Winter Park 'Lakeside': Orlando's Little Europe

• Lovely Lake House!

  Lovely Lake House!

  • Guest Erica
  • Date of stay 07/19/12
  • Review Submitted 07/25/12
  We rented this house for my daughters sweet sixteen birthday let me just say all the kids said they would rather go there than any amusement park. They had the time of their lives tubing. Our captian was awesome! The only time we left was to go Discovery Cove which was a short 20 min drive oh and Publix. The location is so perfect and so peacful! The front porch i could live on. We are looking for a date to go back stayed 5 days and we were not ready to leave. Owner's were very easy to deal with and had everything we needed there. Thank you so much

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

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• Beautiful, welcoming home

  Beautiful, welcoming home

  • Guest Lynda
  • Date of stay 05/25/12
  • Review Submitted 05/28/12
  This is a beautiful, inviting home. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the owner, Bonnie, who welcomed us into her home and showed us around. She spoke proudly of the town (Winter Park) and recommended several restaurants. The home, like its owner, exuded warmth and offered every amenity. Though we didn't cook any meals, we did host an afternoon birthday party for a 1 year old relative. The house has a huge gathering area which was ideal for not only the party but our family, which enjoyed morning coffee and late night snacking and board games in the kitchen, dining, sitting area. We would definitely recommend this home and would like to return when in the Winter Park, Orlando area. We enjoyed eating at the restaurants in Winter Park and marveled at the Tiffany collection at the Morse Museum. The kids also visited Islands of Adventure. Thank you John and Bonnie for opening your home to travelers.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

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• Divine

  Divine

  • Guest Julianna C.
  • Date of stay 02/02/12
  • Review Submitted 05/01/12
  The house is refined, comfortable, elegant. Enormous slate-tiled front porch looks out over the sloped front lawn and peaceful lake. A cook's kitchen, but with so many tasty restaurants so near, I'm afraid we only made breakfasts. Winter Park has an adorable downtown walking area for shops, bars, and restaurants. A fabulous getaway from all the crazy congestion of the amusement parks and highways. The owners were so helpful, responsive, and welcoming. We loved our stay.

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• A Little Bit of Heaven

  A Little Bit of Heaven

  • Guest Tina P.
  • Date of stay 02/17/12
  • Review Submitted 02/28/12
  With our son's wedding in Winter Park, my husband and I were looking for a place to stay and host an informal "Meet and Greet" to bond two families, one from Texas, the other from Philadelphia. We could not ask for a more perfect setting and location than Shannon Serene. The home provided us with a warm, relaxing space for our immediate family, yet room to hold an event for 45 extended family. Our family and guest were amazed by the comfortable elegance of the home. We had wonderful evenings of music with use of the piano in the great room, our guitars played and voices sang out, what a celebration! The bride and groom even decided to have the "before" photos taken lakeside. We began each day sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee, watching the herons and ducks come and go, thinking this is absolutely a little bit of Heaven! John and Bonnie thank you for sharing your home and helping us make such wonderful, lasting memories!

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• Absolute Best Home in Winter Park...this is the real deal!

  Absolute Best Home in Winter Park...this is the real deal!

  • Guest Susan
  • Date of stay 01/02/12
  • Review Submitted 01/17/12
  We travel to Florida with frequency--we prefer to stay in homes in Winter Park (Park Ave. is the antidote to plastic, asphalt, and Micky Mouse!). Shannon is the 'creme de la creme' of any & all homes available in Winter Park (or Central Florida). If you rent homes with frequency, you will get surprised--most often with some disappointment in expectations. And then you find Shannon...it is everything you expected and more... more beautiful, more immaculate, more gracious than the photos and descriptions suggest. It is the "real deal"--a "best buy" in Orlando. Lake Killarney is pristine-- the lakeviews are stunning. Though the home is only 5 mins to the shops of Park Ave. & 20 mins to bustling Disney, sitting in a rocker on the porch overlooking blue herons on the peaceful lake...one feels as if you were a thousand miles from it all. And while this is a large & spacious home, it has a warm, comfortable but elegant ambience--it is a place that says "come in and be family". Our family absolutely did not want to leave. Believe me, you don't want to stay anywhere else.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

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• Wedding Central

  Wedding Central

  • Guest L Merc
  • Date of stay 12/08/11
  • Review Submitted 12/19/11
  Our family wanted a place to use as "home-base" for our son's wedding. We knew a hotel would not provide the atmosphere we wanted for this special event. The Mitchell's home was PERFECT!. The open spaces made it easy for family to be close...but not hovering. We have 2 elderly aunts that traveled with us, and this was the perfect arrangement for them. John, Bonnie, and family did an outstanding job designing and decorating this special home. Everyone who entered wanted to know if they could stay. From pictures of the groom and groomsmen in front of the piano, to casting a line off the dock (for fish and therapy) this home offered everything we could have asked for, and more!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

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• Magical Wedding at Shannon Serene!

