| Just a few minutes north of downtown Orlando | | | | relaxation with its graceful fountain, |
| awaits Winter Park, a charming picturesque | | | | walking paths and shaded benches.We then went |
| suburb steeped in history. After my excursion | | | | on to explore Casa Feliz ("Happy House" in |
| on the Scenic Boat Tour, my local expert | | | | Spanish), the signature residential work of |
| Wanda Salerno took me on a little walk | | | | renowned architect James Gamble Rogers II.In |
| through town past beautiful historic | | | | 1932 Robert Bruce Barbour, a chemical |
| neighbourhoods.With is origins as a citrus | | | | engineer from Massachusetts, commissioned |
| growing region, Winter Park became a major | | | | Rogers to design a home on Lake Osceola, |
| destination for wealthy northerners during | | | | which turned out to be the Andalusian-style |
| the early 1900s, who came into town by train | | | | masonry farmhouse that we see today. This |
| to reach their elegant winter retreats, | | | | home was not only cherished by Barbour, but |
| seeking shelter from the cold winters of the | | | | by the community as well. Throughout its |
| north. Elegant mansions and and stately old | | | | history, it has hosted garden club tours, |
| oak trees draped with Spanish moss bear | | | | symphony orchestra concerts, poetry social |
| witness to this historic era.Wanda then took | | | | meetings and a dinner for author Sinclair |
| me through some of Winter Park's hidden | | | | Lewis.In 2001, in order to prevent the house |
| courtyards, which are | | | | from demolition, Casa Feliz was moved across |
| | | | Interlachen Avenue to its present location on |
| filled with specialty retail stores and | | | | Park Avenue. This move was one of the most |
| galleries. Winter Park features a large | | | | dramatic events in Winter Park's history. |
| variety of galleries and I had a chance to | | | | Casa Feliz was transported on 20 |
| sample three of them, all of which carried | | | | pneumatically levelled dollies, and an |
| vastly different artwork:- Scott Laurent | | | | elaborate pulley system moved the house about |
| Collections | | | | 75 feet per hour. After the house was in |
| | | | position at its new location, skilled |
| - Native Visions Gallery | | | | craftsmen worked on restoring it to its |
| | | | original 1933 condition. A special landscape |
| - Timothy'sOur walk took us out on to Winter | | | | design was commissioned to reflect the style |
| Park's main street, Park Avenue, which houses | | | | of the era.Today, Casa Feliz is available to |
| 10 blocks of specialty retailers, galleries | | | | rent for weddings, parties, business meetings |
| and ecclectic restaurants. Park Avenue is | | | | and events. Its unique features provide the |
| flanked on its west side by Central Park | | | | perfect backdrop for a truly memorable event. |
| which offers a welcome sanctuary of | | | | |