Unlike the sprawling metropolitan area of Orlando and vast Tourist/Resort Areas surrounding it…this is a compact, walkable village offering unique boutiques, elegant dining, beautiful Art Museums, delightful walks especially through the village park where squirrels abound and most enjoyable of all - a fun but informative, wonderfully relaxing boat excursion through the many lakes surrounding this delightful village.

On board you will have the opportunity to view and admire many ‘multi-million dollar’ lake homes and hear entertaining stories relating to them as well as learning about the history and nature of the area. The 1 hour boat tour also provides a wonderful opportunity to get a great lake-side view of one of America’s leading Colleges, the prestigious ‘Rollins College’ of Arts and Sciences.

To get to Winter Park, take the I-4 East to exit 87 (Fairbanks Avenue). Then travel approx. 2 miles and turn left on Park Avenue, the main artery of the village. If you can find a parking spot along Park avenue near the intersection with East Morse Blvd., this will be a good base for walking. Or park on East Morse Blvd. if intending to take the Scenic Boat Tour.

For information, brochures and an introduction to the village you can call in at Winter Park’s  ’Welcome Center’ (open 9-5, Mo-Fri). Here you will also find Public restrooms. It is located at 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. There are also public restrooms located by the Scenic Boat Tour Office.

Strolling along Park Avenue, you will discover many interesting shops, Art Galleries and a good variety of chic, continental-style restaurants and coffee shops. We enjoy grabbing a gourmet ice-cream from Haagen-Daz and eating it whilst sitting in the adjacent village park, watching the many squirrels chasing each other from tree to tree!

For a dose of Culture, visit one of the local area Art Museums, such as:-

Cornell Fine Arts Museum - (www.rollins.edu/cfam) - Showcasing the oldest collection of Art in Florida.

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art - (www.morsemuseum.org) - The Worlds most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, including Art Glass, Jewellery, Pottery and Paintings.

Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens - (www.polasek.org) - Visit the Estate including the home and galleries of this internationally known Sculptor.

For Scenic Boat Tour information, visit www.scenicboattours.com

For additional information and maps, visit www.parkave-winterpark.com

Have a Great Day!

I went with my wife Maria, cousin Barbara and her husband Robert. We left Highlands Reserve for a trip up the west coast and to see what we could find.

Firstly we went to Denny’s on the 192 for a hearty breakfast and to pick up a copy of “Roomsaver.com”. This is a web site but is also published so that people like me who have only a very limited idea how to use a computer can get the same deal. In fact I personally think that its got even more hotels in the book than on-line. So after eggs, very thin bacon, links (sausages to you and me) and a pile of pancakes 3 feet high (smothered in syrup and cream) we set of on our trip of discovery. I had to readjust the car seat so that I could get in behind the steering wheel.

We travelled north on highway 27 to Clermont, then headed west on the 476, then the 40 to highway 19.

Luckily I had in-car navigation and elected not to go on any toll roads. No we didn’t decide this route because we are stingy, but hopefully to see rural Florida.

On the way we stopped off at a country market, where you could buy anything from a pig to a magnum pistol to a tractor. I think the magnum was to put the pig down.

We drove past Homosassa heading north to Crystal River. We came across a road called West Fort Island Trail (highway 44) so heading west we drove for what seemed like miles and miles. The drive was worth it, we discovered a beautiful beach with hardly anybody on it. So after a dip in the sea and an ice-cream we returned back to highway 19.

Then onto Homosassa. As we approached I thought that we had better depart as it was full of Hells Angels and not the place for 4 rather boring adults, who’s idea of a wild night out was going to a restaurant or a bar for a quite drink.

Well we booked into a hotel (one of only two) and went to a bar on the river front.

On approaching the bar, rock and roll music was playing at such a loud volume we could hear it from ¼ mile away, but in need of some refreshment we pressed on.

On arrival we were greeted with lots of old people in leather gear dancing for all they were worth, and boy could some of them dance. One guy was in a wheel-chair and he was moving around the floor with his sweetheart far better than I could with all of my appendages intact. The music was played by a rock band and boy could they play.

At the bar it was useless to attempt to ask for what you wanted to drink, it was a system of point and hold your fingers up to indicate how many you wanted.

We then went to the furthest table from the band to enjoy our beer on this hot and humid October afternoon.

During a lull in the music some of the dancers returned to the table we were sitting at and invited us to share the table with them.

And so it was that we met Billy-Joe and Claudette. Billy-Joe was 57 from Missouri and Claudette was 61 from Jacksonville, Florida. Both were dressed in the same fashion as the other 98 OAP, Jeans, leather jackets or waistcoats and bandannas.

Gee you must be from Australia with that accent they declared.

No! No! I shouted, were from England and then explained that we were from Southend in Essex, no we didn’t know the Queen and not all English people shopped at Harrods.

