Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park, photo by Roberto Gonzalez
A short walk (as in a few blocks) from The Alfond Inn and Park Avenue lies a gem of the city, Scenic Boat Tours of Winter Park. Born as a “wintering” destination for wealthy Northerners, Winter Park became the first planned community in Florida when it was chartered in 1887. The railroad that followed brought affluent travelers into Winter Park; today, it is still one of the most coveted ZIP codes in Central Florida.
A tour along Lakes Osceola, Virginia and Maitland—which you cruise through on a pontoon boat—showcases some of the most opulent homes in the area. Modern mansions sit alongside historic structures, and there is a mélange of architecture styles, sometimes in the same home. You’ll get an up-close view of some of these homes as the boat navigates through the lakes’ manmade canals; as you pass through them, look up to get a different perspective of the towering cypress trees draped with Spanish moss.
The boat tour affords the opportunity to view the works of James Gamble Rogers II, a legendary name in Winter Park. In 1928, Rogers opened a branch of his father’s architecture firm in Winter Park, just as the city was being developed by the Winter Park Land Company. His focus was on residential buildings; his elegant home designs are still sought after today.
One example of Gamble Rogers’ style you’ll see on the tour is the Barbour residence, also known as “Casa Feliz.” It was designed after a Spanish farmhouse in 1932 and was set for demolition until a group of passionate citizens rallied to save it, moving it to another location on Lake Osceola in 2000. It is now a popular site for weddings and is open for docent-led tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-noon.
Fred Rogers’ family’s summer home can also be seen on the tour, as can the Capen House—we’ll let your tour guide tell you that unlikely story.
And it’s not just a desirable location for human dwellings—but on the lookout for the many cranes and other waterfowl that call these lakes home. You may just see one out catching its lunch.
Tours operate every hour on the hour between 10 am and 4 pm, open daily every day of the year except for Christmas. $20 for adults and $10 for children (free for those under age 2). For more information, visit scenicboattours.com