I love a good hotel and I love it even more if it is in a
good location. Like Winter Park and the Park Plaza hotel on Park Avenue. OMG, this hotel is so
well taken care of that its age feels like smooth single malt whiskey when you
walk in the door. Elegant without being over the top, it is genteel and
welcoming. It made me want to explore the building and history the moment I
walked up the stairs to our room. A dear friend, who lives in the oldest house
in Winter Park, told me his aunt was born in this hotel! I could do a post just
on this hotel.
 |
| The Park Plaza Hotel Today |
 |
| The Park Plaze Hotel (L) circa 1922-23 |
 |
| The beautiful comfy Park Plaza lobby |
The Park Plaza Hotel is a vestige of a bygone era, but the
town has more to it. Lakes, canals that you can tour, houses straight out of architectural
magazines (Gamble Roger’s father designed quite a few of them if you read my G
post), running paths, golf courses, Rollins College, museums, and restaurants
of almost any kind. They also have a Farmer’s Market right next to the downtown
park on weekends. Some Friday’s there is a free outdoor film showing in the
park.
 |
| A fountain in the park I played in as a child |
 |
| Statuary can be found over in Winter Park |
 |
| Movie night in the park, free! |
 |
| A gazillionaire's mansion on the lake |
 |
| And another one... |
 |
| Fancy mailbox, show off! But so fun! |
 |
| A typical street sign in downtown Winter Park |
 |
| One of the canals one visits on a boat tour |
All of these things add up to a beautiful place to visit, yet another,
something-for-everyone kind of place. Yes, Florida is full of them! Did I
mention restaurants?
Some images from:
Hi Lisa - I see it's in Orange County ... I'm so used to knowing that's on the other side of the country?! This sounds an amazing place - no wonder you are hooked on it ... and love visiting ... so would I .... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThis is just lovely. Again.
ReplyDelete@msdeniseh553
Life After Retirement - My Russian Adventure
Pretty! All I knew about Winter Park was Rollins. Now I want to visit!
ReplyDeleteI love old hotels like that, though usually I find they spend a lot of money on keeping the facade and lobby areas beautiful and renovated, but the rooms are tiny and with limited amenities.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great place to visit. Good to know the hotel has survived all these years.
ReplyDeletebeautiful place, beautiful pictures :)
ReplyDeleteJust breathtaking! I love exploring canals in Florida, but the alligators & the snakes...oh my! :)
ReplyDeleteMy roommate in high school was from Winter Park. Or maybe it was Winter Garden?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Some long-deceased family members lived in Winter Park, so it's nice to see pics of it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot about Winterpark but have never ventured there. It does look like an elegant, beautiful, and welcoming place. I love that fairy statue!
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks so lovely and visitor friendly.
ReplyDeleteI also love a good hotel. One with as much history as this makes me think it would be a fun location for a ghost story. :)
ReplyDeleteThis post had everything. Mention of Whiskey, beautiful pictures, descriptions of some fun events. What more can we ask for? Don't blink. :)
ReplyDeleteI left my heart in San Francisco and never made to Florida... it looks like I'm missing a lot - maybe it is a time for planning winter vacation...
ReplyDeleteEvalina, This and that...
True gracious living. I'd love to go. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete@AnneKnol1 from
New Author Support - Tips on Writing and Promotion from A to Z
The hotel lobby looks sumptuous, and I would love to look around those mansions!
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
I want to visit Winter Park. It is beautiful and so charming. I fell in love with everything you showed us in the photos. I found my dream home on the lake. I love canals and would love to explore in the canal in your photo. Lovely place and wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Sugar
Twitter @msugar13
Sugarlaw13@live.com
http://fictiontoolbox.blogspot.com
Lovely pics!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of going through a city on a canal. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteWinter Park looks amazing. I thought it was the one in Colorado at first but the fact that it is in Florida is even better as its a little closer. Will have to check it out if I make it down that way.
ReplyDeleteSean at His and Her Hobbies
Gorgeous place to visit Lisa. I would enjoy the canal tours especially. What I know of Florida I like. There are some great restaurants in both Kissimmee and Orlando. We sampled quite a few of them. There was an excellent Sushi bar in Kissimmee.
ReplyDelete"...this hotel is so well taken care of that its age feels like smooth single malt whiskey when you walk in the door."
ReplyDeleteLOVED that line.. .and forgot how cute Winter Park is :)
Winter Park looks like my kind of place. I love the canals and the outdoor movies. I'd feel right at home, though I'm sure it's much warmer there!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful-Love the hotel and the statues in the park. The last photo is so inviting. I just want to be in a nice boat
ReplyDeleteLooks like a very interesting and pretty place. I like the mailbox.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place. It's neat to see the Park Plaza before and after.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely area and what a wonderful hotel. I'm very much a hotel person when it comes to holidays - no camping or caravans for me :) Well I don't mind staying in a tent as long as there are modern facilities to go with it - I fancy glamping at some point ;).
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Another wonderful post proving that following this blog is the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI love how you added the titles across the bottom of your photos. How did you ever do that?
ReplyDeleteSounds perfect for someone like me who favors places with character to excessive comfort. Love the photos.
ReplyDeleteAn awesome post on luxury and the perfect life. Excessive comfort, we need it from time to time. Nature and luxury go together. Glad to know you during the challenge.
ReplyDeleteCheerz
Sounds and looks absolutely amazing!! The mailbox and the canal are lovely!
ReplyDelete