| Just a few minutes north of downtown Orlando | | | | After the house was in position at its new location, |
| awaits Winter Park, a charming picturesque suburb | | | | skilled craftsmen worked on restoring it to its original |
| steeped in history. After my excursion on the Scenic | | | | 1933 condition. A special landscape design was |
| Boat Tour, my local expert Wanda Salerno took me | | | | commissioned to reflect the style of the era. |
| on a little walk through town past beautiful historic | | | | Today, Casa Feliz is available to rent for weddings, |
| neighbourhoods. | | | | parties, business meetings and events. Its unique |
| With is origins as a citrus growing region, Winter Park | | | | features provide the perfect backdrop for a truly |
| became a major destination for wealthy northerners | | | | memorable event. |
| during the early 1900s, who came into town by train to | | | | As a centre of local culture, Winter Park also features |
| reach their elegant winter retreats, seeking shelter | | | | three well-known museums: |
| from the cold winters of the north. Elegant mansions | | | | - the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American art, |
| and and stately old oak trees draped with Spanish | | | | which holds the world's most comprehensive collection |
| moss bear witness to this historic era. | | | | of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including Tiffany's |
| Wanda then took me through some of Winter Park's | | | | 1893 Chapel. The museum also features paintings, |
| hidden courtyards, which are filled with specialty retail | | | | furniture and other works primarily from the late 19th |
| stores and galleries. Winter Park features a large | | | | and 20th centuries. |
| variety of galleries and I had a chance to sample three | | | | - the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden: 3 |
| of them, all of which carried vastly different artwork: | | | | acres of gardens, featuring sculptures and painters by |
| - Scott Laurent Collections | | | | Albin Polasek. The museum is listed on the National |
| - Native Visions Gallery | | | | Register of Historic Places. |
| - Timothy's | | | | - the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, which focuses on |
| Our walk took us out on to Winter Park's main street, | | | | western world art of the 20th century and includes |
| Park Avenue, which houses 10 blocks of specialty | | | | paintings, drawings, sculptures and other art from |
| retailers, galleries and ecclectic restaurants. Park | | | | America and Europe. This museum is located at Rollins |
| Avenue is flanked on its west side by Central Park | | | | College, one of the top rated liberal arts colleges in the |
| which offers a welcome sanctuary of relaxation with | | | | country. |
| its graceful fountain, walking paths and shaded | | | | The Winter Park Historical Museum examines various |
| benches. | | | | historic time periods, interchanging exhibits and rotating |
| We then went on to explore Casa Feliz ("Happy | | | | displays highlight some of the changes that have |
| House" in Spanish), the signature residential work of | | | | occurred in central Florida. |
| renowned architect James Gamble Rogers II. | | | | While I explored the town my husband actually played |
| In 1932 Robert Bruce Barbour, a chemical engineer | | | | a round of golf at the 9-hole Winter Park Country Club, |
| from Massachusetts, commissioned Rogers to design | | | | which is nestled beautifully inside Winter Park's historic |
| a home on Lake Osceola, which turned out to be the | | | | neighbourhood. The WPCC is the second oldest golf |
| Andalusian-style masonry farmhouse that we see | | | | club in the Central Florida area and makes its way |
| today. This home was not only cherished by Barbour, | | | | through the downtown Winter Park area and provides |
| but by the community as well. Throughout its history, it | | | | a challenge to even the most experienced golfer. He |
| has hosted garden club tours, symphony orchestra | | | | enjoyed his outing, and a cost of $12, it was an |
| concerts, poetry social meetings and a dinner for | | | | extremely affordable outing on a well-maintained golf |
| author Sinclair Lewis. | | | | course. |
| In 2001, in order to prevent the house from demolition, | | | | We capped off our excursion with an enjoyable dinner |
| Casa Feliz was moved across Interlachen Avenue to | | | | at a restaurant called 310 Park Avenue, right on Winter |
| its present location on Park Avenue. This move was | | | | Park's main strip. While a good portion of the Orlando |
| one of the most dramatic events in Winter Park's | | | | area is very new, Winter Park is a welcome oasis of |
| history. Casa Feliz was transported on 20 | | | | history and ambience that is perfect for a day of |
| pneumatically levelled dollies, and an elaborate pulley | | | | exploring. |
| system moved the house about 75 feet per hour. | | | | |