By Elizabeth Arnold
An
Orlando vacation or weekend escape doesn't have to break the bank. There are many natural attractions to explore in Central Florida, and plenty of exciting things to do outside of the costly theme parks. Explore a Florida state park, or window-shop in quaint Winter Park. The city also offers many attractions and cultural centers that are free to explore. Visit a
romantic winery or learn about Orlando's history without spending a dime.
Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts
Explore the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, which operates on donations. The museum showcases the work of emerging and established artists of African descent, and features several exhibitions each year. At the opening of each exhibition, the museum offers a reception and gallery talk, which is free and open to the public.
Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts
227 East Kennedy Boulevard
Eatonville, FL 32751
407-647-3307
http://www.zoranealehurstonmuseum.com
Winter Park Historical Association and Museum
Discover Orlando's history through the Winter Park Historical Association and Museum, which offers comprehensive and changing exhibits throughout the year. Previous exhibits have included "From Kin to Kant - the Culture of Turpentine" and "The Colony Theatre," which showcased the history of Winter Park's vintage movie theatre. Self-guided walking tours are available.
Winter Park Historical Association and Museum
200 West New England Ave.
Winter Park, FL 32789
407-647-8180
http://www.wphistory.org
Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards
Visit the Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, which produce wine varietals from native Florida Muscadine grapes. The 127-acre estate features a 77-acre vineyard and an extensive gift shop. The winery conducts several 15-20 minute tours per day, and offers a video presentation on Florida wine-making; wine-tasting is also available.
Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards
19239 US 27 North
Clermont, FL 34715
352-394-8627
http://www.lakeridgewinery.com
CityArts Factory
Check out work by local artists at the CityArts Factory, which features five art galleries, a classroom and an artists studio. Featured galleries include "Keila Glassworks" and "Roho Arts and Coffee," which showcases work by artists of Hispanic heritage.
CityArts Factory
29 South Orange Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801
407-648-7060
http://www.cityartsfactory.com
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Spend the day at Wekiwa Springs State Park. Take a dip in the spring, which features a year-round temperature of 72 degrees. Rent a canoe or kayak from the onsite rental shop, and explore the river or Rock Springs Run. Thirteen miles of hiking and biking trails, along with picnic facilities, are also available.
Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka, Florida 32712
407-884 2008
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings
About the Author:
Elizabeth Arnold, who studied English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has written for a wide variety of publications and websites. Her experience includes writing travel features for "Recommend" magazine and packaging and marketing copy for both Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. consumer products. Recently, Arnold was a staff writer for "Special Events" magazine.
