Located just north of downtown Orlando is the city of Winter Park, Florida. It’s home to multi-million dollar mansions, upscale shopping boutiques, independent bistros, and a great cultural scene.
Thankfully, it’s also easy to spend a day here without spending a lot of money.
Here are some great ways to do so:
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
Over 200 sculptures by Czech-born American artist Albin Polasek can be found here, at his former residence, along with pieces by other American artists. Guided tours also include a landscaped outdoor garden and a chapel.
Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (60+), $3 for children aged 12-17, and free for children under 12. The museum and gardens are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
It is closed on Mondays.
[633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park, FL]
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Fans of Tiffany glass will love this museum, which is home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Among their signature pieces is the chapel interior he designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
The museum also exhibits a major collection of art on pottery, along with paintings from late 19th- and early 20th-century American artists.
Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Monday.
Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $1 for students with ID, and free for children under 12. However, from November 1 to April 30, the museum extends its hours until 8pm on Fridays, and between 4pm and 8pm, admission is free for all visitors.
[445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park FL 32789; 407-645-5311 ]
Cornell Fine Arts Museum
Housed on the grounds of Rollins College, this art museum boasts over 5,000 pieces on display, ranging from early Renaissance to contemporary works. It also brings in traveling exhibitions, which change seasonally.
Admission is $5 for adults and free for children and college students with valid IDs. It’s open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
[1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789; 407-646-2526]
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
This annual event brings in hundreds of artists and thousands of art aficionados for a weekend of culture and live entertainment, all of which are free to attend.
The festival is one of the biggest events in central Florida and usually occurs in mid-March. For more information, visit the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival website or call 407-672-6390.
Winter Park’s Scenic Boat Tour
In operation since 1938, this hour-long cruise showcases the natural beauty of Winter Park’s lake and canal system, along with the many mansions that line the banks.
Tours run on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children 2-11. Children under 2 are free. Bring cash, though, because they don’t accept any credit or debit cards.
[312 East Morse Boulevard, Winter Park FL 32789; 407-644-4056]
For More Information on Winter Park
There are even more things to do on the cheap than this list. The City of Winter Park website is a great place to continue discovering what this city has to offer.
