Florida or Bust: Riding the Rails to Winter Park

All Aboard the Amtrak to Winter Park

For Mother’s Day this year, we skipped the usual brunch scramble and decided on something a little different: a family day trip to Winter Park by train. It also doubled as a birthday celebration for Scott. As our resident train nerd, he got the Amtrak ride. As the mom of honor, I got to do whatever my heart desired. 

For those of us in Volusia County, the closest train depot is in DeLand, and it opens up a surprising number of possibilities for exploring Florida without spending the whole day behind the wheel. The station also services SunRail, a more frequent and lower-cost weekday commuter option with plenty of Central Florida destinations. Since we were traveling on a weekend, Amtrak was our choice, but it’s worth checking both options when planning your own trip. Depending on your schedule, budget, and destination, one may make more sense than the other.

For those of us in Volusia County, hopping on the train in DeLand opens the door to easy Florida adventures without the long drive — and Winter Park might just be one of the best stops of all. With the station located right beside Central Park and just steps from Park Avenue, it’s the perfect place to get off, wander, eat, explore, and slow down for the day.

We had plenty of places to choose from, but Winter Park quickly rose to the top of our list. With an 8-year-old along for the adventure, walkability mattered. We didn’t want to spend the day trudging across a city or wasting time waiting on rideshares. Winter Park made it easy: the train station sits right in the heart of town, beside the beautifully manicured Central Park and just steps from famed Park Avenue.

We arrived at prime brunch time on Mother’s Day, which meant the most obvious spots were already buzzing. Instead of battling the crowds, we wandered down a few side streets and stumbled across a lovely Tex-Mex restaurant for lunch. That’s one of the perks of Winter Park: there’s no shortage of options, from casual cafés and coffee shops to upscale dining in just about every cuisine.

Discovering Hidden Gems with ExploreHere

After lunch, we grabbed coffee for the walk and set out to explore. Our family tends to be more adventure-driven than the window-shopping type, so I pulled up one of my favorite apps for discovering a new place: ExploreHere. The free version offers an interactive map showing historical and cultural sites nearby, including markers, hidden landmarks, and points of interest. The paid version can even play short stories and local lore as you pass by, and create curated tours from more than 240,000 historic landmarks across the U.S.

Winter Park Museums, Gardens, and Cultural Attractions

That little app helped us get just off the beaten path and find exactly what we love. On our way toward the Rollins Museum of Art, we uncovered a treasure trove of historic homes, landmarks, sculpture gardens, and museums. Winter Park’s art and culture scene is well-known for good reason, with endless ways to spend the day, including The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Mead Botanical Garden, and more… many with free or low-cost admission.

The rest of the afternoon unfolded at an easy pace. We strolled through town, took in the architecture, admired the art, and made time for the important things, like decadent gelato and snacks along the way. Eventually, we grabbed a quick bite and headed back to Central Park to catch our train home.

A Train Stop That Turned Into a Mini Adventure

Since Amtrak doesn’t run as frequently as SunRail, we knew to be prepared for possible delays. What we didn’t expect was that waiting at the depot would become one of the sweetest parts of the day. We chatted with fellow passengers, watched Avery play disc golf in the park with a family visiting from South Carolina, checked out the Little Free Library, followed by all of our fellow passengers receiving a preview of Avery’s upcoming hip-hop recital routine right there on the train platform.

Take the Ride: Why Winter Park Is Worth the Trip

With gas prices, busy schedules, and all the fun summer has in store, a quick train ride to a walkable destination might be exactly the kind of reset everyone needs. Winter Park gave us a day that felt easy, memorable, and just far enough from home to count as an adventure.

DeLand Train Station | (800) 872-7245

2491 Old New York Ave, DeLand, FL 32720

Amtrak.com | SunRail.com