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The West
Orange County, Florida
Community is bustling with activities for the entire family. The following is a list of some of the exciting options located in and around this special region.
Community & Activities
- The West Orange Trail
A triumph of the Rails to Trails program that converted abandoned rail beds into hiking and biking trails, this world-class trail offers many amenities and scenic routes for joggers, hikers, bikers, walkers, and horseback riders. The trail is approximately 22 miles in length and paved. It winds alongside picturesque Lake Apopka and the Winter Garden Historical Museum. The trail also provides access to and from Clarcona Horseman's Park. Visitors have access to several trail heads with concessions, bike and blade rentals, parking, and more.
- Lake Apopka
Historic Lake Apopka, the fourth-largest lake in Florida and a onetime bass fishing mecca, has been returned to active use, thanks to the Lake Apopka Restoration Act and the support of such groups as the Friends of Lake Apopka and The Oakland Nature Preserve. The lake restoration has been making great strides for the past several years and will continue to ensure that current and future generations may enjoy its calm beauty.
- Oakland Nature Preserve
The mission of the Oakland Nature Preserve is to promote understanding of the fragile balances among land, water, mankind and the environment by EDUCATING present and future generations about the natural ecosystems of the Lake Apopka Basin and by RESTORING and CONSERVING the lands within the Preserve.
- Winter Garden Theatre
The Garden Theatre is located in Downtown Winter Garden on Plant Street. The theater was built in 1935 and used as a movie house until it was shuttered in 1963. The City of Winter Garden acquired the building after almost 40 years of use as a warehouse, and in turn donated it to the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation for renovation. The former single screen theatre is being transformed into a showplace for live theatre, dance and music, cinema viewings, various community events and educational programs. The grand opening and dedication took place on March 1, 2008.
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Shopping
Conveniently located within easy reach of the greater Orlando area, Oakland Park and vicinity offer a broad array of shopping opportunities, from the soon to be completed McKinnon Square to world-class malls.
- Winter Garden Village at Fowlers Grove is an open-air retail town center that presents a variety of environments, including a main street-style collection of period-designed storefronts, a traditional shopping area with large, nationally-prominent retailers such as Barnes n' Noble, Beall's, Coldwater Creek, Geoffrey Beene, Haverty's, Linens 'n Things, NY & Company and Old Navy to name a few. A wide array of restaurants including Bonefish Grill, Cracker Barrel, Longhorn Steakhouse, Macaroni Grill, McDonald's, Panera Bread among many other great eateries.
- The West Oaks Mall in nearby Ocoee features over 120 stores, anchored by Sears, Dillard's, Belk, and JC Penney.
- Orlando's The Mall at Millenia offers a unique, world-class shopping experience with upscale retailers Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's surrounding luxury brand shops such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, and Chanel.
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Theme Parks
Enjoy the immense variety of theme parks and attractions nearby. There's something for every age, interest and activity level. There are too many to list, but some of the most popular attractions are:
Walt Disney World®
-Magic Kingdom®
The focal point and, by far, the most popular, if not the most charming, of Walt Disney World's® four parks, the Magic Kingdom is the east coast version of Walt Disney's prototype, Disneyland®. It uses a "hub and spoke" layout to connect the iconic Cinderella's Castle® at its center with the themed lands: Fantasyland®, Tomorrowland®, Mickey's Toontown Fair®, Adventureland®, Fronteirland®, Liberty Square® and Main Street, U.S.A®. By focusing on Disney's powerful and emotionally charged catalogue of characters, films and timeless stories and merging them with immersive attraction technologies, the Magic Kingdom® exerts a magnetic pull on children and the child in all of us. It is the quintessential theme park experience.
-Epcot®
Originally envisioned by Walt Disney as an actual "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" with real residents living and working in a Disneyfied utopia, his successors instead developed a world's fair-like park. Future World® focuses on emerging technologies while World Showcase® features pavilions devoted to a rainbow of nations. Originally the park took itself far too seriously and even banned Mickey® and his pals. Now, the tone is lighter and attractions like Test Track® have even given Epcot a bit of an edge.
-Disney's Hollywood Studios® (Formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios)
The smallest of the four Walt Disney World® parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios® is a bustling paean to the Hollywood of your dreams. Its streets are burnished, and its art deco motif sets the stage for some great movie-themed attractions. With the addition of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror® and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster®, the park is now home to Walt Disney World's® most thrill-packed rides.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom®
At first glance, Disney's Animal Kingdom® might seem to come up short in comparison to its sister Walt Disney World® parks. Instead of the Magic Kingdom's® few dozen rides, this park has only a handful. Instead of Disney Hollywood Studios'® and Epcot's® spectacular nighttime shows, Disney's Animal Kingdom® isn't even open after dark. What it lacks in traditional park amenities however, Disney's Animal Kingdom® makes up for with its elaborate themeing, its inviting aura, and its focus on animals. Less frantic than the Magic Kingdom®, Disney's Animal Kingdom® immerses you in its lush, tropical lands and sets the stage for some leisurely hang time with its vast menagerie. Not quite a zoo, not quite a theme park, Disney takes a dash of both, mixes it with pixie dust and creates a unique and engaging hybrid species.
