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