Between Tampa And Daytona Beach Is A Florida City With Scenic Lakes, Parks, And Family Fun

When planning a family trip to Florida, Orlando may be one of your top destinations. However, while the city offers plenty of theme parks and attractions for a three-day Orlando itinerary, it can also be crowded and somewhat expensive. Fortunately, there are suburbs surrounding Orlando that offer alternative options for family fun, particularly if you enjoy exploring the outdoors. One such locale is Winter Garden, which is located about 85 minutes from Tampa and 75 minutes from Daytona Beach by car, depending on traffic, and only half an hour west of Orlando itself.

But what makes Winter Garden a worthy travel destination? Situated on the edge of Lake Apopka, Winter Garden offers lakeside parks with opportunities for boating and fishing. While swimming in the lake is discouraged, there is an interactive fountain and splash pad in the heart of historic downtown Winter Garden.

Speaking of downtown, this district is great if you want to learn more about the city's history. Overall, Winter Garden provides a quieter escape compared to tourist-heavy Orlando, but it's still close enough so you can plan day trips to theme parks and other attractions in the area. If you're adding a theme park visit, check whether Costco offers discounted tickets for your family trip. 

Since Lake Apopka is the main natural highlight of Winter Garden, let's begin our adventure there. There are two primary parks situated on the lake's edge: Newton Park and Dr. Bradford Memorial Park. Newton has a playground and a boat ramp if you want to take a motorboat out onto the lake. This site also has two rental facilities: Tanner Hall and Little Hall, which are often rented out for private events. Private events may affect parking availability during your visit. You can also visit Farnsworth Pool, a public facility that's open during the summer.

Dr. Bradford Memorial Park is great if you love being next to the water. You can also go fishing in the park if you want to catch something without getting out onto the water. However, alligators inhabit Lake Apopka, so keep your distance from wildlife and stay alert near the shoreline. In fact, a bridge in the park is called Gator Bridge.

While Lake Apopka is the largest body of water connected to Winter Garden, it's hardly the only lake you can explore during your visit. Johns Lake has a public boat launch if you want to spend as much time on the water as possible. Plus, one of America's best water parks, Discovery Cove, is only 30 minutes southeast.

If you're flying, Orlando International Airport is about a half-hour drive southeast of Winter Garden. Unlike Orlando, though, Winter Garden doesn't have an abundance of hotels, although there are quite a few vacation rentals, including some that are next to Lake Apopka.

Although the lakes and parks offer fun for the whole family, another highlight is Winter Garden's historic downtown. If you and your little ones like trains, check out the Central Florida Railroad Museum. You can also see a yellow Chessie caboose at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum and Visitor's Center, which dives further into the history of the city and the region. If you're more artistically inclined, the SOBO Gallery showcases a variety of artworks, and the historic Garden Theatre on Plant is where you can catch live shows. Then, if you still need some fresh air, you can play around in the interactive fountain and splash pad or take a break and relax at Centennial Plaza, which has a non-interactive fountain.

When you get hungry, there are plenty of places to eat and drink around downtown as well. For a selection of different places, head west to the Plant Street Market, where you can grab a pint at Crooked Can Brewery, slurp some bivalves at Bruno's Oysters, or get your cheese fix at Morthan Cheese, which specializes in raclette dishes. Then, for dessert, you can head east along Plant Street to Rosallie French Bakery and indulge in decadent pastries, or visit Harrell's Hot Dogs and Cold Cones, which serves both tasty dogs and soft-serve ice cream with sweet toppings.