Winter Park

[disneyfav4ever]

I was searching for things to do in the area outside of Disney, and Winter Park caught my interest. Just wondering if it's worth spending a day there. They seem to have a lot of cultural exhibits, and good sounding restaurants.

 

[livindis]

After years of visiting WDW we finally took the time to drive to Winter Park. It is a charming town with several good restaurants. We ate at Luma on Park and had a very delicious meal and the service was excellent. There are a few shops that looked interesting but unfortunately they were closed. We also found a great wine place, The Wine Room, that we plan on visiting on our next visit. There is also a fantastic BBQ restaurant closer to the highway. 4Rivers Smokehouse has some of our favorite BBQ...we like it more than BBQ that we have had in Texas! I think Winter Park is worth the travel time and it is a nice change from the park atmosphere.

 

[Art 1]

I was searching for things to do in the area outside of Disney, and Winter Park caught my interest. Just wondering if it's worth spending a day there. They seem to have a lot of cultural exhibits, and good sounding restaurants.

Well, I live there. Don't know if you could spend a whole day but maybe. There is the boat tour, Tiffany museum, Rollins College, Polasek Museum. And Park Ave is full of shops and very nice restaurants.

 

[auger]

I used to live there. I grew up in WP and miss it so much!!
As a kid I used to frequent Park Ave. There was an ice cream shop there that my friend and I always went to.

It's a very nice town and there are interesting things to do there.

Do a Google search for sites. PP has already listed some.

Don't know if it still exists, but there used to be a small dirt road we rode our bikes down.
Can't for the life of me remember the name, but there were peacocks roaming freely there.
It was one of our fav things to do! I know it was near the hospital which is just off the intersection of Aloma and Lakemont, very close to where I lived.

Mead Botanical Garden was always a neat place, too. Not sure if it is actually in WP, technically, but it has to be close, because we rode our bikes there as well.

 

[Art 1]

I used to live there. I grew up in WP and miss it so much!!
As a kid I used to frequent Park Ave. There was an ice cream shop there that my friend and I always went to.

It's a very nice town and there are interesting things to do there.

Do a Google search for sites. PP has already listed some.

Don't know if it still exists, but there used to be a small dirt road we rode our bikes down.
Can't for the life of me remember the name, but there were peacocks roaming freely there.
It was one of our fav things to do! I know it was near the hospital which is just off the intersection of Aloma and Lakemont, very close to where I lived.

Mead Botanical Garden was always a neat place, too. Not sure if it is actually in WP, technically, but it has to be close, because we rode our bikes there as well.

I think the ice cream place was called East India, I think. It's long gone. We went there often. There is now a Haagan Dazs and a another place that the name escapes me. and The people that owned it opened the Briarpatch Restaurant on Park. I was at Aloma and Lakemont today. There is an Outback there.

 

[Chipperjones]

I lived in winter part for about three years and like someone else said, you may have hard time finding a way to spend a whole day there! Some good scattered food and a nice little strip in park ave

 

[Metro West]

I lived in winter part for about three years and like someone else said, you may have hard time finding a way to spend a whole day there! Some good scattered food and a nice little strip in park ave

Agreed...but the Winter Park Art Festival in March is great fun and is worth visiting for the day. That was one of the first things I did when I moved here in 2004.

 

[auger]

I think the ice cream place was called East India, I think. It's long gone. We went there often. There is now a Haagan Dazs and a another place that the name escapes me. and The people that owned it opened the Briarpatch Restaurant on Park. I was at Aloma and Lakemont today. There is an Outback there.

Yep, East India! I would imagine most things I went to as a kid are probably gone by now. Even my childhood home has been demolished. My parents sold it back around 2000, and the folks who bought it, mowed it down to build 2 homes on the double lot. Sigh... so much for my childhood!
I haven't gone over there in quite a few years. I probably wouldn't recognize it anymore! I lived over on Mayfield Ave, one block away from Lake Knowles. I miss those brick roads so much!!

Well, I guess this isn't helping the OP much, and it' making me miss home.
Thanks for letting me stroll down memory lane for a little while!!

 

[Art 1]

Yep, East India! I would imagine most things I went to as a kid are probably gone by now. Even my childhood home has been demolished. My parents sold it back around 2000, and the folks who bought it, mowed it down to build 2 homes on the double lot. Sigh... so much for my childhood!
I haven't gone over there in quite a few years. I probably wouldn't recognize it anymore! I lived over on Mayfield Ave, one block away from Lake Knowles. I miss those brick roads so much!!

Well, I guess this isn't helping the OP much, and it' making me miss home.
Thanks for letting me stroll down memory lane for a little while!!

I know right where you are talking about. I probably even know the house. I probably know a lot of the people you went to school with. You know that Doc Rivers and Carrot Top live right near there on the same street. I don't want to say the name but it's across from the large lake that is just north of where you lived.

 

[auger]

I know right where you are talking about. I probably even know the house. I probably know a lot of the people you went to school with. You know that Doc Rivers and Carrot Top live right near there on the same street. I don't want to say the name but it's across from the large lake that is just north of where you lived.

