Scenic Boat Tour

Winter Park scenic boat tour is an absolute must do if you’re looking for something to do in Orlando that doesn’t involve the theme parks, around 30 minutes drive from Kissimmee it’s the most picturesque town with a gorgeous park to sit and watch the trains arrive and depart from what looks like a turn of the century station. The boat tours depart daily between 1000 and 1600 costing just $20 per person and last around 45 minutes. 18 people per boat traversing 3 lakes joined together by two canals, fantastic views and commentary from the boat skipper, the best activity we undertook in our two week holiday, followed by a stroll along the Main Street and a light lunch in one of the cafes. Fantastic family friendly place.

Beautiful tour of the chain of lakes in Winter Park. Our tour guide was a great story teller and knowledgeable. We got there 30 minutes ahead of the tour we wanted to go on and had no problem getting tickets. Those who came later did find they were sold out but they run quite a few boats. Definitely plan on doing it again.

Taking a Scenic Boat Tour of the canals and lakes at Winter Park is a wonderful way to see the lovely area from the water. Our 50 minute tour was enjoyable. Captain David was knowledgeable and entertaining, and expertly navigated the boat through the canals. We purchased our tickets at the dock and fortunately only had to wait a few minutes for our tour. Tickets may also be purchased in advance. Parking in the area can be tricky so plan on arriving early.

The scenic boat ride through the chain of lakes and historical neighborhood was AWESOME!!! The tour is exactly an hour. Our tour guide was great and vary knowledgeable on the history of all the historical homes. The views through the old logging canals are beautiful and the houses are stunning. They accommodated someone in a wheelchair on one boat and another boat had a baby on board so it is a family friendly boat ride, bring one, bring all!! Absolutely recommend doing this if your visting the orlando area. This place is 25 minutes away. There is also a botanical gardens and some meusam homes open to the public right in the same street.

It was a busy Saturday afternoon, we were lucky to get the last few tickets. The boat had a capacity of about 20 people. The route was touring three lakes connecting with canals. Surrounded the lakes were beautiful houses. The views were very scenic. The tour was about an hour long.

Skipper Fred was so good! Very knowledgeable and comical! This tour is actually under priced! $20? Tax in? It’s a steal. A full hour of a guided boat tour through beautiful canals…it’s a must do!

Had an amazing time on this boat tour! The captain was super funny and gave detailed introductions as we passed through three beautiful lakes. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and I’d highly recommend going on a clear day—the breeze makes the experience even more refreshing! The tour lasts about an hour, so don’t forget to apply sunscreen!

Such a wonderful weather and lovely guide! David is absolutely amazing and he made the whole trip so enjoyable and full of laughter. It’s my last activity in Orlando, and I’m happy to mark it as my last memory🥹

This boat tour was absolutely AMAZING! From start to finish, it was an experience I won't soon forget, and I'll definitely be back for more. What a hidden treasure right in my own backyard! The views were nothing short of breathtaking, with stunning scenery that perfectly captured the beauty of the area. Pairing those views with the rich local history made it both captivating and educational. David, our guide, truly elevated the experience. His exceptional storytelling, infused with just the right amount of humor, kept us engaged and entertained throughout the journey. His deep knowledge of the area added a layer of appreciation I didn't expect. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this tour is a must-do for anyone looking to explore, learn, and soak in the beauty of nature. I can't wait to do it again!

Fabulous way to spend an afternoon. Our captain was entertaining and informative while he gave us a fun tour of the lakes and canals.

What a fun little adventure right in the middle of Winter Park. We were a group of four friends on a girls weekend looking for some local flavor. The boats leave every hour and for $20 you can't go wrong. Find out about the chain of lakes surrounding the area and see some amazing homes and scenery and Rollins College. Our driver was Wendell and he had the stories and jokes to make the hour go by fast and enjoyable. If you're wondering where the rich live this is a view into the backyards of gorgeous lakefront estates. The stories are interesting and the views are great. Depending on the temps it can windy or cooler on the water. Highly recommend!

We had an amazing time on our scenic boat tour! Our guide Keith was very kind, informative, and had a nice dry sense of humor. It was a beautiful day and we loved being out on the water. The sights are beautiful. Definitely worth doing and I would probably do it again.

