10 Amazing Old Florida Roadside Attractions: Scenic Winter Park Boat Tour

passengers enjoy a sunny day on The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez.

THIS IS A QUINTESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE FOR ANYONE VISITING WINTER PARK OR THE SURROUNDING AREAS. It’s easy, it’s quick (about 60 minutes for the regular tour), and it’s one-of-a-kind. Where else can you see Rollins students living their best life alongside gigantic historic mansions, alligators, canals, and the occasional otter? Nowhere else, that’s for sure.

I’ve done all the boat tour iterations; the private tour with the then-company I worked for; nothing says company bonding like being stuck on a small pontoon boat for an hour with your overbearing boss and co-workers. We’ve tried the holiday version, done at night on select evenings during the Christmas season, where hot chocolate was served on the dock and Christmas stories are told during a moonlit tour, complete with cookies and candy. And we’ve done the tried and true (and honestly best in our opinion) traditional cruise that sets sail every hour from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. seven days a week.

When visitors come to town, this is one of our first stops. It’s quick, it’s impressive, and they always love it. A few years back, we took our friends on the boat tour, and I decided to wear a hat that day; well it flew off when the boat picked up speed, and I assumed the worst-case scenario would be my hat falling into Lake Osceola. Boy was I wrong; it did not fall into the water, but rather into the back of the boat near the propeller, getting repeatedly soaked and chopped for the duration of our ride. I couldn’t even wait around for the ultimate embarrassment of them finding I was the hat’s owner. I hurried out of the boat and up the ramp as quickly as possible, I don’t think I’ve ever scooted off a boat and up the dock faster.

A narrow canal connections two of Winter Park’s famed lakes. adobe.stoc.com/ Keith J Sfinx

Established in 1938, The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour offers visitors and locals alike a relaxed way to explore one of Central Florida’s most picturesque communities. The standard hourlong guided cruise takes riders through the lakes and narrow canals that make up the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. The tour showcases the area’s natural beauty, from local wildlife and lush vegetation to grand waterfront mansions and historic homes that line the shoreline. It also lets you peek into people’s backyards, and gasp as riders don’t duck soon enough before underpasses.

Along the route, passengers glide past landmarks like famed Rollins College, Kraft Azalea Garden and the Isle of Sicily while learning about the history and character of the surrounding neighborhoods. The dock sits on Lake Osceola at the east end of Morse Boulevard, less than five minutes from Park Avenue, Winter Park’s well-known shopping and dining district.

Seating is first come, first served, though private tours and groups larger than 18 passengers can be arranged by phone. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 2 to 11. This classic attraction is only closed on Christmas Day.