Our flight arrived early at JFK airport and it then took 2 hours in a crowded and stuffy immigration hall to get through. We had a booked a shuttle bus to get to our hotel in Manhattan that was easy enough but by the time he had set off, come back to the airport to pick up more customers and picked up more on the way it was rush hour and it took another 2 hours to get to the city, 15 miles away! So an inauspicious start but once we got there it was fantastic.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on W 45th Street which couldn’t have been better placed for Times Square and 5th Avenue. The rooms were a little smaller than usual so with four of us in there it was a bit of a crush but we only slept there so it was fine.

We had 2 great days sightseeing both on the open top bus and on foot. We went to the Top of the Rock which was amazing, you could see the whole city for miles around, we also went on a boat trip around the island so we could see it from the East River and the Hudson River. It was very, very cold! You really do need thermal underclothes. The Christmas decorations and shop window displays were awesome, very impressive.

We also visited Central Park and watched the ice skating. Then on the Saturday before Christmas it was time for the Orlando part of our holiday and we were all ready for some sunshine. Unfortunately when we got to JFK all flights had been cancelled due to the incoming bad weather, there wasn’t a flake of snow at that point. Again we stood in line for 2 hours to be told we had been allocated a flight on Monday morning. Bad news but at least we weren’t on standby.

We then had to find a hotel and it really was a case of there being no room at the Inn. The only room we could get was at La Guardia airport 6 miles away which we took. Another 2 nights of sharing a room, eating takeaway food as there was nowhere to go and just kicking our heels in Queens! Actually there was a shuttle bus to a shopping mall so at least we got out for a while, by that time the snow had arrived and it was bad everywhere.

We finally got to our villa in Florida on Monday afternoon, greatly relieved to have actually got there and to feel the warm sunshine. Although the weather in Florida this winter has been colder than usual, for us at was positively balmy!

Winter Park

The Morse Museum (or ‘The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art’ to give it its full name) is situated in Winter Park, a little way to the north of the attractions area - around a 30 or 40 minute drive along the Interstate I-4.  Winter Park in itself is a pleasant destination, featuring other museums (including The Cornell Fine Arts Museum and The Albin Polasek Museum), pleasant gardens (Central Park and Kraft Azalea Gardens), and a fairly exclusive shopping area along Park Avenue.

Louis Comfort Tiffany

One of the main features at The Morse Museum is the Tiffany Exhibition, billed as one of the world’s foremost collections of his work.  Before visiting the museum, I must confess that my knowledge of Tiffany’s work was primarily from looking at the lampshades in a TGIs restaurant.  I am now enlightened - or at least have a greater understanding of the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.  He lived from 1848 to 1933, and this museum houses a wide range of his work.  This work includes jewellery, pottery, paintings (whilst not his primary skill, Tiffany was a very accomplished painter) - as well as the leaded glass windows and lamps he is better known for.

1893 Chicago World Expo

Possibly the finest element of the museum’s exhibits is a restoration of the chapel interior he designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  Many reviews claim this part of the museum is worth the admission price alone - this is undoubtedly true, as admission is a bargain at just a couple of dollars.  Although even this cut price admission is waived during some evenings, when visitors are admitted after 4pm without charge.

Funding

Whilst admission is low cost, the museum does not receive public funds, and therefore opportunities will be presented for small donations to be made.  And, of course, merchandise is on offer, much of it in the Tiffany style.

Summary

We recommend a visit to Winter Park and The Morse Museum, particularly as a pleasant way to spend an evening - perhaps taking advantage of the free admission (although if you enjoy the exhibition, do please help fund the exhibition with a small donation).  The museum is open most days, but do check before travelling.