We went today with some visitors. Don was great and fun. He was very knowledgeable about the lakes and Winter Park and Rollins history.

This boat tour is an institution--it has been running daily except for severe weather and Christmas for decades! It's a lovely relaxing way to see the sights of a beautiful neighborhood in the Orlando area and learn a thing or two about its history as well. I've done it several times and it's always a must-do when I'm visiting!

This boat tour takes you throughout Lake Osceola, Lake Virginia and Lake Maitland. It is walking distance from Park Avenue in Winter Park, FL.I enjoyed learning a brief history of The Kraft Azalea Gardens, The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens and Rollins College.The guide gave me a quick shout out because I graduated Rollins College.I love this boat tour.

A must do if you are in the area! I have seen tons of "hidden Florida" videos and blogs and this Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park is ALWAYS on the list! A true gem. And hour tour through 3 lakes and 2 canals with wonderful local and historic facts to entertain. We happened to go on a gorgeous day! They can sell out for time slots and it's cash only- my advise, pick a time and go first thing in the morning to book your slot. Parking is limited, and a bear- so arrive early to secure a parking spot, especially if you are meeting other there- make sure your entire party arrives early to park. We had 2 groups get pushed because they weren't all present for boarding. This company has things down- they are smoothly running tours in and out between 10am and 4 pm. We had 4 boats going out when we toured. I think we could easily do this tour again in the future! Wonderful staff and great fun on the water!

After a couple of days at Universal, my mom, stepdad, and I decided to spend a day in Winter Park. Our last activity before dinner was a scenic boat tour on the Winter Park chain of lakes. It was amazing, such a wonderful experience - especially on a beautiful day! I highly recommend it - but here are some details I think are important to share. All tours are first come, first serve. Tours leave every hour between 10am and 4pm. It's a popular thing to do on a weekend day when the weather is nice. We showed up twenty minutes before the tour we wanted to be told they only had tickets for the last two tours of the day. So we bought tickets for the last tour of the day, left did some other things, and came back later! Our boat driver was friendly and funny and shared a lot of great info about the lakes system! It was gorgeous out on the lakes and the narrow canals for the boats to pass through were amazing. What a great way to spend an hour in Winter Park!

5 Stars for a wonderful way to spend an hour in Winter Park! The Winter Park Boat Tour runs 364 days a year (all but Christmas day) and as the weather cools down, this is the time to enjoy it. What: This is a pontoon boat tour of the channel of lakes around Winter Park. It takes your through small, charming channels that are surrounded by boat houses and gorgeous homes, as well as the open lakes where you get to see how the 1% live. Besides gawking and picking your dream home, the guide will take you on a voyage through history to point out notable sites (ex: Mr. Rogers' home). The tour guides clearly love their jobs because they are always so funny and informative! How: You don't have to make a reservation for these tours, just show up by the small dock (plenty of parking) and go to the ticket window to purchase your $15 ticket to ride. From there they will call you up to join the next tour. My understanding is they can do private tours for groups, but I may be wrong about that. My suggestion? Don't go during the hot summer months. There is no covering and you will burn. I opted to go on a beautiful day (highs in the low 70s) and it could not have been more amazing. Also- hold on to your hats!

Captain Tom "Cruise" made our Saturday so much fun! From telling the best dad jokes to giving us incredible history fun facts of the area, this is definitely a perfect activity for friends, couples or solo!

This boat tour has been around for quite a while (apparently the oldest attraction in FL) I remember doing this tour as a kid too. The tour takes you through the Winter Park Chain of lakes on a pontoon boat and points out some notable homes and architecture. We went with a group for the Holiday lights edition of this tour. Many of the homes on the various lakes are quite large and expensive, and naturally many of them do quite a nice holiday light decoration lakeside. Out group required 3 boats that went and followed one another through he tour. Our tour guide was fervently and personable. The whole tour was about and hour long and waste quite enjoyable to see some fantastic lights and large trees through huge windows. I recommend the boat tour for sure, but idk you are doing a night version for the lights - its is pretty nice!I he tour also visits Rollins. College front he lakeside and makes note of the architecture there too. t tends to be a little cooler on the water, so dress appropriately. It was a little windy the night we went....I was fine with Jeans and a long sleeve dress shirt, but honestly I could have stood to have another layer on heaven here in FL! Just be aware of the weather and dress appropriately.