Robert then decided that he had enough of the well known beer that started with “B” and sounded Czechoslovakian. He returned from the bar with a Floridian beer called Landshark. We both agreed that it tasted like something that had been strained through a cat. Oh well onto the Margaritas.

The music had started up again so we went into shouting and hand signal mode. Now I must admit that my hearing is not as good as it used to be (so Maria keeps informing me) so I couldn’t understand all that Billy-Joe was on about, so I nodded when I thought that I should and smiled in the (hopefully) right places. Billy-Joe then shot off and returned with more of that “B” beer, enough for the other 98 bikers, but no this was for the 6 of us. Thank goodness that we didn’t have to drive. He and Claudette then returned to the dance floor.

What a sight, all these Hells Angels cavorting around the dance floor, as good as any twenty year old. Some of them I swear would be down the post office tomorrow to draw there pensions.

Now the main reason for coming to Homosassa was to see the manatees. But we were informed that it was to early in the year for them to be this far up-river. Come back late November to March we were told. How disappointed I was. I had to sit in the beautiful Florida weather drinking alcohol, listening to rock and roll music and getting to know the natives.

During a quite period I asked Bill-Joe why all the Harley Davison owners were so old. He explained that the bikes were so expensive, youngster’s could not afford them. The average cost was $30000, far beyond the reach of the less well to do. So for the last 6 years as I’ve driven around Florida thinking to-myself “look at that silly old twit trying to be young” I now know why only the older folks ride HD’s.

Anyway back to the trip, Homosassa is a beautiful place to explore, but stay on the coast side of Highway 19. There are old colonial homesteads and a disused sugar mill. The mill and plantation was owned by David Levy Yulee, a member of the House of Representatives. The steam-driven mill operated from 1851 to 1864 and served as a supplier of sugar products for southern troops during the Civil War.

We had dinner in the only restaurant in the immediate area the Yardarm, and were we lucky, had we come a day later we would not have been able to eat here, as it shut down that night for a 2 week refurbishment. The food was ok, but I have eaten better.

The next day it was south on US19 to Dunedin and St. Petersburg’s Treasure Island, but that’s the next installment.

The Friday Nite Cruise sponsored by Pepsi, has a fantastic array of Corvettes, Mustangs, Monte Carlos in pristine condition, gleaming with their proud owners in a parade all around Old Town. Live music adds to the exciting atmosphere on the main stage at 7.30 p.m.

In its 15th year, The Saturday Nite Cruise has live 50’s and 60’s style rock and roll, which begins at 7.00p.m. And 325 classic cars and Hot rods and antiques parade with pride.

There is free parking and Admission and with its 75 specialty shops, 18 thrilling rides including the Super shot, which slowly creeps its way up to 150 feet in the air and shoots you down in one drop.

The new spiral Go-Kart tracks are great fun. Then there is the old town sling shot, Merry-go–round, Frog Hopper and Dragon Wagon kiddie coaster, and not forgetting the Buffalo rodeo rides, accompanied by Country and Western music, it’s a great atmosphere as you stroll along Main Street, you just want to take it all in.

The typical American diner’s takes you back in time and the children love the wax museum, all this makes a really enjoyable time.

A final ride on the bumper cars and maybe win a cuddly toy or show off your strength to your loved one with a test your strength game.

Pizza Hut, Chillies, Olive Garden are just a few of our favourite restaurants within a couple of minutes from Old Town

Usually when we have just got off the plane, put our cases in the villa and popped into Walmart for the tea, milk bread and cornflakes, we head off to the pizza Hut followed by a stroll down Old Town, it’s a great way to stretch those legs after a long flight and soak in the American atmosphere.

We love it and all this a stones throw from our beautiful villa Papplewick on Windward Cay, just off the 192.

Hope to see you there,

Val Goymer

“Celebration” is a town you would only stumble upon by accident.

When you get to Joe’s Crab Shack on Highway 192 (look out for the American water tower, turn into Celebration Avenue. Carry on until you reach the centre (look out for Sun Trust Bank), parking is plentiful and free.
 
In November 1996, 350 people became the first residents of Celebration.

Built on mosquito-ridden swamp land in Osceola County. The original houses are of traditional design, with clapboard exteriors, pastel colours, front porches and picket fences.

When walking down Market Street, you could believe that you were on Main Street in Magic Kingdom, it copies a typical Midwestern American street in the early 1900’s, complete with ice cream parlour, theatre and sweet shop, oops sorry that should read candy store.
 
People do greet each other in the street, cars travel very slowly and children play with gay abandon. The cafes and restaurants offer better quality fair than the average Florida eating establishments, and when the locals say “Have a nice day” you could almost believe that they are sincere.

During the mid 1960’s Uncle Walt’s vision of the future was EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), The EPCOT we visit today is far removed from the original idea, so Celebration has gone someway to address this. There is a state of the art hospital, software companies and an innovative, techno-friendly school.

