To get closer to the Disney attractions in the
Orlando area, we move from a St. Augustine vacation home to a condo in
Kissimmee which which brings the theme parks within a 10-15 minute drive. On a recommendation from Jill and Mark, we stop in
Winter Park to take a
Scenic Boat tour.
Winter Park is a small wealthy community on the north side of Orlando. It was founded in the 1881 by Chicago businessmen
Loring Chase and Oliver Everett Chapman as a resort community after railroad tracks were laid nearby to
Lake Osceola. The town of Winter Park was incorporated as a town in 1885. The town soon became a favored winter home location for the very wealthy fleeing freezing temperatures in northern states.
The map below shows Winter Park's chain of lakes. Narrow channels were built connecting these lakes to provide boaters with more opportunities.
We arrive at the boat launch around 2pm and sign up for the next tour which is only about 20 minutes away. The man selling us tickets directs Peter to a local French bistro to pick up sandwiches for a late lunch. Peter literally runs up and back with fantastic sandwiches. Apparently Winter Park is well known for it's excellent eateries. We wish we could stay longer and explore the area, but will have to leave after the tour to meet up again with Christine and the kids at the condo.
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| Boat docks for the Scenic Tour |
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| The caretaker's house |
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The homes perched on the banks of the various lakes are extravagantly luxurious and obviously owned by 1%ers. Apparently, you'll need much more than a mere measely million dollars to get into this neighborhood.
The channels between the lakes are narrow with overarching tree branches festooned with Spanish moss.
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| Love Florida's Spanish moss |
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| Navigating through a channel |
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| Floridians love gators (as concrete lawn ornaments) |
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On Lake Virginia we pass by
Rollings College, a pricey liberal arts college. A year's tuition including room and board will set you back approximately $70,000 per year... but disrepair not. If your little darling is a crack water skier, then he or she can win a water skiing scholarship (Rollings is the only college in the country to offer one).
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| Rollings College |
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| Rollings boat house |
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We move through another lush channel onto another lake.
This lake must be for the
nouveau riche as the homes are spaced much closer together.
Passing through the next channel we see a
plein air artist. Our tour guide tells us the annual
Paint Out Contest, sponsored by the
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, is currently underway.
As planned we meet Christine at the Kissimmee condo. We all have stories to tell when we get back together. They have had a great time on their
parasailling adventure in St Augustine. The next morning the kids are up surprisingly early and chomping at the bit for the Disney theme parks.
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| Brooklyn, Christine & Cody |
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| Come on push faster! |
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