I took my mom and grandmother on a tour this past Saturday and we had an amazing time. It was a bit hot outside but once our driver picked up some speed we cooled down. Our driver was very informative of the area, was really sweet and patient especially with my grandma. The tour runs every hour and there are about 4 boats that can hold a good amount of people. It is first come first serve so if you want to ride at a certain time, make sure to get there 30 minutes to an hour before. They also sell bottles of water. I believe they were a dollar. For adults it is $20.

A wonderful afternoon adventure. Found this place on Instagram, and I am so glad we did. Parking is a challenge. However, you can find parking once a boat returns from a tour. Getting there At the end of the road, there are plenty of small shops to explore as you wait for your tour. Once you arrive, if you can't find parking have one person go up and pay for the tour and then go park. Usually, the most recent one is sold out, and you have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for the next tour. Paying They do take cards. Straightforward payment options. I recommend wearing a hat as there is no cover on the boat, and on a sunny day or even overcast, it gets very warm on the boat. Waiting to go. There are seating areas around and a bathroom. I recommend walking around while waiting. You will be seated for an hour, so getting tired from walking before going is nice. Lucky for us, there was a farmers market that day. We were able to get some local food and juice before heading out. The boat is on time departure so don't be late coming back. The tour The boat tour guide is very knowledgeable and friendly. If you enjoy looking at multi-millionaire homes, you will enjoy this tour. Overall, we loved it and recommend you check it out.

Lovely boat tour of lakes and canals in Winter Park. Skipper Mickey was very thorough on our tour, and gave us lots of history tidbits about the beautiful houses on the water. I loved hearing about Mr. Rogers and his history in the area. Fun for nature and history lovers alike.

You've seen it on foot. You've seen it by car. Now experience Winter Park's undying charm aboard a water vessel led by expert tour guides who have resided here since the dawn of time. This is probably my most recommended activity in central Florida. I still remember my first time being introduced to this boat tour. I walked onto this boat a little tipsy from day drinking and was led on an hour excursion of every nook and cranny of Winter Park. Historical tidbits, weird Winter Park history, celebrity sightings, and dad jokes galore. Plus a new perspective of Winter Park's beauty. Super affordable. Departs every hour. Perfect in every season. Beautiful sunsets. If you're not sold yet there's something wrong with you. Respectfully.

The tour takes you through three of the seven lakes in Winter Park, as well as two narrow man-made canals. Along the way, you'll see some of the city's most famous landmarks, including the Rollins College campus, the Winter Park Marina, and the Morse Museum of American Art. The tour is narrated by a knowledgeable guide who will tell you about the history of Winter Park and the different points of interest you see along the way. The tour is also a great opportunity to see some of the local wildlife, including alligators, turtles, and birds. The Scenic Boat Tour is a great way to spend a few hours in Winter Park. It's a relaxing and informative way to see the city's beauty. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Winter Park. The only drawback would be that there might be a long wait before you can hop on an available boat and there are no reservations.

We had such a fantastic time on this tour! Going into it, we had no idea so many lakes were connected throughout winter park! The scenery was absolutely beautiful, and our tour guide had so much information and delivered it in a fun manner. The price was reasonable at $15 per person, and it didn't feel rushed or crowded at all. Just an overall great experience and a nice way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Beautiful beautiful! I love the Rollins College area of Winter Park! There is so much history here that we don't know much about and this boat tour gives you a history of the area. As you may already know, Orlando has so many many visitors every weekend and they all visit the same places, Disney, Universal, and the beaches! This boat tour is a place for locals and visitors alike. I didn't realize how many celebrities and celebrity families live or lived in the area. This boat tour has been around for over 80 years and gives the insight of how Winter Park became one of the prestigious cities around by taking you on a tour from one lake to the next, they're all connected through various canals, beautiful landscape, and beautiful homes to enjoy. Our tour guide was pleasant and very informative! Enjoy and attend! Today was a very very hot day but while you're boating on the water, it doesn't feel like. Very cool and breezy, just make sure you hold onto your hats!

