I was invited to an art opening at the Oakland Manor House. I don't know if i was dazzled more by…read morethe beautiful art or by the incredibly beautiful restoration of the Oakland Manor house. The Manor house was built in 1921 as a guest house, back when Oakland was the place to be in Orange County. We had the pleasure of meeting one of the men who lovingly restored this house and he fave us a tour and told us the history. I would highly recommend this as a place to stay or a place to have a small event. It is absolutely gorgeous!

A quiet retreat near Lake Apopka in Oakland Fl. A place for tranquility, RN wellness Coaching,…read more consultations, meditation classes, yoga retreats, and more. Classes for The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. Monthly book club meetings and monthly nature walks featuring the Flora and Fauna of Central Florida. See Facebook and www.oaklandmanorhouse.com and livingwellrn.net. Bed and breakfast. 5 rooms available. Near West Orange Trail and Lake Apopka. .

Nice town worth swinging out of the way to visit. Lots of non chain coffee shops, and gift…read moreboutiques. Very nice hanging plants and path down the center of the main street. The highlight of the place was the Central Railroad Museum for me. I bought two book on Central Florida railroads, neither of which I had seen on Amazon. I just moved fairly near a former citrus line so the topic fascinates me. The Welcome center type place by the caboose was oddly not open at 3 in the afternoon, I was hoping to get books or reproduction postcards of the citrus industry.

It's a little crowed since Covid most of the main town has cut parking and added extra table for…read moreopen seating. Seems to make driving much more difficult. There already parking issues and now it's not better at all. So many things to do just lots of parking issue. NOTE: was informed there is a parking garage. I've only parked by the establishments.

Ocoee Lakeshore Center is a great venue for weddings and events. I attended a fundraiser for…read moreMatthew's Hope and was very impressed with the grounds and facility. The venue is located next to Starke Lake so the view is lovely. They recently completed a four million dollar renovation and it looks beautiful. There is built in audio visual and a huge lobby area where several bars can be set up for a reception area. The staff is friendly and the food was delicious.

My mom and I come here at least once a week when we have the same days off together. The service is…read moreimpeccable, the food is fantastic, and the drinks always hit the spot. We decided to stop around the time they had ladies night and the music is always bomb. We sat in a boot and I got the fajitas as always, and she got the chicken adobo quesadilla. It is located in the Windermere/Hamlin area near Homestead brewery and Ford's garage. 10/10 I believe Crystal was on server; She was amazing.

We've been holding off on trying Agave Bandito for a bit since I was hearing mixed reviews from…read morefriends that visited when they first opened, hoping they've ironed out the details and improved. Starting off with the pros, the atmosphere is wonderful and unique with plenty of seating including indoor and their covered outdoor patio. We were seated outside on the patio and it was a lovely day. The service was great, we were seated quickly, our service was extremely attentive, and who seems to be the manger did a lovely table-touch to check in on us during the meal. We went for dinner and as the sun was setting, they lifted the patio screens and made the ambience very pleasant. Our server immediately took our drink orders and returned with free chips and salsa, which they were on top of refilling through the meal if needed. We agreed that the drinks were probably the best part of the meal. My fiancé enjoyed his tequila old fashioned and I had a refreshing prickly pear mocktail. The food was very ok. I ordered the chicharron tostones as my entree even though it's technically a starter. You get two tostones topped with a couple thin sliced pieces of chicharron for $16, which was definitely not worth it since half of it was nearly inedible due to the tostones being hard as rock. They were also place on top of a mayo-based sauce that did not go well with the flavors and was overpowering since it was drowning in the sauce. My fiancé ordered the chimichanga, and the portion size was huge. It had a decent amount of meat and a TON of rice, which he was ok with since he loves rice, but would have been way too much for my personal liking. Overall, all of the flavors were very meh and fell a little flat for me. We agreed that we would maybe come back and try out other meal items, or at least come back to enjoy drinks out on the patio. Also curious about their hidden speak easy so we will likely return for that and not the food.

