Winter Park Boat Tour

About This Episode

The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour has spent over eight decades ferrying visitors around Winter Park’s Chain of Lakes. Tours leave on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Christmas or during extreme inclement weather. Cost is only $14 for adults  and Children (2 – 7) only $7.

There are six lakes that comprise the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. The tour visits the three largest lakes, Osceola, Maitland and Virginia. The tour guides weave the boats through narrow canals that tower with cypress trees and long leaf ferns.

The tours began back in 1938, when Ralph Meloon was the CEO of Correct Craft and persuaded the city to dig the canals that connect the lakes deeper for boat travel. Originally the canals were used to transport logs and other timber.

The tour winds past opulent homes, exquisitely landscaped estates and tropical flora where orange groves once stood. The boats pass Rollins College and the lakefront house that Fred Rogers’ parents bought while he attended the liberal arts school and before he became known for his television show, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

Location: Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, 312 E Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407-644-4056
Website: https://www.scenicboattours.com/

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Transcript

Doo doo doo doo doo. Hmm where shall we go today?

Hidden in the midst of Winter Park just minutes from downtown Orlando, one of Central Florida’s oldest attractions continues to delight guests with daily trips taking you into Florida’s past. For over 8 decades the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour has been ferrying visitors around Winter Park’s Chain of Lakes. This one-hour voyage weaves through narrow canals that tower with cypress trees and long leaf ferns. The tour winds past opulent homes, exquisitely landscaped estates and tropical flora. Once called The Venice of America the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour should be on your must-do list whenever you visit Orlando.

Today, I’ve decided to spend a warm sunny Saturday morning in Winter Park. I’m taking you with me on a trip on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. Afterward we’ll check out The Briar Patch my absolute favorite breakfast hangout on Park Avenue. On any given day in Winter Park, you never know what may happen.

The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour began on January 1st, 1938. For over 80 years this boat tour has been taking visitors on a voyage upon three of Winter Park’s Chain of lakes – Osceola, Virginia and Maitland.

In all, there are six interconnected natural spring-fed lakes, with each lake between 22 and 26 feet in depth. The lakes are popular for paddleboarding, kayaking, waterskiing, boating and fishing.
During the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, you’ll traverse through two narrow shaded canals – Fern Canal which connects Lake Osceola to Lake Virginia and the Venetian Canal connecting Lake Osceola to Lake Maitland.

Be sure to bring your camera as you’ll enjoy cruising the lakes with plenty of Instagram-ready photos of the vast mansions and boat houses that line the lakes of this ultra-wealthy neighborhood. The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour has been running daily for over 80 years, and I highly recommend spending some time to see this side of old Florida. By the time you return to the dock, you’ll be rested and ready to hit Park Avenue for some incredible shopping

After a pleasant cruise The Briar Patch on Park Avenue is my favorite late morning hang out. This is a local’s place with mouth-watering made-from-scratch recipes like gourmet brioche French toast and artisan omelets, or my favorite eggs benedict. Be sure you leave room for some famous Briar Patch carrot cake. One slice will feed your entire crew.

Thanks for hanging out with me as we visited the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour and The Briar Patch. Be sure to subscribe if you want to see more shows like this one.

Winter Park Boat Tour

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