Central Florida is a world-wide tourist destination attracting thrill-seekers everywhere.  

But did you know just outside the booming city of Orlando is a quaint community with a story of its own? Winter Garden, 20 minutes west of Orlando, is known for its rich history and vibrant activity hubs for visitors of all ages. 

Get ready for a trip to this unique city with these five activities sure to turn family moments into cherished memories. 

  

Here’s your guide to five family-friendly activities in Winter Garden. 

 

Table of Contents

• Visit a Winter Garden Mueseum
• Try a Family-Owned Restaurant
• Urban Air Adventure Park
• Take a Horseback Ride
• Explore the Winter Garden Farmers Market
• Make Family Memories at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista

 

Visit a Winter Garden Mueseum

 

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

 

If you or someone in your family loves diving into the history books, look no further than these two downtown Winter Garden museums. 

Housed in the heart of the city is the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, taking visitors on an enchanting journey through the city's past. The museum showcases a collection of rotating exhibits, artifacts, and other memorabilia that bring Winter Garden's history to life. You and your loved ones can take a self-guided stroll through the exhibit hall or take a guided tour of the museum. 

Looking for a way to please all the train-enthusiasts in your family?  

Hop on board the Central Florida Railroad Museum, a one-of-a-kind blast from the past. 

Here you can take your family on a deep dive into Central Florida’s trains through a sparkling collection of silver flatware and china place settings from a dozen railroads. 

Its newest exhibit, Magic On The Rails, explores Walt Disney World's locomotives and is open through August 30. 

While these Winter Garden museums are rich in history, they won’t cost a dime. 

Both museums are open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. with the Railroad Museum opening one hour earlier on Saturdays at 10 a.m. 

 

Try a Family-Owned Restaurant

 

 

If there’s one thing Winter Garden is lacking, a plentiful supply of family-owned restaurants isn’t one of them. 

Winter Garden has a unique array of local dining options to satisfy every pallet in the family. 

To fuel your exciting day in Winter Garden, start by visiting the Country House Restaurant. 

This charming gem offers southern-style breakfast and brunch options in a family-owned atmosphere. 

Need a midday bite to keep you and your family's adventures going?  

The Deli Downtown’s menu has you covered. Here you can enjoy delicious homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches all inspired by Winter Garden’s small-town charm. 

For dinner, treat your family to the comfort only Italian food can bring at Bella Italia Ristorante. This family-owned eatery brings the flavors of Italy straight to Winter Garden for a dining experience you and your family are sure to love. 

At the end of a long day exploring Winter Garden, nothing beats a family trip for ice cream.  

The Frozen Cow, family-owned and operated, scoops up delicious ice cream flavors with high quality ingredients sourced locally from Florida. Enjoy a scoop of Twix ice cream for their August flavor of the month or choose from over 30 additional flavors. 

 

Urban Air Adventure Park

 

 

Ready to add some thrills to your Winter Garden expedition?  

Gather your family and jump into the excitement at Urban Air Adventure Park, where adventure meets family fun. 

Located in south Winter Garden, this thrilling indoor adventure park packs in the excitement with over a dozen high-energy attractions. Want to reach new heights? It’s never been easier than on the park's ropes course, climbing wall, leap of faith, and sky rider attractions. Or you can immerse yourself in new worlds through a virtual reality experience that is sure to bring the total wow factor. If you're ready for some family competition, you can get behind the wheel on the go-kart track or battle it out in bumper cars.  

The great news is many of the attractions are suitable for both kids and adults, so the whole family can join in on the fun together.  

Urban Air is also an ideal spot for birthday parties, youth sports celebrations, or any one of your family's special occasions. And with summer in full swing, this indoor adventure park is the perfect place to beat the heat.  Urban Air delivers high-energy fun for the whole family, making it the go-to spot for indoor adventures. 

 

Take a Horseback Ride

 

 

Grab your family and put on your boots for one of Winter Garden’s most unique adventures, straight from the horse’s mouth. With many ranches throughout the city, taking a horseback ride can make your family day in Winter Garden truly unforgettable. 

One family-friendly ranch, Escape with Horses, offers lessons for riders of all experience levels seven years and older. 

It’s also a great spot for birthday parties and group events, so you can make memories with even more of your family.  

Want a sample of excitement but not quite ready to hit the saddle? SOUL Haven Ranch is the perfect place to experience the joy of horses without needing to saddle up. 

This one-of-a-kind Winter Garden ranch is most famous for its miniature horse experiences and horse drawn carriage rides. Guests can spend time with their own miniature horse by grooming, handling, and even walking down the nearby West Orange Trail. Or you can hop on a horse drawn carriage for a truly unique ride through downtown Winter Garden. But the horses aren’t the only miniature animals at the ranch – they even have miniature Australian Shepherds and pigs for visitors to enjoy.  

Reservations are required for both ranches. Pricing information can be found online.  

No matter your riding skills, these ranches will add some horsepower to you and your family's day in Winter Garden. 

  

Explore the Winter Garden Farmers Market

 

 

Looking for a fun and unique way to kick off your Winter Garden weekend? We’ve got you covered.  

Since 2008, the downtown Winter Garden farmers market has brought the entire community together for local shopping and entertainment. 

Over 100 vendors come to the market every Saturday with their specialty goods such as home decor, pet supplies, and artisan crafts. There are also baked goods, gourmet provisions, and locally sourced produce so you can bring the flavors of Winter Garden right to your kitchen. At the center of the market lies live music for you and your family to enjoy while you walk, talk, and shop.  

Have furry friends at home but don’t want to leave them behind? Just make sure your dogs or cats are on leashes while at the farmers market so they too can join the fun, because after all — pets are family too.  

Along with the wide array of vendor displays, the market also hosts a variety of family-fun activities including lawn games and kids arts and crafts stations.  

Visit the market on August 9 for a fun celebration of National Farmers Market Week with a special arts and crafts station for all the little ones in the family. 

Parking and admission to the Winter Garden Farmers Market are free with more information found online. 

 

Make Family Memories at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista

 

 

Wrap up an exciting day of exploring Winter Garden with a relaxing stay at our family-friendly hotel.  

With amenities for both kids and adults, including two refreshing pools and a sprightly splash pad, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista. Plus our Kids Eat Free program will help fuel you and your family for your next adventure.  

Book your stay today and create unforgettable memories for you and your family.