The Five Best Dates Spots in Orlando Florida

So, you're looking for somewhere to take you special someone on a date in Orlando? If you've lived in Orlando for a more than a day, you already know that Orlando's so much more than Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Orlando is a large, growing city with a strong cultural and social scene.

Here, I list my five favorite date spots in Orlando that are not theme parkls.

Enzian Theater

The Enzian Theater is Orlando's only independent film house. With couches, table, and plush chairs, it's 180 degrees from most other theaters. You can enjoy a drink from the full bar outside before entering the theater. Upon choosing where to sit (I highly recommend the couches toward the front - great for cuddling), a waiter will be around to take your order. There's the usual theater fare such as soda and popcorn, but there's also cheese and fruit, nachos, and even full entrees. All in all, the Enzian makes a great place for a first date.

Park Avenue

The exclusive enclave of Winter Park has long been the home of many of the Orlando areas wealthy and notable residents (Mr. Rodgers of Mr. Rodger's Neighbor fame lived here). The main street through downtown Winter Park is Park Avenue. This tree-lined street's retail area is about 10 blocks long and contains many small, exclusive shops, cafés, and eateries. Also along the avenue is small park that hosts a myriad of events throughout the year. Once year, the whole area hosts the Winter Park Art Festival, a show featuring artists from around the world.

Lake Eola Park

Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando is a beautiful spot in downtown Orlando that surrounds Lake Eola. The lake itself has a beautiful fountain that lights up at night. There are also swan-shaped paddle boats that you can rent for a romantic experience on the lake.

Shore side, there a walkway around the lake that's popular for long walks at dusk. There's also the Walt Disney Amphitheater that often hosts concerts and the University of Central Florida's Shakespeare Festival. On Sundays, the park is also home to the downtown farmer's market.

Thornton Park

Located near Lake Eola Park is the Thornton Park neighborhood. As recently as a few years ago, this area was rundown and forgotten. However, Thornton Park is going through a renaissance complete with trendy cafés, art galleries, and shops. There are some great places to grab lunch or dinner such as Dexter's Wine Bar or Hue. Most of the restaurants and cafés have outdoor seating so you can enjoy a sunny Orlando day as you drink wine and watch the world go by.

Winter Park Boat Tours

The city of Winter Park, a few minutes from downtown Orlando, features many beautiful homes along several lakes and canals. On the Winter Park Boat Tour you can spend an hour or so cruising along the canals seeing the multi-million dollar homes, each with magnificently landscaped lawns. You'll see the current and former homes of some of the area's most famous residents.