Celebration has to be one of my most favourite places to visit when I am staying at the villa. Every time we go to Florida, Celebration calls to me: I love to walk down Market Street, from the Post Office, towards the lake, browsing in the shop windows, or perhaps going into one or two of them, before turning left at Café d’Antonio and continuing round to Kilwin’s, the ice cream shop via the bookshop. The bookshop is small, but elegant and inviting. A slow browse in there is a must for me. I move on to Kilwin’s now and there I spend a happy few minutes looking at the mouth-watering handmade chocolates, reading all the names of the huge choice of ice creams, and tasting a few of them of course, before making my selection and leaving the shop.
I cross the road and go towards the right where there are big wooden rocking chairs by the side of the lake. Sitting on those rocking chairs, under the shade of one of the large umbrellas, ice cream in hand, just watching the world going by is one of life’s simple pleasures. Last time I was there, a small alligator was sunning itself on the steps down to the lake. Someone startled it, and it moved off silently, into the water.
After finishing my ice cream, it’s time for a slow meander round the lake. I always walk in a clockwise direction. First of all I pass the water jets which come out of the pavement at seemingly random moments and which children love to play in. Benches have been thoughtfully provided so that parents can watch in safety while their children squeal and shriek and try to dodge the jets.
Keeping the lake on my right, I make my way around and after a few minutes I am on the other side of the lake from the rocking chairs. Just beyond this point there is a path on the left which takes you through the dense undergrowth to another lake. Following the path round that lake, brings you to a third lake. Each lake has opportunities for spotting birds and small animals and there are helpful notice boards displayed near the paths to help you identify what you see.
Going back to the first lake, the main one, I continue the path round and finally come to Celebration Hotel. From there, the walk takes me back to the rocking chairs, via Starbucks to pick up a Frappuccino, or perhaps I might stop off at the Market Street Café for a drink, or snack.
A slow wander back up Market Street to the car finishes off a lovely afternoon outing for me, which I would happily repeat every day!
I cross the road and go towards the right where there are big wooden rocking chairs by the side of the lake. Sitting on those rocking chairs, under the shade of one of the large umbrellas, ice cream in hand, just watching the world going by is one of life’s simple pleasures. Last time I was there, a small alligator was sunning itself on the steps down to the lake. Someone startled it, and it moved off silently, into the water.
After finishing my ice cream, it’s time for a slow meander round the lake. I always walk in a clockwise direction. First of all I pass the water jets which come out of the pavement at seemingly random moments and which children love to play in. Benches have been thoughtfully provided so that parents can watch in safety while their children squeal and shriek and try to dodge the jets.
Keeping the lake on my right, I make my way around and after a few minutes I am on the other side of the lake from the rocking chairs. Just beyond this point there is a path on the left which takes you through the dense undergrowth to another lake. Following the path round that lake, brings you to a third lake. Each lake has opportunities for spotting birds and small animals and there are helpful notice boards displayed near the paths to help you identify what you see.
Going back to the first lake, the main one, I continue the path round and finally come to Celebration Hotel. From there, the walk takes me back to the rocking chairs, via Starbucks to pick up a Frappuccino, or perhaps I might stop off at the Market Street Café for a drink, or snack.
A slow wander back up Market Street to the car finishes off a lovely afternoon outing for me, which I would happily repeat every day!