Downtown Orlando -- If you can think of nothing better than a relaxing afternoon of bargain hunting or scouring thrift and antiques shops, check out Antique Row and Ivanhoe Row on North Orange Avenue (stretching from Colonial Dr./Hwy. 50 to Lake Ivanhoe) in downtown Orlando. This collection is a long way from the manufactured fun of Disney. The shops are an interesting assortment of the old, the new, and the unusual. Flo's Attic, 1800 N. Orange Ave. (tel. 407/895-1800), and A.J. Lillun, 1913 N. Orange Ave. (tel. 407/895-6111), sell traditional antiques.
Down the road, a handful of places offer less conventional items. Wildlife Gallery, 1219 N. Orange Ave. (tel. 407/898-4544; www.fredlundwildlife.com), sells pricey, original works of wildlife art, including sculpture. And the Fly Fisherman, 1213 N. Orange Ave. (tel. 407/898-1989; www.flyfishermaninc.com), sells -- no surprise here -- fly-fishing gear. Sometimes you can spot people taking casting lessons in the park across the street.
Most of these downtown shops are open from 9 or 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday; the owners usually run them, so hours can vary. All are spread over 3 miles along Orange Avenue. The heaviest concentration of shops lies between Princeton Street and New Hampshire Avenue, although a few are scattered between New Hampshire and Virginia avenues. The more upscale shops extend a few blocks beyond Virginia. To get there, take I-4 exit 85/Princeton St. and turn right on Orange Avenue. Parking is limited, so stop wherever you find a space along the street.
Additionally, you can shop for fresh produce, plants, baked goods, and crafts every Sunday from 9am to 2:30pm at the downtown Sunday Eola Market. It's located at the intersection of Osceola and East Central. Get more information at www.downtownorlando.com.
International Drive Area -- (Note: Locally, this road is almost always referred to as I-Drive.) Extending 8 or so miles northeast of Disney between Highway 535 and the Florida Turnpike, this busy thoroughfare is one of the most popular tourist districts in the area, in part because it is filled with so many restaurants, shops, hotels, and attractions. From indoor surfing and glow-in-the-dark golf to dozens of themed restaurants and shopping spots, this is the tourist strip in Central Florida. Its main shopping draw is the Orlando Premium Outlets, just off south I-Drive . Another I-Drive shopping spot, Pointe Orlando (tel. 407/248-2838; www.pointeorlandofl.com), features a collection of upscale restaurants, clubs, and specialty shops in an inviting outdoor setting. Thanks to extensive renovations, the completely recreated space now includes winding walkways, shaded courtyards, fountains, and all new lighting. The Square (www.thesquareorlando.com), a $400-million restaurant, retail, and entertainment complex (under construction at the time this book went to press) replaces the Mercado. Specialty shops, restaurants (already signed on are Fogo de Chão, Martini Park, Ra Sushi, and Rock Bottom), and at least one (possibly two) luxury hotels are all part of the package.
Kissimmee -- Skirting the south side of Walt Disney World, Kissimmee centers on U.S. 192/Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, as archetypal of modern American cities as Disney's Main Street is of America's yesteryear. U.S. 192 is lined end to end with budget motels, smaller attractions, and almost every fast-food restaurant known to humankind (though a handful of good eateries can be found here as well). Kissimmee does not offer the fabulous array of shopping options found elsewhere in Orlando. The shopping here is notable for the quantity, not necessarily the quality, but it's a good place to pick up some knickknacks, white elephant gifts, or those seashells I mentioned above.
Winter Park -- Just north of downtown Orlando, Winter Park (tel. 407/644-8281) is the place many of Central Florida's old-money families call home. It began as a haven for Yankees trying to escape the cold. Today its centerpiece is Park Avenue, which has quite a collection of upscale retail shops -- Ann Taylor, Restoration Hardware, Bath & Body Works, Crabtree & Evelyn, and Williams-Sonoma -- along its cobblestone route. No matter which end of Park Avenue you start at, there are more shops than most can survive, but you're bound to find something here you'll not find anywhere else. Park Avenue is also home to a handful of unique restaurants and art galleries. Note: Leave the kids with a sitter if you plan to shop (or dine) here. You'll both be happier for it. To get here, take I-4 exit 87, Fairbanks Avenue/Highway 426, east past U.S. 17/92 to Park Avenue and turn left.
