Christie & Desmond
Things To Do
Explore Downtown Winter Park on Park Avenue
About a 10 minute drive from our church and downtown Orlando. Walk along Park Avenue and explore the restaurants, shops, and park areas! Great place to hang. There’s coffee, ice cream, bars, and all sorts of excellent lunch or dinner establishments to choose from!
Walk Around Lake Eola
A lake downtown where Desmond planned to propose, but the Lord and a drone show altered his plans! Excellent lake for a walk with some great restaurants around it. There’s also a playground for children. It’s a few minutes drive from our church St. James Cathedral.
Stemma Craft Coffee
A coffee shop right by the church St. James Cathedral, owned by a parishioner. Has great treats, sandwiches, pastries and coffee! Can walk there from the church.
Explore Downtown St. Cloud
About an 8 minute drive from our reception venue. Walk around the historic downtown area, with plenty of cafes, shops, restaurants and ice cream! There’s also a lake nearby and you can walk along its shore!
Grab Brunch!
The area near our church has some great brunch spots! Here’s a few we recommend: -White Wolf Cafe (8 minute drive to the church) -The Stubborn Mule (5 minute drive to the church) -World of Beer (5 minute drive to the church) -First Watch (10 minute drive to the church) -East End Market (12 minute drive to the church) -Shakers American Cafe (8 minute drive to the church) -Cristo’s Cafe (9 minute drive to the church)
Winter Park Farmers' Market
Every Saturday morning from early until 1:00 PM in a grassy area off of Park Avenue, vendors set up their tents and guests stroll to take in the unique cuisine and crafts and flowers! Excellent spot. 13 minute drive to the church.
East End Market
An indoor market full of various types of food. Has a big outdoor space for hanging out! Eclectic and fun spot. 11 minute drive to the church.
Harry P Leu Gardens
A wonderful park that we regularly enjoy frequenting. Entrance fee required but the gardens are amazing! About an 8 minute drive to the church.
Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream
The best ice cream around! There several other locations in the Orlando area as well - this is the one we go to most often! About a 10 minute drive from the church.
Lobos Coffee Roasters
Best coffee ever! A little pricey but they make amazing fancy coffee drinks! About 11 minutes to the church.
Lake Baldwin Park
This park has a playground, dog park, and is right by a walking path that takes you all the way around Lake Baldwin. Excellent spot for relaxing outside or getting some steps in! About a 13 minute drive to the church.
Scenic Boat Tour
A bout tour of Winter Park’s famous lakes and canals! Very beautiful scenery and informative guides. About a 15 minute drive to the church.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Excellent museum hosting some of the nation’s best Tiffany glass! Located in Winter Park, which is about 15 minutes from the church and downtown Orlando.
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
An amazing sculpture garden and museum! We love this place! $12 entrance fee for adults. About 11 minutes to the church.
Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe
A beautiful Catholic basilica located about 25 minutes from downtown Orlando!
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
For bird lovers out there - this is a preserve with many types of birds that are being cared for after injuries. A great gem of a place! About 15 minutes to the church.
Gatorland
An Orlando, FL tradition! Spend a few hours up close with alligators and other reptiles! 14 miles from our reception venue.
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Central Florida’s zoo! 40 minutes from downtown Orlando.
Orlando Science Center
Indoor and informative fun for all ages. 12 minutes from the church.
Lukas Nursery & Butterfly Encounter
Want to feed butterflies? Head over to Lucas Nurseries where the beautiful butterflies land on your arms, hands, even head! 40 minutes to the church.
SAK Comedy Lab
Comedy club with family friendly stand-up and improv comedy! Right in the heart of downtown Orlando, about 2 minutes to the church.
Primrose Lanes Bowling & Sports Bar
Go bowling and grab drinks at this renovated bowling alley! About 12 minutes to the church.
Black Bean Deli
Amazing Cuban food! One of Christie’s favorite restaurants for lunch or dinner! About 10 minutes to the church.
Sixty Vines
Great lunch or dinner place; we had our third date there! About a 12 minute drive to the church.
The Ravenous Pig
Excellent food and drinks for lunch or dinner! About 13 minutes to the church.
The Tap Room at Dubsdread
Another awesome local restaurant right on a golf course! About 9 minutes to the church.
Fiddlers Green Irish Pub & Eatery
A local pub with great drinks and lunch or dinner options! We attend a monthly book club there. About 12 minutes to the church.
Smoke & Donuts BBQ
Amazing BBQ and donuts! Great brunch or lunch spot. About 10 minutes to the church.
Speakeasy: Hanson's Shoe Repair
Adults only speakeasy! Get the entrance code on X. Beautiful cozy spot, we love it! Right in downtown Orlando. Parking is in nearby garages.
Imperial Wine Bar
Listen to live music and have some drinks amidst a furniture store! Very unique spot. About an 8 minute drive from downtown Orlando.
Sideward Brewing Co.
Local brewery with games and a great location in the heart of the Milk District near downtown Orlando. 8 minutes from the church.
The Beach
Our church and reception venue are located not too far from three great FL beaches - Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, or New Smyrna Beach. All within an hour and a half’s drive of downtown Orlando/downtown St. Cloud.
Swim at Natural Springs
Our church and reception venue are located somewhat near several natural springs in the Central Florida area. These are some of Florida’s natural beauties. Kelly Springs and Wekiwa Springs are two that are close by. Spend the day swimming in clear water and hanging out along the water’s edge. Get there very early (before 7 AM) to get a ticket and a spot in line, especially on a weekend day, as spots fill up very fast and the springs hit maximum capacity quite early.
Kayak at King's Landing
Reserve in advance! This is a several hour kayak or canoe adventure on canals and rivers. Beautiful scenery. About a 30 minute drive from downtown Orlando.
Disney Springs
A great activity for families not looking to go to one of the theme parks but wanting to bring their kids to do some shopping and explore good restaurants
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Reserve dinner or lunch at the Lodge restaurant and see animals including giraffes and zebra on the large grass “plain” right by the restaurant.