Tanner Hall was absolutely beautiful. We payed for Tanner Hall from 5pm-11pm with then an hour…read moreincluded for cleanup after. We also rented Little Hall to use as a bridal suit from 3pm-11pm which also included an hour after for clean up. Kamilla Udit was the name of the person who always answered the emails with my questions. She was very fast to respond to all my questions. She sent a reminder the week that the layout was due for both venues, which leads me to my next point- As long as you give them the layout a week in advance they will set up all the chairs and tables where you want. They have plenty of chairs and tables for indoor seating. (We did have to rent chairs for outdoor seating for the ceremony itself.) When we arrived day of the setup was exactly what I had drawn out. They usually show Tanner Hall and Little Hall a couple times a week in the evening as long as there's no event happening. I emailed ahead a few times to make sure there was no event and got to tour both halls a few times. We also met with the DJ the week of at the venue. It was easy to gain access to in order to take photos and video so that everyone in the wedding party could see it ahead of time. The bathrooms were clean and had plenty of stalls. There's also plenty of normal parking and handicapped parking around the two halls. Tanner Hall itself is very pretty. The dance floor is in the middle and I really liked that because it made it easier for everyone to see the first dance and such. Best of all, you get to use your own venders, so we were able to pick our own catering. (A lot of venues make you use their official caterer and that price definitely adds up.) Overall it was a great experience. I'd HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking for a beautiful but cost effective venue. (This venue was by far the cheapest I found. A lot of venues cost my entire budget for the wedding.) The gazebo outside comes with the rental of Tanner Hall so that's where we held the ceremony. There's also a beautiful oak three that I was told some people use for the ceremony. We decided on the gazebo because there's a sidewalk leading up to it and I figured that would be easier for our grandparents to walk on during the procession in. I emailed ahead to ask if we could set up outside prior to our rental and was told that was fine, so we had the chairs for the ceremony delivered at 2pm. The ONLY bad mark for this place was the woman who was there day of to keep an eye on things. When the reception was over my husband and I left and a few members of my bridal party stayed to clean. We had things mostly cleaned by that point too. (We had a team of four people there during the reception that we paid to clean up trash as people finished eating and things of that nature.) So as some people left early that team of four cleaned up the tables and such. The gifts and a lot of other things were already packed up and ready to be moved to cars. The food was all collected and just needed to be loaded into a car. So for the most part, when we did the send-off, most of the venue was already clean. One of my bridesmaids told me that after we left the lady was yelling at people asking who was going to clean. The bridesmaid tried telling her that it was taken care of and she and a few others were going to clean the last of it, but the woman was still freaking out about who would clean and the deposit only gets returned if the place is cleaned. My bridesmaid also tried asking her a few times what all needed to be done for her to consider it "clean" because she wanted to know if they needed to vacuum or anything. But the woman just kept freaking out about who was cleaning. She even yelled at a random guest who was not part of the bridal party nor was responsible to clean after to start cleaning. And I was also told that she was mad at the DJ for using a room to store things in that he was told he was allowed to use. That's why I took off a few stars for professionalism. If my bridesmaid was clearly telling her that there was a plan for the cleaning, then there was no need to continue to yell at people (including guests) about it. With that in mind, that was really the only bad thing about this place. Overall I'd still recommend it to anyone who is looking to have a casual wedding. (My husband and I spent about $6500 on our entire wedding which we planned on/paid for things assuming there would be 100 guests.) So if you're in the area and want more than a court house wedding but less than some of those crazy $20K+ weddings, this venue is great. Outside is gorgeous for a ceremony and the venue interior is very nice. I'm honestly a little surprised that more people don't use it for weddings.

Well if you have been to PopStroke you know it's more than just a mini golf experience. It's 2 x 18…read morehole layout of miniature golf layout designed by Tiger Woods. Also there is food and a few full bars. The experience is cool for friends, groups, date night, etc. it can be busy; especially earlier in the day with families which can cause some backups. The service at this location is still hit or miss. But not bad just a little lacking in that extra level.

