Orlando, Florida: More to the Story than Disney
Orlando is an awesome city! The people are really friendly and the sunshine and blue skies makes being there all the more delightful. Its location being in central Florida also makes for an easy road trip from other major cities such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and even Atlanta. But too often, all of the things I enjoy most about Orlando are overshadowed by Mickey Mouse & friends. Don’t get me wrong…Lake Buena Vista, Citywalk, Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk, and even Typhoon Lagoon are still some of my favorite hangouts in the area. But there is so much more to enjoy! Here are some ideas for your next visit to Orlando.
Park Avenue & Winter Park Village
Winter Park is my all time cherished neighborhood in Central Florida. It is intimate, chic, stylish, and best of all, dog friendly. I liked it in the 90’s when I used to live in Orlando and I love it even more now. The brick lined pedestrian-friendly streets, vibrant café culture, parks, theatres, museums, music and art festivals, and lively night-scene reminds me of being back in my beloved Paris. There’s even a Paris Bistro and crêperie offering both sweet and savory crêpes! An afternoon or evening stroll along Park Avenue is enchanting. And don’t miss a visit to the nearby Winter Park Village!
Jazz
Most visitors and probably even many locals, when they think of Orlando don’t think of jazz. While the jazz scene may not be what it is in South Florida for example, there are still some places you can savor great music, most of them being free. Vines has live jazz every night from 7-11 pm. On some occasions, you can hear jazz piano or sax at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, especially during the Boheme Jazz Brunch events. WUCF- FM 89.9 Jazz & More which plays classic jazz, and smooth jazz radio WLOQ are both great resources for keeping up with jazz concerts at Cranes Roost Park, Casselberry, Winter Park Art Festivals, and College Park Jazz Fest. The UCF Jazz Ensemble too has regular performances on and off campus, for jazz enthusiasts to drop by and listen to.
Visit Celebration
Located just minutes from Walt Disney World, Celebration is one of the cutest and most pristine little towns with a village-like feel. There are numerous events held throughout the year such as movie nights, outdoor festivals, and special events for the various holidays. But simply walking on the trails, picnicking at the park, or enjoying the coffee or ice cream shops is a real treat!
Wine Tasting
The wine scene in Orlando is quite impressive. From the small family-owned wine lounges to the ultra-glamorous wine bars with sommeliers on staff, there is something for everybody. You’ll find a list of places to go for wine tasting on my recent post, Orlando Wine Bars. Local Wine Events is yet another resource for upcoming tastings or wine classes. And for an experience on a much grander scale, don’t miss the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival every fall from the end of September until November.
The Neighborhoods
Did you know that Orlando is made up of many different neighborhoods? Baldwin Park, Thornton Park, Lake Eola, Ivanhoe Village, Mills 50 District, Sodo, and Audubon Park are either within or just minutes from Downtown. Besides shopping and dining, these neighborhood districts offer a multitude of events and activities such as art walks, trivia nights, happy hour socials, antiques and farmer’s markets, beer and wine tastings and more.
