A former citrus town incorporated in 1908, Winter Garden is a beautiful, charming, and historic spot in Central Florida. Located just west of the Orlando area on Lake Apopka, Winter Garden is known as the place “where good things grow”! This could be your alternative plan to Disney and parks if you would like a quiet, much cheaper and warm alternative to the parks.
Winter Garden grew during the surge production of citrus in central florida during the late 19th, early 20th centuries. The downtown area was established along Plant Street, with stores and businesses after this era.
Nowadays the population has been increasing steadily due to the influx of population from other states into Florida during 2020. New communities and shopping centers are being built, but the historic Plant Street has kept its charm intact through the years. Many businesses embrace the local historic architecture and the new residents are remodeling or converting the existing older homes into cute houses keeping the small town look, yet with an eclectic restaurant scene, trendy cafes, unique shoppes.
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Popular things to do at Winter Garden:
Famer’s Market
Saturday morning Farmer’s Market it is one of the most popular markets in the Orlando area. The produce at this market can easily beat the local grocery store’s prices. In addition, they are different types of foods for each taste and cool handmade items not easily found elsewhere.
Town Main Square
The town main square showcase locally own restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, mini bookstores, and Plant Street Market. The lather is a local community market with 20 vendors offering handmade, locally produced foods, goods and beer. The market is near the Town’s City hall. My favorite local foods are Harrell’s hotdogs (delicious traditional and crafted hot dogs) and The Chef’s Table at the Edgewater & Tasting Room. The food at the later restaurant taste from scratch not the typical chain restaurant food, it has a pub feel ambience. There are other more popular options such as the Hangry Bison, Winter garden pizza company but I am always in the look out for the mom & pops business.
West Orange Trail
The West Orange trail is 22.6 miles of paved trail that starts at Winter Garden and crosses Killarney, Oakland and Apopka. There is a butterfly post at Tindelville, bike rentals at the Winter Garden Post. They are several stops with lakes and beautiful views along the way. Word of caution for visitors out of Florida: Be careful with small children and pets, most lakes if not all have alligators. Great for jogging, walking, cycling, sightseeing or taking photographs.
Plant Street Market/Crooked Can Brewery
This market has local vendors selling food and handmade stuff. It is indoor market with a pet friendly patio and sometimes live entertainment. My favorite place is the tea place ANTIQUITEAs. This place offer a broad selection of caffeinated and herbal lose leaf teas by the once and hot or cold brew teas. The are also, coffee shops, ceviche shop (latín American dish made of raw fish or shrimp marinated in some acidic juice like lime juice), butcher shop and the crooked can brewery company. They have live events every weekend, check out their website (not affiliated with this company) for a calendar of events and book tours of beer brewery.
Shopping at the Main Street Winter Garden
There are the typical chain stores such as Target, Marshalls, Michaels, World’s Market, Bath & Body works, Bath & Beyond, Kirland’s, AT&T, etc at the Winter Garden Village of exit #19 on 429N about 25 minutes from Disney. Nearby and only 5 to 10 minutes is Downtown Winter Garden with unique boutiques and curiosities stores such as Adjective Market, Ancient Olive Gourmet, Apricot Lane Boutique, Writer’s Block Bookstore, and other smaller stores that offer unique gifts and goods.
At the end this is a town to spend a mellow Sunday without the huge crowds or high prices of the usual theme parks around the area. Nothing against the theme parks in Orlando but there is something else besides rides and mickey mouse in the Orlando area.
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