I finally got to try the new PopStroke in Hamlin, and wow... this place is such a win for the area…read more We went right before the New Year, and having a Tiger Woods-designed mini golf course literally a stone's throw from my house still feels wild. As someone who loves mini golf, not having to drive 30 minutes to the closest PopStroke anymore--and instead just 5 minutes--is a total game changer. The course itself absolutely delivers. It's designed to be fun, social, and approachable, not overly difficult. Think smooth carpet greens, sand traps, and enclosed hills around each hole that actually encourage creative shots--rolling the ball off the slopes and lining up sneaky hole-in-one attempts. It's mini golf that rewards imagination more than precision, which makes it perfect for families and groups. Yes, it was very busy, but honestly? PopStroke crushed the layout. Even with five of us playing, we were never stuck waiting. As soon as we finished one hole, we flowed right into the next. The pacing was smooth and surprisingly efficient for how crowded it was. One of my favorite parts is how social this place feels. You get your own golf ball, there's great food and drinks, and the setup encourages you to hang out--not rush through. There are bean bag games, foosball, and a fantastic bar, and the best part? Drinks are delivered directly to you on the course. Every hole even has built-in drink holders everywhere, which feels like such a small detail but makes a huge difference. Pricing is $25 per round, but there's also a $25/month unlimited yearly membership, which honestly feels like a steal if you live nearby (and especially if you've got kids or love entertaining friends). Fair warning: this isn't a quick in-and-out experience. Between golfing, eating, drinking, and just hanging out, you'll be here a while--but that's kind of the magic. It turns into quality time with friends and family, and that's exactly what PopStroke is designed for. Hamlin keeps adding great spots, and PopStroke might be one of my favorites yet. Mini golf + food + drinks + a welcoming vibe = a total home run. Families are going to love this place, and I already can't wait to go back.

Absolutely Stellar Spot for Craft Beer Lovers! If you're in…read moreWinter Garden, do yourself a favor and head straight to Crooked Can Brewing Company inside Plant Street Market. This place is a true gem in downtown Winter Garden--vibrant, welcoming, and pouring some of the tastiest brews around. From the moment you walk in, the energy is perfect: lively yet laid-back, with that cool industrial-chic vibe mixed with the buzz of the market. I tried several of their in-house beers, and every single one was outstanding. Bold flavors, perfectly balanced, and clearly crafted with passion--whether you're into crisp lagers, hoppy IPAs, refreshing hefeweizens, or something seasonal and creative, they've got you covered. The limited editions and specials are especially fun to explore. What really made the visit shine was the friendly and incredibly helpful staff. They knew their beers inside and out, offered great recommendations based on what I like, and were happy to let me sample a few options without any pressure. No pretentious beer-snob vibes here--just genuine enthusiasm and top-notch service that made us feel right at home. Bonus points for the setup: tons of food options right there in the market (perfect for pairing), outdoor seating, and a great atmosphere for hanging out with friends or people-watching in charming downtown Winter Garden. Crooked Can has quickly become one of my favorite craft breweries in the Orlando area. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this spot delivers on every level. Highly, highly recommend--I'll definitely be back soon to try whatever new batch they're pouring! Pro tip: Grab a flight and explore. You won't regret it.

Great little brewery in the Plant Street Market. Friendly and helpful staff. They offer a nice…read moreselection of craft and limited edition beers, as well as cider and wine. They offer indoor and outdoor seating and you can walk around the market with your drink. We had reservations to eat down the hall and I wanted a cider to take with me. They had a wonderfully, delicious pineapple cider on tap that day. I usually don't like pineapple drinks because they are too sweet, but this one was spot on. One of the best ciders I've had. They also gave me a sample to try, since I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not. They offer 8 and 16 ounce versions. I went with the larger one and enjoyed how crisp and refreshingly cold it was. I'll definitely try some more of their drinks next time I'm at the market. Highly recommend.

We had a great experience at Banana leaf. I appreciate that this isn't your typical hotel. They…read moreprovided everything we needed without providing and charging us for things we didn't need. The rooms were clean and cozy. We loved the ping pong/pool table and outside chill area. My only complaint is the use of single use plastics and nobody recycles around here.

From the owner: We are a beautiful short to midterm tropical-themed property that sits on 1.5 acre nestled in the…read moreheart of Orlando, Florida and less than 20 minutes from many of Orlando’s favorite and famous attractions. We offer fourteen individually furnished rooms in four contemporary styles. Banana Leaf Villa is a housing destination of choice for guests looking for short to midterm stays in Orlando. At Banana Leaf Villa we combine the comforts of home where our guests can escape the hustle and bustle of the day and indulge in serenity to relax and recharge.