Winter Springs, Florida, made Money magazine's Best Places to Live list in 2007, ranking No. 31 thanks to a new Town Center, its schools and its multitude of parks. A suburb north of Orlando, Winter Springs boasts upscale shops and art galleries downtown. Located on the edge of Lake Jesup, one of Central Florida's largest lakes, the city is close to boating, swimming and camping. It's also close a multitude of nature trails.
The fall Festival of the Arts features art, food, wine and jazz music. Organizers hope the festival, which was first held in 2008, becomes a signature event for Winter Springs, drawing art lovers from Central Florida and increasing exposure for local artists. The 2009 festival, scheduled for late October in the Town Center, will feature 125 artists.
Winter Springs plays host to the Scottish Highland Games each January, honoring its Scottish-American residents' heritage. The games include athletic competitions, highland dancing, drumming and piping.
The weekly farmers market takes place downtown from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday. Vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables, pottery, arts and crafts, and jewelry.
Winter Springs is known for its green space, with 13 city parks that offer a variety of amenities. For hikers, the Bear Creek Nature Trail parallels Bear Creek. Enjoy the view and bring lunch to eat on the picnic tables. Central Winds Park features a dog park, a nature trail, picnic pavilions, horseshoes and a playground. Several parks, including Ranchlands, Sam Smith, Torcaso and Sunshine, offer fishing.
Wekiwa Springs State Park is nearby. It offers a cool spring (72 degrees Fahrenheit) for swimming and snorkeling. Visitors can rent a canoe or kayak and head down the Wekiva River. The park also has 13 miles of trail for hiking, bicycling or horseback riding.
Big Tree Park consists of marsh lands and natural vegetation along a boardwalk to see the park's main attraction, a 3,500-year-old bald cypress known as "The Senator."
Winter Springs is close to 10 golf courses with facilities for novices to ardent golfers on any budget.
The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is north of Winter Springs. For a fraction of the cost of theme park admission, see elephants, reptiles, birds, leopards and spider monkeys.
