Welcome to Winter Garden
Trendy, hip and growing, yet charming, friendly, and close knit.
On the shores of Lake Apopka lies Winter Garden, a former citrus town, now home to over 40,000 residents. Since the turn of the century, Winter Garden has made a name for itself as one of central Florida’s most hip communities, thanks to its growing number of trendy boutiques, shops, a busy farmers’ market, and popular local brewery. Winter Garden’s close proximity to central Orlando is also desirable. Once an entirely separate town, the community is now a closeby Orlando suburb, just 15 miles from downtown.
First settled in the 1850s, Winter Garden began to flourish in the 1880s, after the construction of nearby railroads. At the time, many homes consisted of citrus farms along the southern edge of Lake Apopka. Today, Winter Garden is a popular spot among those looking for small town charm and a celebration of history, without sacrificing the many conveniences which come with their Orlando adjacent location.
What to Love
Local Lifestyle
Once largely removed from Orlando proper, Winter Garden is a popular community for those making the move to central Florida. Residents celebrate life in the great outdoors by fishing and boating on Lake Apopka or hiking down the West Orange Trail, a 22 mile long stretch running parallel to the old railroad track. Locals also enjoy gathering at Plant Street Market, an indoor artisan market featuring fresh meat and produce, hand baked goods, and home to Crooked Can, one of central Florida’s favorite breweries and taprooms.
Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping
In recent years, downtown Winter Garden has flourished into a lively, bustling gathering place for members of the community. Hot coffee, fresh cuisine, locally run boutiques, and a busy social calendar have aided in the transformation in one of Orlando’s most popular neighborhoods.
Piccolo Coffee Co., located in the heart of Winter Garden’s historic downtown, is the embodiment of their name. Piccolo, Italian for “little,” is proud of its small roots and cozy upbringings. Their pop up trucks and carts are popular and appear sporadically throughout Winter Garden, delivering on the go caffeine offerings to the community.
Also located in the heart of downtown, Market to Table specializes in seasonal, contemporary American cuisine. Some of their most popular menu items include lamb shanks, short ribs, and several seafood plates. Make sure you save room for dessert; their strawberry macaron is the perfect way to end the meal.
Downtown is home to several quaint local businesses, including many boutiques. One favored shop among locals is Doxology. Situated near the intersection of Plant Street and Main Street, Doxology is the perfect place to pick up new additions for your wardrobe, home decor, or gifts for loved ones.
This bustling community also features a packed events calendar year round. Downtown and Winter Garden’s many parks host events for residents of all ages like art exhibitions, workshops, tree lightings, and the especially popular plays in Garden Theatre. Past musicals have included Big, Beetlejuice, and School of Rock.
Things To Do
Winter Garden hosts an exceptionally popular award winning farmers’ market every Saturday at the downtown pavilion. Over 100 vendors gather each week to present the community with freshly picked produce, hand baked goods, arts and crafts, flower bouquets and a children’s section. Another popular weekly gathering takes place just a few blocks away at Fridays on the Plaza in Centennial Plaza Gazebo where onlookers can enjoy live music performances. On a regular basis, residents can enjoy both active and leisurely days at one of Winter Garden’s several parks or trails.
Schools
Winter Garden is home to several fine educational institutions. A few of these are:
- Lake Whitney Elementary School, prekindergarten to 5th grade; Lake Whitney Elementary features a low 14:1 student teacher ratio
- Lakeview Middle School, grades 6 to 8; LMS is a World Language Academy School and recipient of the School of Excellence Award from Magnet Schools of America
- West Orange High School, grades 9 to 12; West Orange offers over 30 advanced placement courses and several award winning extracurricular clubs including band, choir, drama, and athletics
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