Winter Garden: the best small-town Saturday near Orlando

What Winter Garden is

Winter Garden is a small city west of Orlando, once a citrus and railroad town. Its downtown, centered on Plant Street, has been restored with brick sidewalks, old storefronts, a historic theater and a long paved bike trail running right down the middle of the main street. The farms and groves around it have mostly turned into new neighborhoods, but downtown keeps the old small-town feel.

It is also a useful stop if you are staying in one of the west-side vacation home areas or at the Disney resorts. A morning here gives you shade, a real main street and food at normal prices, all on a day you are not paying for a park ticket.

It is close enough to the Disney area to make a half-day trip easy, and it is a favorite weekend outing for local families.

A Saturday in order

1. Arrive by 9 and park in the free lots or on the streets around Plant Street.
2. Walk the Saturday farmers market, which usually runs downtown in the morning with produce, baked goods, flowers and crafts. The farmers markets guide lists others.
3. Rent a bike from a downtown shop and ride the West Orange Trail. Head east toward Oakland or west toward Killarney; a few miles out and back is enough.
4. Have lunch on Plant Street, then browse the shops and the small history museums near the old railroad depot.
5. Stay for a show at the Garden Theatre in the evening if one is on.

When to go

Saturday morning is the best time, with the market and the most bustle. Weekday mornings are quiet and easy. Afternoons in summer are hot, and the trail has long sunny stretches, so ride early.

The town also hosts festivals, outdoor concerts and holiday events on some weekends; check the city calendar if you want them, or avoid them if you want quiet parking.

The West Orange Trail

The trail is a long paved rail trail that runs across western Orange County, from the Lake County line through Oakland and Winter Garden toward Apopka. The stretch through Winter Garden is wide, flat and easy, with restrooms and water along the way. Bike shops near Plant Street rent cruisers, kids' bikes and trailers. Walkers and runners share the path, so ring a bell when you pass.

Ride west a few miles and you pass the Oakland Nature Preserve, which has a boardwalk down to Lake Apopka. Nature lovers can add the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, a one-way drive through restored marshes north of town with a great deal of birdlife and alligators.

Where to eat

Plant Street has a mix of cafes, bakeries, pizza, burgers, barbecue, Mexican, a brewery and a food hall with several counters. Most are casual, with patio seating facing the trail. Expect a short wait at peak Saturday lunch. Prices are normal for a busy small town, lower than near the parks. Ice cream after a ride is close to tradition here.

On hot days, kids can cool off in the splash fountain downtown while adults sit in the shade. For dinner, many places get busy around 7 on weekends, so put your name in early or eat at 5.

Getting there and mistakes to avoid

From the Disney area, take State Road 429 north; it is a toll road and the fastest route, about 20 to 30 minutes. From downtown Orlando, take State Road 408 west and then local roads, about 25 to 30 minutes. You need a car; there is no rail link.

• Arriving at noon on a Saturday and hunting for parking. Come before 10.
• Riding the trail without bike lights in the late afternoon. Stretches pass through trees and get dim early in winter.
• Biking in midday summer heat without water. Carry it, and wear sunscreen.
• Expecting nightlife. Downtown is lively in the evening, but it is a family town and quiet after 10.
• Skipping it because it's "just a small town." It's the easiest day off the parks from the west side.