3 Ways to Experience the Winter Park Chain of Lakes from The Alfond Inn
6/1/2026
Winter Park sits on a sprawling, interconnected Chain of Lakes—a liquid highway of pristine water, towering cypress trees, and historic estates. The Alfond Inn serves as a convenient launchpad for exploring these lakes, offering adventures that cater to both the thrill-seeker and the cultural savant.
Here is how to experience Winter Park from one of its best vantage points: the water.
1. Wake Surfing with Coastal Wake
For those who prefer their lake excursions with a side of adrenaline, the journey begins right at the front door of The Alfond Inn. The Inn partners with Coastal Wake, a premium water sports outfitter that will pick you up directly from the property and whisk you out to the water.
- The Sports: Guests can try their hand at wake surfing and wakeboarding. Wake surfing, in particular, offers a low-impact, high-reward thrill where you surf the boat’s continuous, gentle wake without being strapped into bindings.
- The Experts: You are paired with instructors who were born and raised on these very lakes. They navigate the waters with an innate, back-of-the-hand familiarity, ensuring that both absolute beginners and seasoned riders feelsafe.
- The Gear & Conditions: Operating with top-tier, specialized boats that craft the perfect wave, the team customizes the ride to your skill level. Combined with the glassy, sheltered waters of the Chain of Lakes, it creates an unparalleled playground for premium water sports.
2. Sunset Tours with Coastal Wake
For those who prefer to witness the lakes at their most poetic, Coastal Wake offers private sunset tours that trade high-octane thrills for pure, unhurried indulgence.
- The Ambience: As the midday heat breaks, the Chain of Lakes becomes a sprawling mirror, reflecting the bruised plums, deep ambers, and brilliant oranges of a classic Florida twilight while you drift past historic manor homes.
- The Concierge Provisions: To elevate the journey, the Concierge at The Alfond Inn can work directly with you before you depart to curate a bespoke selection of evening snacks and artisanal bites to take on board.
- The Wine Collection: Guests can pair their sunset views with a bottle of premium champagne or a vintage selected from the hotel’s newly expanded wine collection, allowing you to sip, relax, and toast the evening in true Winter Park fashion.
3. The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
If your ideal afternoon involves less core strength and more storytelling, a centuries-old tradition awaits. The Alfond Inn partners with the historic Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, a delightfully laid-back guided cruise that has been operating since 1938.
An hour on these open-air pontoon boats offers a narrative-rich look into Florida’s Gilded Age:
- The Canals: The true magic of the tour lies in the narrow, man-made canals connecting the lakes. Hand-dug in the 19th century to transport lumber, these channels are so narrow that tree branches drape overhead like a subtropical cathedral.
- The Architecture: You will coast past opulent, multi-million-dollar estates, sprawling mid-century marvels, and pristine lawns belonging to Rollins College.
- Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Among the grand manor homes, the tour points out a particularly beloved piece of Americana: the lakefront house where Fred Rogers (the iconic Mr. Rogers) lived during his time as a student at Rollins College. It is a gentle reminder of the quiet, neighborly charm that still defines the area.
Back to Base: The Alfond Inn
After a day spent cutting through wakes or drifting through history, trade your life vest for a cocktail at the bar, stroll through the hotel's rotating fine art collection, or simply relax by the pool.
Winter Park’s lakes offer a rare juxtaposition: the rush of modern water sports colliding with the preservation of 20th-century history. Whichever speed you choose, you’ll find that sometimes life truly is better on the water.
