Great Homes, Great Towns: Winter Park, Florida

Imagine tree-shaded avenues, lots of open space, an eclectic mix of architecture and a dollop of hearty Southern hospitality. All of the above come standard in Winter Park, Florida. And while it lies only 10 minutes north of the hustle and bustle of downtown Orlando, Winter Park has retained a quaint and charming feel since its early years as a winter retreat for northerners. Residents of its white-picket-fence neighborhoods wave as you pass by, and the community wants to get to know you by name. It's that charm and friendliness that make Winter Park one of America's best places to live.

A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Winter Park was founded by wealthy northerners who wanted a warmer place in which to spend the winters. It is home to boutiques, art galleries, museums, a train station and a liberal arts college founded in the 19th century.

Winter Park has more park space per capita than any other city in Florida. It has a wide-open feeling that beckons residents to spend time outdoors. "Our park standard is 10 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents, which is much higher than the state average," said Clarissa Howard, communications director for the city. "Green space and open play areas are extremely important to Winter Park."

A big part of what makes this area so charming is the foliage. It's said that Winter Park has somewhere around 20,000 oak trees. All of the neighborhoods are marked by a wealth of old and historic trees --- live oaks with Spanish moss and palm trees, among many others.

The houses offer a mix of styles. "The architecture is very diverse here," said Denise Spiegel, senior media manager for Visit Orlando. "You'll see homes that haven't changed much from the early 20th century to some very modern mansions, updated by some of the celebrities that live here, such as the basketball stars from the Orlando Magic."

Betsy Gwinn, who has lived in Winter Park for 16 years and is executive director of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, said, "You'll see everything from the '50s and '60s block-style homes to Mediterranean style bungalows and more traditional properties. The city has dozens of waterways, so the roads twist and turn, but it makes for some beautiful views. There are many gorgeous --- and expensive --- lakefront properties. But there are plenty of smaller homes in the area, too. One nice thing is that there's not (a) gated-community feel here. There's a mix of people and incomes, yet everyone gets to know each other."

Margo Stedman, program and communication manager for the Bach Festival Society, says it is that small-town, maybe even old-fashioned feel that has helped the area retain much of its allure. It's a place where the community enjoys gathering together, she said. Stedman cited as examples of that community spirit the annual Christmas in the Park celebration, during which the Bach Festival Choir performs, and a yearly Olde Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, with hot dogs, horse-drawn wagon rides and patriotic tunes.

"It's a very close-knit community," she said. "It may be 10 minutes from Orlando, but Winter Park has its own feel and its own culture."

See It by Boat

Want to get a real sense of what Winter Park is all about? The best way to see this small city is actually by boat, since Winter Park is on a chain of three lakes that are connected by a series of canals.

For more than 50 years, Winter Park's Scenic Boat Tour has been giving visitors a view from the water. The hour-long tour through Winter Park's lakes and canals provides a look at the grounds of Rollins College, the beautiful foliage, and some of the spectacular lakeside properties that showcase an eclectic mix of architecture.

"I'd highly recommend it as a way to see Winter Park," said Denise Spiegel, senior media manager for Visit Orlando. "Even on the boat tour you get the small-town feel that Winter Park has to offer. As you're taking the tour, people that are paddling by will wave and say hello. It's just a really nice experience."

High Culture Along Tree-Shaded Streets

Among Winter Park's places to visit is the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, founded in 1942. It houses the world's most comprehensive collection of works from Louis Comfort Tiffany, including some Tiffany jewelry and lamps.

The Bach Festival Society will celebrate its 77th season in 2011.

The festival draws thousands to the region. The society is housed on the campus of Rollins College. For more than 100 years the city has enjoyed a strong relationship with the liberal arts school, graduates of which include Fred Rogers, better known as "Mr. Rogers."

"Rollins College is located on 70 acres nestled between beautiful Lake Virginia and picturesque downtown Winter Park in the heart of Central Florida," said Ann Marie Varga, assistant vice president of public relations and community affairs for the college.

"Rollins' lush landscape and Spanish-Mediterranean architecture make it one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation," she said. "Since Rollins was founded in 1885 and Winter Park was chartered just two years later, in many ways you don't know where the campus ends and the city of Winter Park begins."

Across much of the country, where older homes have been replaced by new developments and chain stores, it can be hard to find some of the old town traits that Winter Park has retained.

"Winter Park has managed to purposely keep that small-town feel, even though we're right next to a big city," said Gwinn. "There's a farmer's market in town every Saturday, and you'll see people there or at the park. It's a place where you get to know your neighbors. In an area that's mostly about new development and Disney and theme parks, Winter Park is like a trip back in time. It's not brand new and mass-produced. Instead it has history and character. While it's a small city, a lot of people refer to it as having 'village character.' It's definitely a great place to live."