- Universal Studios Florida®
At this real working film & TV studio, an incredible array of rides, shows, movie sets, and attractions put you right in your favorite scenes from your favorite movies. It's the number one movie studio in the world!
- Universal's Islands of Adventure®
Experience unexpected adventure and innovative thrills as you take an unforgettable journey through the five islands - Seuss Landing™, The Lost Continent®, Jurassic Park®, Toon Lagoon®, and Marvel Super Hero Island®!
- SeaWorld® Orlando
Experience thrill-a-second rides one minute and count the teeth on a shark the next! Feed the dolphins, take in an incredible performance, and just try to stay dry when the world famous Shamu® comes a-splashing! SeaWorld® Orlando has a wide variety of rides, shows and attractions, including roller coasters, flight simulator rides, children's play areas, shows featuring pets, water-ski stunts, Shamu® and family, sea lion shows, and many others. Or stroll through the tropical reef aquarium, turtle point, the dolphin nursery, or manatee aquarium.
- Aquatica Water Park at SeaWorld® Orlando
SeaWorld® knows water. So it's not surprising that it has created a world-class water park. What might be surprising, however, is that Aquatica combines water park fun with opportunities to interact with animals.The 59-acre park offers lots of rides for all ages and thrill levels amid a South Sea Islands atmosphere. Aquatica's signature ride, Dolphin Plunge, features side-by-side body slides that shoot riders through a pool with black and white Commerson's dolphins.
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Dining & Entertainment
The communities surrounding Oakland Park boast a wealth of fine and casual dining options representing a delectable variety of cuisines, from favorites such as American, Italian, and Chinese to more adventurous options including Cuban, Greek, Scandinavian, and African fare. If you're in the mood for a memorable meal, a sample of the fine dining establishments in the region includes Ruth's Chris Steak House, P.F. Chang's, Roy's, Emeril's, Morton's and many more. For a more casual atmosphere, take a stroll down the West Orange Trail to Plant Street, where your dining options range from Italian and Latin feasts to Barbeque, or a specialty coffee, wine or ice cream for a real treat.
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Spas & Fitness Clubs
- Disney's Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club
Charming Victorian elegance and lavish decor combine with impeccable service to offer guests of this world-class spa a truly unique experience. The spa invites you into an environment of gracious hospitality and luxurious service. Their commitment to your well being is embodied in each of the customized therapies to elevate your spirit, relax your body and invigorate your mind. Enjoy a Grand level of massage therapies, facials, hand & foot and body treatments.
- The Day Spa at Ashley Park
Mind, Body & Spirit. The Total You. Welcome to a world of outer beauty and inner tranquility. A luxurious world of superior, individualized spa and salon services that rejuvenate the mind and body. A world of friends and laughter. A retreat for you to indulge your senses in pampering relaxation. The Day Spa at Ashley Park. Your Orlando neighborhood resource for the total care of mind, body and spirit.
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The Arts
- The Orlando Philharmonic
The Orlando Philharmonic began in 1991 as a Chamber Music group. It began operating as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (OPO) in 1995. Program planning for the season is done by Music Director, Hal France and resident conductor, Andrew Lane, who also leads concerts. In their concert season OPO performs rich musical offerings of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, O'Connor, Bach, Schumann, Brahms, Vivaldi, Mahler and Sung, to name a few.
- The Orlando Ballet
Orlando Ballet was founded in 1974 and is one of the oldest and most renowned professional dance companies in the Southern US. Directed by the legendary Fernando Bujones, the company's mission is to set and promote the standards of dance not only as an art form, but also a vehicle for bringing culture and artistic education to the community. Orlando Ballet is central Florida's only fully professional Ballet Company. The 29 year-old organization performs at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.
- The Orlando Museum of Art
Reflecting the continuing growth of Florida, the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Florida by providing excellence in the visual arts. OMA has dedicated itself to collecting, preserving and interpreting notable works of art, to presenting exhibitions, and to providing first-class educational programs to reach every segment of a diverse community.
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Sports
- Orlando Centroplex
Located in Downtown Orlando, The Orlando Centroplex acts as Central Florida's home for the very best in entertainment, sports, expositions and the arts. It consists of
* The Amway Arena
* The Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
* The Florida Citrus Bowl
* Tinker Field and
* The Expo Centre
providing venues for arts, theater, popular concerts, conventions, conferences, meetings, and sporting events of every imaginable kind.
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