead Botanical Garden is located just a few miles from the downtown business district. It is a beautiful place to enjoy a lazy afternoon traversing the nature trails or dipping your feet in the freshwater ponds. It is also an excellent venue for intimate gatherings to celebrate special occasions or as a pleasant setting for any group collaboration.

weekend in Winter Park

Alfond Boat House and Dinky Dock

Dinky Dock sits on Lake Virginia, a 224-acre lake in the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. Now a public park, the area used to be the site of the depot for the Winter Park-Orlando Railroad. Nicknamed the “Dinky Line” for its fragility, the railroad opened on January 2, 1889. The fare from Winter Park to Orlando was 15 cents. While the trip measured six miles and took half an hour. The depot was removed in 1967. But look for a monument, a little to the west of Dinky Dock on Lake Virginia. That marks where the train station once stood.

Today, the dock offers boat access to the beautiful Lake Virginia and the Winter Park chain of lakes. Boaters launching at Dinky Dock may navigate through canals connecting five lakes: Lake Virginia, Lake Osceola, Lake Maitland, Lake Mizell, and Lake Minneola.

If you are looking for an excursion, Paddleboard Orlando organizes a Venetian Winter Park Canal Tour. Going through the Winter Park Chain of Lakes and FlyBoard Rentals of Orlando launches flights, both departing from the Dinky Dock.

Enjoy More of Winter Park!

Park Ave Magazine is proud to have been your local guide for the Winter Park and Central Florida areas for the past several years. Due to the impact of COVID-19, we have decided to become a digital source for news content. Readers can still keep up with the latest articles, news, events, guides, and more here on our website.