Would I like to live here? There are a lot of covenants in the way that the property must be presented. Some would say that they are too strict (no surprise to some of us who own property in Florida) trash only out at a certain time of day, grass to be kept tidy, no noise after 21.00 and on it goes.

Yes it suits me, I like the tidy way of life, the friendly neighbors, but I can understand why it would not suite all of the people all of the time. The main reason I will not live here (apart from the visa restrictions) is the cost, not only for the property but taxes, community fee’s etc. keep me away.

But please do go and visit. It costs nothing to walk and sit and hopefully you will leave knowing that there is a nicer part of the Orlando area.

The place is “Winter Park” it is on the way to “Sanford Airport” you come off I4 at Junction 87 (”Fairbanks Avenue,) this takes you straight into “Winter Park” where there are plenty of free parking space’s.

What we usually do on the day we’re traveling home is drop our cases off at “Buena Vista” and then spend the rest of the day at “Winter Park.”

There are quite a few very interesting shops, some are quite expensive but very different from what you would find on International Drive etc. There are several coffee shops and restaurants with outside seating so you can enjoy the lovely weather.

The most interesting and unusual part of “Winter Park” is that there is a railway station, and the railway line runs right through the centre of the town. its very quaint, the first time we went was in March 2006 and just by chance, there was a festival on, and there were stalls from one end of the town to the other, selling paintings, pottery local foods etc, I’m not sure if it is an annual event but it was certainly well worth a visit.

Another very attractive part of “Winter Park” are their lakes, there are several lakes running into each other, there are boat rides every hour it costs ten dollars to go on this ride and worth every penny, it lasts approx one hour round all the lakes there are magnificent houses owned by several very wealthy and famous people, the driver of the boat is not allowed to disclose the names of the people who own them, we were told that in years gone by very rich people from North America used to come and stay in  the winter months, which is where its name originally came from. There is also a very large  college called “Rollins College” at the edge of the lakes which specializes in all water sports.

In all we find it an interesting and very restful place to spend a day.

On Sept. 8. 1565, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed here and named a stretch of land near the inlet in honour of Augustine, a Roman Catholic saint. The emphasis on “first European settlement” acknowledges that the Timucuan Indians were here first. Since then, the city has been under the governments of Spain, Britain, and United States. Florida became a state in 1845. It was part of the Confederacy from 1861-1862 before returning to the Union.

Henry M. Flagler, co-founder of Standard Oil, built two hotels and took over another to serve as the base of his Flagler System hotels. He founded the Florida East Coast Railway as a means of transporting guests to and from the north to his hotels in St. Augustine, Palm Beach, and Miami.

Directions from Orlando.

106 miles, 1Hr 45mins.

Take I-4 East from Orlando. Exit I-4, SR-400 via ramp at sign reading “I-95 N to Jacksonville” and go North for 0.8 miles. Bear right on I-95, SR-9 and go North for 37 miles. Exit I-95, SR-9 via ramp at sign reading “Exit 92 US-1 to St Augustine” and go Northwest for 0.3. Bear right on US-1 S, SR-5 and go North for 17 miles. Turn right on W Castillo Dr and go East for 0.2 miles. Turn right on Cordova St and go to the Municipal parking lot and the Visitors information

Attractions

Castillo de San Marcos

Castillo de San Marcos is probably the most impressive of all the historical landmarks in St. Augustine. Every year, thousands of visitors flock here to see this unique structure and learn about its colourful history.

Construction of the Castillo was begun in 1672 and took 23 years to complete. It was besieged on 2 occasions by the British, but held fast.

OldTown Trolley Tour.

Take a Tour of the city at your own pace! The Old Town Trolley Tours allow you to get off at any convenient stops situated close to all popular attractions, shops and restaurants. When you’re ready, just re-board and continue with the tour.

St. Augustine Old Jail

This was completed in 1891 and housed prisoners for over 60 years. It is one of the few surviving 19th century jails. It was built by railroad magnate Henry Flagler, to resemble a fine hotel. Guests can see the male and female cells, maximum-security area, the gallows which ended the lives of numerous criminals, and also a large collection of guns used in actual crimes!

St. AugustineLightnerMuseum

Relics of America’s Gilded Age can be found exhibited on the museum’s three floors. Costumes, mechanical musical instruments, furnishings and other artefacts give a glimpse into 19th century daily life.

Ghost and Gravestones

The “Trolley of the Doomed” transports you to 3 haunted sites:

1. The SpanishMilitaryHospital –hear about the strange practices of the 17th Century Practitioners.
2. The Old Drug Store – rests on an old Indian burial ground.
3. The Old Jail – the site of countless supernatural occurrences.

The Oldest HouseMuseum Complex

A must see attraction on your visit to St Augustine.

The González-Alvarez House is the oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling in Florida. The present house dates to the early 1700’s but the site has been occupied since the 1600’s.

There are many more worthwhile attractions including the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth, Scenic Boat Cruise, Potters Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Anastasia State Park.