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