quot Hello From Orlando - Part 5 The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour quot
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Travel Leisure -> subcategory Vacations.
Hello From Orlando - Part 5: The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, established in 1938, is a delightful escape just 15 minutes from downtown Orlando. This charming excursion offers visitors stunning views, a touch of local history, close encounters with Florida’s wildlife and vegetation, all while gliding peacefully on an 18-passenger pontoon boat. Each tour is guided by a knowledgeable and often humorous captain who narrates the journey.
Exploring the Lakes
The boat tour navigates through three picturesque lakes: Lake Osceola, Lake Virginia, and Lake Maitland. Under the clear blue skies, we drifted past hundreds of breathtaking waterfront estates. Many of these homes date back to the 1920s, originally priced at $20,000, but now valued between $500,000 and several million in today's booming market. Even the boathouses are worth between $30,000 and $40,000.
Lake Virginia and Rollins College
As we glided onto Lake Virginia, we caught sight of Rollins College, a top-rated private liberal arts institution in the Southeastern United States. Founded in 1885, this college boasts a beautiful 70-acre Mediterranean Revival campus. Our captain shared interesting facts, including the college’s tuition at $38,000 and its impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. Adjacent condos are currently priced between $450,000 to $1 million.
Navigating the Venetian Canal
Approaching the Venetian Canal, we admired the lush vegetation such as Egyptian papyrus, Spanish moss, vibrant bougainvilleas, and resurrection ferns. Bird enthusiasts were delighted with sightings of an osprey eagle, snake bird, great blue heron, and the white egret, once a good luck symbol for the Seminole Indians.
Discovering Lake Maitland
On Lake Maitland, our guide revealed an intriguing story: an alligator cave once contained 150 alligators, which were relocated to the Florida Everglades to avoid conflicts with local residents. Along the canal, we saw variegated ginger, banana trees, philodendrons, and more exotic plants like firespikes and "air potatoes."
Lake Maitland, at 450 acres and 30 feet deep, is the largest lake on the tour. The lake drains into the St. John's River, which meets the Atlantic near Jacksonville. A highlight here is the Kraft Azalea Gardens, home to thousands of azaleas, tropical shrubs, and trees, with azaleas blooming from January through March.
Our captain also pointed out several mansions featured in movies and commercials. Some islands here host colonies of cormorants, fish-eating birds.
Conclusion of the Tour
Our peaceful journey concluded as we returned to Lake Osceola. It was a truly relaxing and educational day, offering insights into the history of Winter Park.
Located at the end of Morse Avenue on Lake Osceola, the Scenic Boat Tour is an affordable adventure, costing $8 for adults and $4 for children (children under 2 ride free). Tours operate daily from 10 am to 4 pm (excluding Christmas). For more information, contact the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour.
For more details and photos, visit [Travel and Transitions](http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/orlando_winter_park_boat_tour.htm).
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: quot Hello From Orlando - Part 5 The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour quot .
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