Not a 3 hour tour, only one but all around the lakes and through the canals. Very cool and relaxing. Our captain was informative and fun. Definitely worth it if you are visiting Winter Park.

GO GO GO!!! WOW. Found this recommendation in an article about what's fun around Orlando and what a treat!! We got there early. Thought I was in the wrong place but nope - just follow your Google maps. Beautiful boat ride and extremely knowledgeable guide. Best $20 you can spend.

Great boat tour led by our boat driver and tour guide the Great Lee, the Magnificent...he's been a resident of Florida for over 20 yrs and had a wealth of knowledge about the history of the Lakes surrounding winter park located in Central Florida. Glad we came. Make sure to bring a hat for shade, hand towel, and a few bottled waters in a small storage bag to help keep them cool. You will need it due to the sun and heat.

I enjoy bringing family and friends who are visiting me to this boat tour. It is ~$16 per person. I have been on it a few times and have always had a great experience. The tour guides are wonderful and explain everything well. I love the scenery and enjoy going through the two canals. It is a good way to see the houses of Winter Park from the water. If you are planning to go, I would recommend getting there at least 30 minutes before the tour you want to go on to get tickets and to find parking. Parking can be tricky and I have had to park on Park Ave. when parking is full near the water and then walk down to the landing.

It's a balmy spring evening in Winter Park, Florida, and the sun is shining bright. The air is thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the mood is relaxed and carefree. As I make my way towards Lake Osceola, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement for what's to come: the scenic boat tour of Winter Park. The tour, which has been operating for over 80 years, is a staple of Winter Park's tourist scene. Visitors from all over the world come to experience the beauty of the city's lakes and canals, which are brimming with exotic wildlife and lush foliage. As I step onto the boat, I'm greeted by the captain, who is sporting a wide-brimmed hat and a friendly smile. The Pontoon boat is classic in design, with wooden benches and no canopy to enjoy the Florida sun. As we begin to cruise down the canal, the captain introduces himself and gives us a brief history of the area. The boat tour is a one-hour journey through three of Winter Park's seven lakes: Osceola, Virginia, and Maitland. Along the way, we pass by some of the city's most notable landmarks, including the Rollins College campus, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, and the Kraft Azalea Garden. The scenery is breathtaking, with towering cypress trees, graceful swans, and colorful bougainvillea lining the shores. We glide past beautiful homes and estates, many of which date back to the early 20th century, and learn about the history and architecture of each one. The captain is a wealth of knowledge, regaling us with stories of famous residents, such as Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood fame, who lived in Winter Park during his college years. He also points out interesting details, such as a gargantuan banyan tree that was planted in the early 1900s and now spans over an acre of land. As we reach the end of our journey, I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to experience Winter Park in such a unique and special way. The scenic boat tour is a true gem of the city, offering a glimpse into its rich history and natural beauty. As I disembark, I'm already planning my next visit. Maybe I'll bring some friends and a picnic basket and spend the afternoon exploring the lakes on a paddleboard. Or maybe I'll win the lottery and buy one of the houses. Regardless, one thing is certain: the scenic boat tour is an experience that I will never forget.

This is one of the things I love to do when I want to show people from out of town around. The tour is very peaceful and you get a ton of historical knowledge about the lakes and houses. The tour guides are friendly and take any questions you have and the price is great. Keep in mind you are exposed to the sun for an hour so dress accordingly!

What a fun and amazing tour on the water of one of the most beautiful areas of Florida. I have to say that Skipper Fred made it extra special and one of the highlights during an incredible first date with the most incredible woman I have ever met. Thank you so much!!

Awesome tour! Cannot believe that we have never gone! It runs every hour from 10am to 4pm and they watch the weather carefully. The skipper was funny and gave us nice little tidbits in the history of some of the magnificent homes and trees in the beautiful canals. I'm the tour is about an hour and they clean the seats after every trip. It's really lovely but I would advise to take the first boat if the heat bothers you. Although the breeze feels nice, it's not always guaranteed and the sun is blazing! Very nice tour though! Get some yummy food on Park Avenue and take a boat tour, you won't regret it!

