The Other Side of Orlando

Beneath Orlando’s frenzied go-go-go attractions, botanical gardens and aquatic activities offer a welcome respite. In addition to cultural pursuits and lakefront endeavors scattered throughout the city, Orlando is rooted in nature, thanks to a little help from world-class horticulturalists.

A 50-acre botanical sanctuary, Harry P. Leu Gardens and the historical home were gifts to the City of Orlando in 1961 from Mr. Harry P. Leu and his wife, Mary Jane. In donating them, the Leu family created a haven for temperate and tropical plants including palms, cycads, azaleas, vines, bromeliads, philodendrons, roses and one of the largest camellia collections in the United States. Under the umbrella of camphor trees, elms and oaks, the Leu Gardens is the polar opposite of theme park frenzy and noise. The property includes a variety of named gardens (the Rose Garden and Butterfly Garden, for example), all of which provide ample places to reflect within a two-hour or so visit.

To walk through Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens is to indulge in the artistry of a living museum that dates back to 1949. The historic gardens, home and studio reflect a great man who created many of these works of art after surviving a debilitating stroke which left him partially paralyzed. Polasek’s genius gently shines through in his historical, religious and mythological sculptures.

With no shortage of bodies of water, Orlando boasts the Winter Park Chain of Lakes — Lake Nina, Lake Maitland, Lake Mizell, Lake Osceola, Lake Minnehaha and Lake Virginia. This makes Orlando prime real estate for viewing wading bird population and migratory avian species.

Perhaps the most outstanding opportunity to view such waterfowl is in a place that combines both botanicals and aquatic life: Mead Botanical Garden. Located along stretches of Howell Creek, this lush Winter Park gem was made for bird lovers, complete with its own birding guide assembled by the Orange Audubon Society. Do not forget the binoculars, especially since you’re likely to catch a glimpse of the wise barred owl, the stone-cold killer Cooper’s hawk, or even the extraordinary red-headed woodpecker. Mead Botanical Garden is also where to look for the great blue heron, great egret, white ibis, anhinga and illusive green heron. Woodpeckers agree this is the place to be, so much so that nearly all of Florida’s eight resident and migratory woodpecker species have made pitstops in Mead Garden.

As for Orlando’s arts scene, rest assured that it is thriving — and not just on the walls of museums. It’s a misconception that theatergoers must travel to New York or Los Angeles for the best shows and concerts. The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is one of Orlando’s newest venues for Broadway productions, live music, comedy acts and touring performances. Orlando’s answer to Lincoln Center, it has been named among several of the best performing arts attractions by travelers worldwide. The fascinating backstory of this theatrical hub and its architecture is worth the behind-the-scenes tours offered by its staff.

Take Steinmetz Hall, for example. It is among the last frontiers of acoustically perfect halls and at a whopping 700,000 square feet, was designed to achieve an N1 sound rating, otherwise known as the lowest level at which humans can detect sound. The venue is encased in an exterior concrete frame with nearly 500 18-inch steel and rubber isolation pads between the frame and theater to absorb shock and keep out excess ambient noise. It also transforms in shape, seating and acoustics to mold to varying performances, thanks to a movable 210-ton shell from front to back along steel train tracks. Needless to say, if you can catch only one performance while in Orlando, make it at Steinmetz Hall.

Opposite of the ultra-modern Steinmetz Hall experience, the Bob Carr Theater opened in 1927 as the Orlando Municipal Auditorium, hosting the likes of Elvis Presley and Andy Griffith — the venue was later renamed in honor of Bob Carr (mayor of Orlando from 1956 to 1967). The intimate Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater features a ceiling of 32 vibrant abstract pieces by artist Tom McGrath, all set against the backdrop of an aluminum balcony to reflect hundreds of miniature white lights, making it an ideal place to hear live jazz and Americana.

In artful Orlando, museums also take center stage. In some cases, visual art landmarks are located within a short walk of performing arts venues, such as in the case of Loch Haven Park, home of the Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Science Center, Orlando Repertory Theatre and Orlando Shakespeare Theater.

Since its inception in 1924, the Orlando Museum of Art has averaged more than a dozen annual exhibitions. In a favorite collection, the Art of the Ancient Americas showcases work from nearly 40 cultures — from the American Southwest to the Southern Andes Mountains in Peru. There are more than 900 pieces of art in this assemblage including beautiful pottery, carved jade and stone, intricately worked gold and silver, and woven textiles. Other museum compilations include the stunning American Art Collection from the Colonial period to the 1960s and the Contemporary Art Collection from post-World War II to present day.

Of special significance, the Maitland Art Center is both a historic landmark studio and home to works of art by founder André Smith who lived from 1880 to 1959. His collection includes hundreds of drawings, prints and paintings, plus sculptures and materials that give visitors a glimpse into his life. Literary minds are drawn here to view the original book collection that also belonged to Smith, who acquired what would become a treasured gathering of many rare titles. An intoxicating blend of emotion and “Mayan Revival” architecture, Smith’s former research studio is encased in concrete sculptures, many of which were designed and hand-carved by him. Save time while there to walk through the Telephone Museum to see a unique collection that belonged to the Galloway family, including a working switching station, PBX boards and telephones.