With ages ranging from 8 to — well, my dad doesn’t want everyone to know how old he is, but he is a grandpa, after all — our multigenerational trip to Disney World often required rearranging plans to make sure everyone in the group got their needs met.
The kids wanted to hit the parks hard, but the grandparents didn’t — they were more interested in something water-oriented, but certainly not a water park. And the adults knew that a day where we could get away from noise and pricey souvenirs would be good for everyone.
The Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park, Fla., a 15-minute drive from Disney World, turned out to be just the thing.
For an hour, captain Alan Woods navigated a pontoon boat that seated about 15 through the lush, foliage- lined canals between Lake Osceola, Lake Virginia and Lake Maitland, sharing tidbits about the people who once owned or still live in the surrounding mansions — the late Fred “Mister” Rogers, former Bulls and Lakers player Horace Grant — that astound with their size and landscaping.
“Horace Grant?” said my nephew Nickolas Palmer. “A basketball player? Cool.” With all the breeze, Woods’ goofy jokes and the impressive homes — as well as a stop to look at the enviable campus of Rollins College from the water — there was enough to keep all ages entertained. The folks running the operation couldn’t have been nicer, one of those deals where it’s more about you than them.
“It was wonderful when I came last time, so I brought Roger to see,” said Betsy Nungesser of Tampa, who sat in front of us with her friend Roger Luce of Orlando. “It’s just so relaxing and pretty.”
Kyle Wagner
The Details
Scenic Boat Tour, 312 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, Fla., 407-644-4056, scenicboattours . Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily; tours depart on the hour. Cost: $12 adults; $6 ages 2-11; under 2 free. Cash or check only. Reservations recommended. Tip: Bring sunscreen, water and a hat if you burn easily. The pontoon boats don’t have tops.