Wendell! If he's your guide tour you'll have a blast! I'm sure they are all fun but shout out to Wendell, he's great.

My family of 6 showed up at 3:30 and were able to get onto the 4:20p tour. It's $15 per adult and $8 for kids up to 11y/o. I would definitely do this again just to get out onto the water for an hour. It was a peaceful ride, our tour guide was great and the houses along the route were beautiful.

The Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park was much more fun than I expected! Our experience was fantastic from start to finish. The weather was beautiful the day we decided to visit. The views are breathtaking and surprising. Who knew that there were canals running behind homes? Our guide and captain Skipper Lee was informative and funny. They're very organized and efficient at getting everyone on and off the boats quickly so you can spend as much time on the water as possible. You'll learn about local history and nature in a relaxing one hour boat ride. Parking is a challenge and tickets sell out almost every hour so be sure to arrive early. Would love to do this again!

I'd have to say this was the best part of our visit. Loved the boat ride and commentary by Dave. I would gladly love to do this again. The canals were beautiful and the lakes smooth sailing and interesting and cool while going fast. Loved to see the big houses and gardens.

The Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park is legendary and has been going on since 1938. I have been wanting to do this forever, and finally one December day when the weather was perfect, we made it. $14 for the ticket. It's fun and worth it. The tour guide is very silly. I can't stop thinking about that boat ride actually. We had the best seats in the front of the boat. They spaced groups out very well. They staggered seating so people and groups had space. Every one still wore masks on the boat even with it being outside and that meant a lot. It's a well worth it boat ride, so fun and relaxing!!!

This is a must-do tour of Winter Park. This is a very affordable experience and would be awesome to pair with a lunch beforehand or dinner after the 4pm tour! The tour guide we had, Alan was his name- was quite knowledgeable and very funny! The homes we rode by were absolutely beautiful and breath taking. Loved that we got a small history lesson about Winter Park while enjoying being outdoors and enjoying the scenery. Highly recommend! Please plan accordingly as these tours get booked fast. For large groups of 10 or more, you can call ahead same day to save your spot. I had a party of 7 and they held the seats for me when I called earlier in the day. If you do this, be sure to arrive at least 15 or more minutes earlier to pay or else your spots will be given away. This is a fabulous tour to add to your day on Park Avenue maybe after a nice lunch or pre-dinner.

This is such a great tour! The boat ride only lasts an hour, and is a great way to view the houses on the lakes, along with the beautiful campus of Rollins College. Riding through the canals was fun and interesting, and the beautiful landscaping along the shores makes you feel like you're in a tropical oasis. The pontoon boats are not covered because they have to navigate under some low bridges, so a hat and sunscreen are highly recommended. This tour also has easy access for handicap.

While visiting Leu gardens in the morning, our guide casually mentioned the scenic boat tour in Winter Park. My wife and I perked right up and were like huh? We found it later in the morning not too many blocks off of Park Ave. Nearby parking was a little tight but we lucked out and found a spot. Tours run every hour at the top of the hour. Today they were running up to three boats at a time so plenty of spots to go on the tour. The tour runs $16 a person plus a tip for the guide at the end. The pontoon boats used do not have any cover due to the low bridges on the canals that interconnect the lakes. Fortunately today there was a light cloud cover because otherwise you would bake in the sun on those lakes. Bring lots of sunscreen. There are a few high speed runs though to cool off. On the tour itself, you get to see some beautiful, remarkable and large homes. Our guide had tons of stories sprinkled in with at times punny bits of humor. We didn't see much wildlife at all. We enjoyed our tour and would recommend taking it to others but perhaps earlier in the day rather than later.

I loved my experience with the Scenic Boat Tour. It's an 18 passenger boat that tours the Winter Park chain of lakes. The tour leaves every hour from 10am to 4pm. You have to reserve by phone for groups of ten or more. The tour is fun and educational. With Covid restrictions in place you have to wear a mask and practice social distancing. In 2020 they introduced a nighttime holiday boat tour that was a blast. I hope that it becomes a regular opportunity. I highly recommend it.

