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