Winter Park FL Chain of Lakes

The suburban city of Winter Park is located in Orange County Florida. Orange County is part of the Orlando Metropolitan Area. This unique city is rich in history and prides itself as a hub for arts and culture. Winter Park is also known as home to Winter Park Florida’s Chain of Lakes. The Chain of Lakes is one of the most well-known, unique group of lakes as they are navigable through canals, meaning lake goers can travel between lakes from the water

Besides the Chain of Lakes, Winter Park is chock full of opportunities to experience art and culture. Opportunities include everything from museums, gardens, music, and exhibitions, to galleries and festivals.

Museums

The Winter Park History Museum preserves and shares Winter Park’s fascinating history with residents and visitors alike, through exhibitions, collections, and even a self-guided tour. The Hannibal Square Heritage Center showcases the past and present contributions of African-Americans to the Winter Park Community. The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens exhibit the life and work of Albin Polasek, one of the most famous sculptors during the 20th century. The Casa Feliz Historic Home and Venue is popular for weddings and special occasions. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum features works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. This museum is known to house the world’s most comprehensive collection, including jewelry designed by the artist, as well as paintings, pottery, and so much more! The Rollins Cornell Museum of Art is the only campus art museum in the greater Orlando area that features many exhibitions, collections, and educational opportunities.

Gardens

Mead Botanical Garden sits on 48-acres and offers botanical collections, programs for the community, and rental facilities available. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy guided hikes, school programs, a community garden, and geocaching.  There are several annual events including the Great Duck Derby. The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra performs in the Grove during special occasions. Backyard Biodiversity Day is an opportunity to learn about and buy unique and rare Florida plants. The annual Fall Plant Sale takes place in November.

Music and Theatre

The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park is located on the Rollins College Campus. The Society is not only internationally recognized, but is also the third-oldest Bach Festival Society in the United States. Music lovers will enjoy the Blue Bamboo Art Center. There are live performances most evenings, along with a recording studio, and gallery! For those who enjoy watching or even participating in musical theatre, Winter Park Playhouse is for you. This organization is unique, as it is Central Florida’s one and only professional musical theatre!

Galleries

Winter Park’s collections can be seen at The Art in Chambers at City Hall in Winter Park. A room on the first floor of the Welcome center in Winter Park is named the J.K. and Sarah Galloway Community Gallery. This is a rotating gallery for local non-profit organizations to present exhibits throughout the year.

Education

Winter Park Institute at Rollins College seeks to educate and inform by offering readings, symposiums, classes, seminars, and interviews. Gladdening Light is a non-profit spiritual organization who through hosted conferences, exhibits, and performances explore transcendent elements of art.

Exhibitions

Art on the Green is an exciting outdoor exhibition of large sculptures created by renowned artists. This exhibition is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, and take advantage of an educational opportunity.

Festivals

Winter Park Autumn Art Festival takes place the second weekend in October each year and exclusively features Florida artists. Winter Park Paint Out occurs the last full week of April and features 25 artists who paint the cities unique landscape, structures, and scenes.

Six lakes make up “Winter Park Chain of Lakes.” These being Lake Virginia, Lake Mizell, Lake Osceola, Lake Maitland, Lake Nina, and Lake Minnehaha. All six lakes are connected by deep canals, that allow lake goers to travel between the lakes. Visitors enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, waterskiing, fishing, and boating. The lakes are located in Winter Park and Maitland.

Lake Virginia

Lake Virginia covers a total of 225 acres and is the southernmost lake in The Chain of Lakes. This is also the only lake located in the city limits of Winter Park. Timberlane Shores and Windsong Ests Sec 1 neighborhoods both offer homes with lake frontage and access to Lake Virginia and all it has to offer. Lake goers are known for enjoying water skiing, paddle-boarding, and fishing. Public access can be gained from Dinky Dock, located on Ollie Avenue, which is only 10 minutes from Downtown Winter Park. Dinky Dock offers a public dock, boat ramp, and inviting beach leading to a swimming area.

Lake Mizell

Lake Mizell covers 63-acres and offers opportunities for lakefront living. Water activities are permitted on Lake Mizell, including water skiing. Winter Park neighborhood, features homes on a peninsula between Lake Mizell and Lake Virginia. There is an area of the Winter Park community which is gated and comprised of unique, single-family homes with an abundance of privacy and beautiful views.

Lake Osceola

Lake Osceola covers 156 acres in Orange County. Lake Osceola is located between Lake Virginia and Lake Maitland. Enjoy a variety of water activities. Among the most popular are paddle-boarding, water skiing, fishing, boating, wake-boarding, and swimming.

Lake Maitland

Lake Maitland is the second largest lake in the Chain Of Lakes at 449 acres. This lake offers a great variety of entertainment including water skiing, boating, wake-boarding, paddling, canoeing, and swimming. The Vias in Olde Winter Park features beautiful, multi-million dollar homes, some of which offer lakefront living on Lake Maitland.

Lake Nina

Lake Nina is one of the smaller lakes that make up the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. It is also the second most northern lake, sitting just south-east of Lake Minnehaha.

Lake Minnehaha

Lake Minnehaha is the largest lake in the Chain of Lakes at a whopping 2,411 acres. There are so many opportunities on Lake Minnehaha including Jet-skiing, fishing, boating, paddle-boarding, wake-boarding, tubing, and so much much more. Take advantage of the opportunities to live the luxurious Winter Park lifestyle lakefront.