The Scenic Boat Tour is located about 5 minutes from Park Avenue. Tours are $14 for adults, $7 ages 11 and under, cash only (bring some extra for a tip). There is free parking on the hill behind the dock. Tours start at 10 AM and the last one departs at 4 PM. Private tours can be booked. The also offer canoe and row boat rentals. They are open every day except Christmas. The attraction began operation in 1938 making it one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions. The hour long tour on an 18 person pontoon boat takes you through 3 lakes, Osceola, Virginia, and Maitland, and the canals that make up the chain of lakes in Winter Park. The canals were built by lumber businesses in the late 19th century to float logs harvested from the forests to the sawmill locations. Today the canals cut right behind people's backyards. On the tour you pass by Rollins College, Azalea Gardens, Isle of Sicily and many mansions including one once owned by Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers fame and one that used to be owned by Tom Hawks. You also see a variety of birds, trees, and flowers. On my tour I was delighted to see an osprey feeding her chicks. The first part of the tour has you leaving from the dock at the end of Lake Osceola. As you start the tour you will see some of the historic structures and museums of Winter Park like the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. From Lake Osceola you go through a canal to Lake Virginia which is the home of Rollins College. From there it is back through the canal to Lake Osceola where you tour the mansions lining the shore. Another canal takes you into Lake Maitland where you come to Kraft Azalea Gardens and the homes on the Isle of Sicily which is a man made peninsula. I highly recommend this tour. It was one of my favorite things my daughter and I did in Winter Park. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and we were able to ask him questions. I loved seeing all of the homes and wildlife. Even though my daughter is a Winter park resident she learned a lot from the tour. If you are in the area you should definitely go. It's great for all ages.

Allen was our tour guide - he was knowledgeable and funny. Gorgeous boat tour of 3 lakes all lined with old and new multimillion dollar architecture. Allen pointed out wildlife and plantlife, and gave interesting details about real estate, famous residents, and Rollins College. I had a wonderful time and would definitely do this tour again. Note: The boats do not have shade so wear protective clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat that won't fly off with the wind.

If you ever find yourself in a Winter Park area or you're a local, make sure to try this boat tour. Tours run every day from 10am to 4pm and every tour is one hour long. If you have a large group it is better to call in advance and make reservations. There is a 3 hours street parking available and they also have restroom at the dock. We did a tour on Monday from 1pm-2pm and it was busy but not crowded. All staff very friendly, tours are guided by Winter Park locals and throughout entire tour they share interesting facts about the chain of lakes and homes that sit on the lakes. Our guide was Keith and he was really nice and super funny, made us laugh few times. I definitely recommend this to everyone and it will be on my list of places to take out of city/out of state friends when visiting.

One of the best experiences we've ever had here in winter park! It was a thousand times better than we expected. Make sure you go on a nice sunny day, it will make it more fun and enjoyable. The tour lasts about 1 hour and they had a queue before the first boat at 10am. Our guide was super funny, and the view is amazing

Just a heads up this is NOT baby or even kid friendly... And whatever you do avoid the tour guide named David. We took our whole family of 10 on this for Mother's Day. Anyone under the age of 6 has to wear a life vest provided by the company. On the boat my 13 month old was a little fussy and whining due to heat and being annoyed with the vest. David informed us that our child was disrupting the tour and he would be taking us back to shore. I asked the rest of the boat if she was disturbing anyone and they said they couldn't even hear her. Keep in mind everyone on the boat but 4 people were apart of my party. So what David was saying is.. My baby was disturbing him. He was extremely rude and condescending to the guests. At one point there was a child with his mom on a paddle board in a very narrow canal. He REFUSED To let the mom move out of his way before trying to pass. He told the woman "he had a schedule to keep and move try and make it around them." The mom basically begged him to stop and give her a minute to get her child safely out of the water. You could tell the child was terrified. David argued with my husband about the entire situation and was unprofessional. The boss/manager was extremely apologetic and gave full refund. He also agreed that David's behavior was unacceptable and he would be talking to him. Hopefully that happened. Also zero shade is on the boat so keep that in mind when preparing. Before the tour everyone is forced on a extremely tight dock that is very hot. It would be amazing if the dock was bigger considering they have about 60+ people waiting at the same time. Im sure the tour is great for some people but it honestly ruined our Mother's Day morning.

