I love a good hotel and I love it even more if it is in a
good location. Like Winter Park and the Park Plaza hotel on Park Avenue. OMG, this hotel is so
well taken care of that its age feels like smooth single malt whiskey when you
walk in the door. Elegant without being over the top, it is genteel and
welcoming. It made me want to explore the building and history the moment I
walked up the stairs to our room. A dear friend, who lives in the oldest house
in Winter Park, told me his aunt was born in this hotel! I could do a post just
on this hotel.
 |
| The Park Plaza Hotel Today |
 |
| The Park Plaze Hotel (L) circa 1922-23 |
 |
| The beautiful comfy Park Plaza lobby |
The Park Plaza Hotel is a vestige of a bygone era, but the
town has more to it. Lakes, canals that you can tour, houses straight out of architectural
magazines (Gamble Roger’s father designed quite a few of them if you read my G
post), running paths, golf courses, Rollins College, museums, and restaurants
of almost any kind. They also have a Farmer’s Market right next to the downtown
park on weekends. Some Friday’s there is a free outdoor film showing in the
park.
 |
| A fountain in the park I played in as a child |
 |
| Statuary can be found over in Winter Park |
 |
| Movie night in the park, free! |
 |
| A gazillionaire's mansion on the lake |
 |
| And another one... |
 |
| Fancy mailbox, show off! But so fun! |
 |
| A typical street sign in downtown Winter Park |
 |
| One of the canals one visits on a boat tour |
All of these things add up to a beautiful place to visit, yet another,
something-for-everyone kind of place. Yes, Florida is full of them! Did I
mention restaurants?
Some images from:
