Famous for its sprawling oak trees, gorgeous lakes, quaint, brick-lined streets, and world-class museums, Winter Park offers a relaxing, small-town atmosphere just minutes from downtown Orlando. This scenic, historic city is home to a wealth of beautiful houses, apartments and townhomes, top-rated schools, charming parks and lakes, and unique shops and restaurants. Winter Park is ideal for young professionals and families looking for the added convenience of living near Orlando's business district without all of the added hustle and bustle. Right in the middle of all the action, Winter Park is just miles from top attractions, theme parks, and schools like the Amway Center, Rollins College, SeaWorld, the Orlando Science Center, the University of Central Florida, and Universal Studios.

Things to Do in Winter Park

A Shopper's Paradise

Grab some unique items at Winter Park's Park Avenue shopping district. With more than 140 boutique shops and beautiful sidewalk cafes, Park Avenue is the perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon of shopping fun. On U.S. 17-92, just seconds from Interstate 4, you'll find the Winter Park Village, a collection of both large retailers and eateries like Publix, Pier 1 Imports, The Cheesecake Factory, and Ulta Beauty. We really recommend discovering more of Winter Park Village as it's an exciting area! If you're looking for even more great finds, take a short 20-minute drive to the Mall at Millenia, an upscale shopping mall with over 150 stores including Bloomingdales, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, and Lilly Pulitzer. If you love a good deal then the Orlando Premium Outlets on International Drive is the place for you! Located just 15 miles from Winter Park, the Outlets is home to popular stores like Armani, Calvin Klein, Coach, Columbia, and Fossil – a shopper's paradise!

Tasty Treats

Just minutes from your Winter Park apartment, you'll find a mix of delicious local eateries that are sure to satisfy your taste buds! If you're a meat-lover, Swine & Sons is the place to go for smoked brisket and cured meats. Or, if fish is more your thing, be sure to check out Winter Park Fish Co. for fresh local produce and mouth-watering fish and chips. Enjoy brunch and mimosas at The Parkview, contemporary Japanese cuisine at Umi, chicken and waffles at The Coop, or Italian at Prato. Needless to say, your food options are truly limitless!

The Great Outdoors

Grab your sunglasses and SPF 30 because Winter Park is full of fun outdoorsy activities and events.  

• Central Park: Winter Park is well-known for its sprawling oak trees – which you can relax under at Central Park. This 11-acre park, located on Park Avenue in the downtown shopping district, hosts numerous events every year including the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, the Olde Fashioned 4^th of July Celebration, and a cinema series held on the second Thursday of each month.
• Mead Botanical Garden: Explore beautiful vegetation, go on a guided hike, or discover majestic breeds of butterflies and birds at Mead Botanical Garden, a 47.6-acre park with an amphitheater and bike park. This park also includes a pavilion and picnic tables, a recreation center, and a community garden for those wishing to make a day of it.
• Winter Park Farmers Market: Pick from a variety of fresh, locally grown produce, baked goods, and plants at the Winter Park Farmers Market. Hosted every Saturday at the old train depot on West New England Avenue, the Farmers Market serves as a great way to support local businesses and connect with the community. Grab some delicious veggies for a home-made dinner at your Winter Park apartment, and some fresh baked goods for dessert – you won't regret it!
• PaddleBoard Orlando: Beat the heat with an afternoon of water fun at PaddleBoard Orlando. Choose your gear of choice – a kayak or a paddleboard – and head to the lake for a day you won't forget!

Winter Park's Flourishing Business Community

Winter Park is popular among young professionals because of its close proximity to the business district of downtown Orlando. Winter Park apartments offer residents three major advantages: a short commute to and from work, a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of life downtown, and major employer discounts! Major employers near the Winter Park area include Lockheed Martin, Adventist Health, Westgate Resorts, the Orlando Regional Medical Center, and theme parks like Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, and SeaWorld. Opportunity is abundant in downtown Orlando with a wide-variety of boutique firms and offices in numerous different fields.   

Schools Serving Winter Park

In Winter Park education is a priority with a wealth of top-rated schools for students of all ages. Children in grades K-5 may be zoned for Lakemont Elementary, Brookshire Elementary, Killarney Elementary, or Aloma Elementary. Those in grades 6-8 are likely to be zoned for either Glenridge Middle School or Maitland Middle School. For students in grades 9-12, Winter Park High School, home of the Wildcats, offers a variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. Winter Park is also near the following specialized schools: Trinity Preparatory, The Geneva School, Lake Forrest Preparatory School, and St. Margaret Mary Catholic School. College students have a wide-variety of options all within 10 miles of Winter Park, including Rollins College, Full Sail University, the University of Central Florida, and Valencia College's East Campus.

Navigating Winter Park

A direct neighbor of downtown Orlando, Winter Park is located just minutes from the city's largest hub for business, finance, and government. Because of this you may hit a bit of traffic during peak travel times, though Winter Park remains fairly free of the congestion often seen downtown. If you commute for work or school and plan on traveling during rush hour, consider alternative routes that avoid Winter Park's most highly-trafficked roadways like Fairbanks and Orange Ave. Right in the middle of all the action, Winter Park apartments offer residents easy access to a variety of major roadways like Interstate 4, Aloma Ave, U.S. 17-92, and SR-436/Semoran Blvd – which makes travel to other Orlando neighborhoods and attractions especially convenient.