This was a find! It was also very hard to get to because the weekend we chose was the weekend of the Holiday parade and the streets were blocked off, so that was kind of stressful, but the Police in the city were very helpful. We found a very close parking spot, Paid our $14 in cash and waited. It was a beautiful day in December, A gorgeous Autumn afternoon. I brought a jacket because we'd be out on the water. I had no trouble wearing my mask for the hour ride on the boat. The canals were fascinating, we did come upon some inexperienced paddle boarders and some young men on their jet skis in them, but nothing was quite so fascinating as the architecture along the shore. My friend dubbed this a tour of the ultra rich. I do wish we'd have gotten closer to see them better, but we were three boats, I suppose that each dude driving gets as close as they are comfortable. Bring Cash, they don't take credit cards. Get there a good half hour before your time to hope for parking.

Fabulous boat tour thru the canals and the lakes. Our guide was great. He told us interesting tidbits about history and houses in Winter Park Area and the canals themselves. The scenery is beautiful. I love the Spanish moss hanging from the oaks over the canal. It was a truly enjoyable tour that I would do again in a heartbeat.

We had such a great time on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. The pontoon boat tours are one hour long and leave hourly. The price is $7-14 each. The tour takes you into Winter Park's chain of lakes and canals. . The views include multi million dollar mansions, Rollins College and Kraft Azalea Gardens. My favorite part was going through the canals. The tours have been going on for 80 years. . Note: There are no top coverings on the boats so they can fit under the bridges in the canals. I would recommend doing this when the weather is cool outside. It was super hot in the summer when I last went on the boat tour.

This tour is a beautiful way to see the area. The canals and the water front homes make for gorgeous viewing. A shout out to our guide, Tom, for a wonderful trip. He provided interesting historical facts about the waterfront homes and the area, including suggestions for other things to do in the area. I can see how this tour has survived to be Winter Parks oldest tour. A definite must do. The area is beautiful and we will definitely visit again for a longer stay.

Highly recommend!! This is a great tour of 3 of the lakes in the winter park area. The tour lasts a little less than an hour and typically runs on the hour. For sure check times as they sometimes have one earlier or later. Not often, but it happens! The boats are smaller pontoons, without covering (because of the bridges through the canals) so be sure to bring your sunglasses and maybe a jacket or shawl for the wind/elements. Lots of history and gorgeous views.

Just a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Park Avenue in Winter Park is the Scenic Boat Tour. The cost is $14 per person and well worth the 1-hour trip around Winter Park. There were three pontoon boats that left at the same time, there is no shelter on the boat, so remember to wear sunscreen. The views were stunning, wildlife and lots of kayakers, boats, jet skiers enjoying the lakes. Our captain Tom was very knowledgeable and told us many interesting stores, that of Rollins College, Mr. Rodgers, among others. Enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. I would definitely do this again.

Well tuned adventure for one hour. Comfortable boating over three or four lakes with detailed history given by highly skilled guide

Wow! Just wow!! And what a joy it was when I found this relaxing activity for my family to enjoy while they were visiting from California this week. Our original plan was to go to the springs but they were sold out the day after Christmas. As I was searching online for other activities for us to do, the Scenic Boat Tour just happened to pop up on my feed. I gave them a call and the gentleman on the phone told me that they were open from 10am -4pm and take 100 passengers at a time. Perfect since it was just me, my parents and my brother. We were headed to Winter Park for breakfast anyways, so we just left parked my car on the side streets and walked right on over. The boat tour costs $14 a person. With military discount we paid about $12 for each of us. Boats fit up to 20 people and they fill up 5 boats so about 100 people take off at the same time. Boat ride takes 1 hour and tour through the many lakes and canals through Winter Park- complete with a narrator giving the passengers fun history facts of this wonderful city while admiring the many beautiful homes overlooking the water. My family and I enjoyed the scenic boat tour so much. Perfect way to spend the afternoon relaxing and laughing at the boat operators jokes. I do recommend bringing a light jacket as it was a bit chilly on the boat. And don't forget your cameras too!