Things To Do in Winter Garden in Orlando

Located by Lake Apopka, Florida’s fourth largest lake, Winter Garden is the perfect place to visit when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. A favourite destination with holidaymakers and locals alike is the historic downtown area of the city, where you will find a host of restaurants and shops, as well as a lively farmers’ market at weekends.

Winter Garden is situated along the West Orange Trail, itself a part of the 250-mile Coast-to-Coast Connector Trail, which takes you from Playalinda Beach on the Atlantic Coast, to St Petersburg on the Gulf Coast. Both this, and the shorter West Orange Trail (a 20.8-mile route) are popular with cyclists, and you can even hire a bike at Winter Garden. If you are a nature lover, a few miles out of central downtown Winter Garden you can take a walk around Tucker Ranch, a sprawling recreational park and nature preserve which is a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch and take in the views.

Every Friday night, you can listen to live music at the Plaza, before strolling along the street for a bite to eat. At the heart of downtown Winter Garden are a range of restaurants – why not try Market to Table, which offers modern American cuisine with a traditional twist, as well as making good use of seasonal produce. For something a little more casual, the MoonCricket Grille offers a range of reasonably-priced American classics, such as burgers, wings and a fantastic range of beers; on Friday and Saturday there is even a live band in the venue!

Don’t lay in bed too late on a Saturday morning, instead pay a visit to the Winter Garden Downtown Pavilion. Here the Farmers’ Market is held from 9am until 2pm (8.30am until 1.30pm in the summer). This is a popular community event where you will be able to pick up a wide selection of freshly-grown produce and baked goods, as well as artisan craft products like handmade soaps. What’s more, you will be able to listen to some great live music from 10am while you shop! At the end of November, pop along to the Holiday Market, for a range of hand-crafted Christmas gifts!

Downtown Winter Garden is also home to the Crooked Can Brewing Company, which was built inside Plant Street Market. The market holds 20 vendors selling artisan handmade and organic products, while the brewery itself produces a range of flagship and seasonal beers. Crooked Can was founded in 2014, with the intention of being a great meeting place for friends and family. Make sure you bring a designated driver so that you can take a sip of the 7% ABV High Stepper, an American IPA with citrus tastes, or enjoy a pint of the German-style Hefeweizen wheat beer, Cloud Chaser. There is sure to be something to tempt every taste! Should you want to learn more about the brewing process, book a space on a Sunday afternoon tour – it only costs $5.30 per person (including tax and fees). Book online to make sure you aren’t disappointed!

Searching for something different to do during your holiday? Then why not go to the Garden Theatre on Plant Street? With free parking directly behind the venue, it is the ideal spot to spend an evening. This non-profit organisation stages a range of plays, concerts, films and more in a Mediterranean Revival setting. Originally constructed in 1935 as a cinema, the theatre was brought back to its former glory in 2008. Check their website to see what is showing during your visit to the Sunshine State! With only 295 seats, it’s recommended that you book early to avoid disappointment.

If you enjoy art, then take a look at the pieces on display over at the SOBO Art Gallery on South Boyd Street. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am till 6pm, a new exhibition opens monthly, and you can meet the artists on the first Thursday of the month from 5.30pm until 8pm.

If you are looking to discover a little about the history of Winter Garden, you are in the right place! The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation operates several sites in the area, including the free Heritage Museum. Open daily from 1pm through to 5pm, and run by local volunteers, you will be able to step back in time to discover the citrus-history of the city, which was the backbone of the economy for many years. You will also learn about the Native Americans who once lived along the shores of Lake Apopka, and more about the history of this community. Another local museum under the auspices of the Heritage Foundation is the Central Florida Railroad Museum. Again, open daily from 1pm till 5pm (apart from select holidays) and an ideal place to spend a little time for no cost, there is plenty of fascinating railway memorabilia on display here!

Why not make time in your schedule to see a different part of Florida? There is lots to keep you busy with a visit to Winter Garden, and it’s only 25 minutes away from the Disney parks!

Have you visited Winter Garden before? Are there any hidden gems that you think we should visit? Let us know by reaching out via the usual social media channels!