Not sure who Doc Rivers is, and by carrot top, do you mean the comedian?

 

[Art 1]

Not sure who Doc Rivers is, and by carrot top, do you mean the comedian?

Yes. Doc coached the Magic and now coaches the Celtics. His son was a first round draft choice in this past NBA draft.

 

[auger]

Yes. Doc coached the Magic and now coaches the Celtics. His son was a first round draft choice in this past NBA draft.

Really!? I know after I moved away from home my parents talked about some big named bball player who lived in a big mansion on Palmer, but hadn't heard about those two.

Do you live somewhere near where my house was? Like I said, we were just one block south of Lake Knowles, right between Palmer and the lake.
Before the house behind ours was built, it was just a field and we would walk right through to the lake. We were right on the corner of Mayfield and Temple in a big colonial 2-story, white w/ green shutters with a huge front yard.
Boy I miss that house!!! Moved in there back in 68.

 

[Art 1]

Really!? I know after I moved away from home my parents talked about some big named bball player who lived in a big mansion on Palmer, but hadn't heard about those two.

Do you live somewhere near where my house was? Like I said, we were just one block south of Lake Knowles, right between Palmer and the lake.
Before the house behind ours was built, it was just a field and we would walk right through to the lake. We were right on the corner of Mayfield and Temple in a big colonial 2-story, white w/ green shutters with a huge front yard.
Boy I miss that house!!! Moved in there back in 68.

That house you are talking about was owned by Horace Grant. I drive by there often and would see him out walking with his two German Shepherds. Rumor was that Michael Jackson was going to buy it from him but that did not happen. There are a number of pro b-ball players in that area. I had one who lived across the street for a few years until he was traded. I know right where you mean, live close to there and go by it often. Those guys we are talking about live on the island out on that big lake. I know people who live on Lk. Knowles. I knew the guy who lived where that empty lot was, he sold that house and a very large house was built there. Property values where you lived are very high. your property could have been worth a million dollars a few years back.

 

[auger]

That house you are talking about was owned by Horace Grant. I drive by there often and would see him out walking with his two German Shepherds. Rumor was that Michael Jackson was going to buy it from him but that did not happen. There are a number of pro b-ball players in that area. I had one who lived across the street for a few years until he was traded. I know right where you mean, live close to there and go by it often. Those guys we are talking about live on the island out on that big lake. I know people who live on Lk. Knowles. I knew the guy who lived where that empty lot was, he sold that house and a very large house was built there. Property values where you lived are very high. your property could have been worth a million dollars a few years back.

Horace Grant; that was the one. I am not into sport, so the names mean little to me unless I am reminded!
My parents sat on that house for 6 years trying to sell it before someone cme along and chewed them down on price. I can't even imagine what it would be worth now.

 

[Art 1]

Horace Grant; that was the one. I am not into sport, so the names mean little to me unless I am reminded!
My parents sat on that house for 6 years trying to sell it before someone cme along and chewed them down on price. I can't even imagine what it would be worth now.

If you went to WPHS you we probably know many of the same people if they are in the late 40's or so.

 

[blessedby3]

I grew up in Winter Park too...I lived there from 1967-1977. I went to Aloma Elementary up until 5th grade, then moved. We lived on Friar Road. I have very fond memories of growing up there. We would ride our bikes to the 7-11 (I think that is what it was...across form the school) and the Krystal burger....yumm! I love to hit up a Krystal when we are traveling. My family (who didnt grow up with Krystal) isnt so impressed

 

[Art 1]

I grew up in Winter Park too...I lived there from 1967-1977. I went to Aloma Elementary up until 5th grade, then moved. We lived on Friar Road. I have very fond memories of growing up there. We would ride our bikes to the 7-11 (I think that is what it was...across form the school) and the Krystal burger....yumm! I love to hit up a Krystal when we are traveling. My family (who didnt grow up with Krystal) isnt so impressed

I know people on Friar Dr. Winter Park Pines. That Krystal close to you closed about two years ago and sits empty.

 

[blessedby3]

I know people on Friar Dr. Winter Park Pines. That Krystal close to you closed about two years ago and sits empty.

Cool! The neighbors I remember were the Highlands, Broers, Oteenas and Magees...and the Steelmans, but they lived the next street over. These were the families that had kids I played with. I have no clue if they are still there or not.
Sad to hear the Krystal closed down

 

[Art 1]

Cool! The neighbors I remember were the Highlands, Broers, Oteenas and Magees...and the Steelmans, but they lived the next street over. These were the families that had kids I played with. I have no clue if they are still there or not.
Sad to hear the Krystal closed down

Don't know any of those folks. Actually that stretch of 436 is in pretty rough shape with empty buildings. Aloma is ok though.

 

[blessedby3]

Don't know any of those folks. Actually that stretch of 436 is in pretty rough shape with empty buildings. Aloma is ok though.

Oh well...worth a shot The last time we were in my old neighborhood was back in 1/08. I remember thinking how big my house was growing up, yet when we got there it seemed so small...yard and all. I hate to hear that things are going downhill.