Orlando

Day 1

This itinerary is perfect to add to the end of a week at the parks. And it has the added benefit of getting you away from the busy weekend crowds.

Check in to the gorgeous new AC Orlando Downtown on Friday evening and wake up in the heart of Orlando the next morning.

A short drive north you’ll find Winter Park with its bustling Saturday morning farmer’s market and plenty of shopping and dining along Park Avenue. Stroll around the beautiful lakeside campus of Rollins College, founded in 1885 and one of the oldest colleges in Florida.

In the afternoon, be sure to visit the Morse Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Tiffany glass and other Art Deco and Art Nouveau era treasures.

Park Avenue offers many excellent choices for dinner but we recommend Prato for modern, seasonal Italian or Bosphorus for a stylish, upscale take on classic Turkish fare.

Finish your night back in downtown Orlando, which comes alive after dark when the streets close to cars. The Bosendorfer Lounge at the Grand Bohemian Hotel is a sexy jazz and piano bar with a great wine list. For those who prefer cocktails, Courtesy Bar serves up interesting concoctions with friendly, knowledgeable bartenders.

Alternately, if you dare, spend Saturday night with a quieter crowd and follow local blog Bungalower’s self-guided walk of the historical Greenwood Cemetery. Dating from 1880, this is the final resting place of many of the city’s noteworthy early residents, including Charles E. Lord, who infamously cursed us with Billy the Swan in 1910.

Day 2

Start your Sunday with brunch at neighborhood favorite Santiago’s Bodega, which serves tapas, brunch classics, and bottomless mimosas. Reservations are a must but we’ll handle the details for you.

Get moving after brunch with a visit to Leu Gardens, a 50-acre botanical oasis nestled in the heart of Orlando’s charming Audubon Park neighborhood. The climate of Central Florida allows Leu Gardens to grow a wide array of temperate and tropical plants year round including a rose garden and orchid collection.

Next head a bit north to the suburb of Maitland and stop for a quick visit at the one-of-a-kind Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. This raptor rehab center helps rescue and rehabilitate over 500 eagles and hawks each year. Learn about the history of the Florida Audubon Society, which hosted it’s first meeting here at the Center in 1900, and get up close to the ambassador birds on display.

Wrap up your day with an evening dinner and movie at the local favorite Enzian Theatre. This is Central Florida’s only alternative cinema and shows independent, foreign, and classic films. Grab a cocktail under the oaks at the Eden Bar before your movie, and once the show starts waiters will quietly take your order from the hearty, locally-sourced menu.

Day 3

For your last day in The City Beautiful we recommend checking out 2 of our more unique neighborhoods - the classic Mills 50 area and the up and coming Hourglass District. Each has a unique feel with great dining and, while they may be a little quieter during the day, they give you a glimpse of what makes Orlando such a special city.

Mills 50 is the area at the intersection of Mills Avenue and State Road 50 (also known as Colonial Drive). This area is the center of Orlando’s thriving Vietnamese immigrant community and in recent years has also become known for its LGBTQ+ community and thrift shops. Try Tako Cheena for Mexi-Asian fusion, Hawkers for Pan Asian small plates, classic Vietnamese at Ahn Hong, Wally’s for all of your day drinking needs, or giant pizza slices at Lazy Moon. Then shop while supporting a good cause at the newly opened Out of The Closet thrift store where proceeds fund community HIV testing.

The Hourglass District runs along Curry Ford Road south of downtown Orlando and has brought new life into an old part of town in recent years. This area is home to local favorites Foxtail Coffee and Hourglass Brewing. Leguminati serves some of Orlando’s best vegan junk food and a little farther down the road you’ll find Pizza Bruna with their to-die-for garlic knots. Nearby Freehand Goods sells locally made candles, art, and leather with a Florida theme and if you have a green thumb, Bros with Hoes Plant Co sells a variety of rare plants.

If you have time, take a drop in yoga class at The Peaceful Peacock before heading to the airport for a late evening flight home, and start planning your return trip to The City Beautiful.