  Magical Wedding at Shannon Serene!

  • Guest Levy
  • Date of stay 11/07/11
  • Review Submitted 12/16/11
  Amazing! I stayed at this house “palace” for the week of my wedding (11/07/11-11/13/2011) and used the location as my wedding venue and reception. I could not have picked a better place; well I would have to thank my stepmom for finding it on VBRO. When I came down to WP walk the property, I was amazed how beautiful everything was. Bonnie & John were amazing in this whole process and we kept in contact frequently and were easy to work with and so very nice. I had my wedding ceremony on the late, and had the reception under a tent in the front yard. ALL my guests LOVED this house, and the location. We were so interested in the house, we saw a photo of what the house used to look like, and we wanted to know more. During the week I emailed John and if he would share the history, with in the hour he emailed me back and I read it out loud to my family members. Memories like this are the best, and I really want to thank John, Bonnie and there family friend Kelsey for everything they did for me and my family for the week we stayed at their rental. My father loved the library/TV room; of all the hustle & bustle of the wedding, we found him relaxing in the library reading. The master bedroom was to die for, one of the largest bathrooms I’ve ever seen. I was so grateful that my family from NY, NC & GA were able to share this wonderful experience with me. Each room had its own little touch and was decorated beautifully. The day after my wedding, my family and I went to Magic Kingdom; which was only 20mins away from the house. It was perfect. Bonnie & John had a book with activities and restaurants to go to in the area. For my rehearsal dinner we went to Hillstone, which was just across the lake, the food and service was amazing. My cousins loved playing basketball in the drive way as well. My husband and I look forward to coming back in the future, to spend our anniversaries at Shannon Serene. Thank you again to John & Bonnie for everything!! Amazing wedding location and great family reunion! THANK YOU!!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway.

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• Amazing inside and out

  Amazing inside and out

  • Guest Nina
  • Date of stay 11/18/10
  • Review Submitted 12/02/10
  From the moment I saw the VRBO listing I was very excited. This house was exactly what I was looking for to have my family to be together for my son's wedding weekend and where we could host the rehearsal dinner. The hands on owners couldn't have been more helpful. Their willingness to allow us to host a dinner for more than 60 people was just the begining. Bonnie offered whatever she had available, extra folding tables, tiki torches they even put out flood lights when I was concerned about having enough lighting. Our guests were amazed and many said "this could have been the wedding". We were all thrilled. The photos do not do this house justice. I couldn't believe my eyes, this house is fantastic. The feeling is relaxed elegance. I felt very pampered by the beautiful master suite. Although the best for me was waking up,making coffee and then sit on the front porch to watch the sunrise and relax. This house has more than you would ever expect. Count yourself lucky if you decide to stay at Shannon. I can't wait to go back.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

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• Outstanding

  Outstanding

  • Guest Bill
  • Date of stay 10/28/10
  • Review Submitted 11/23/10
  We could not have landed a more perfect place or location in which to stay for our activities in and near Winter Park. The home surpassed our expectations in every way. The photos are good but it's even more beautiful in person. Meticulous would describe the rental! The rocking chair front porch overlooking the lake was one in a million. The owner(s) were absolutely accommodating and beyond prepared for our arrival. We had been given all information we needed and answers to our questions either before or during our stay. We cannot say enough other than don't miss this place if your travels bring you to the Orlando area!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

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• Perfect family weekend!!

  Perfect family weekend!!

  • Guest PatrickJ
  • Date of stay 06/11/10
  • Review Submitted 06/14/10
  We just returned home from staying at this VRBO property. Our daughter was playing in a tennis tournament nearby and we wanted to have the feeling of home instead of a hotel room. One word...WOW! The home is absolutely beautiful and the location is perfect! The photos with the listing are just a sample of the incredible decor and architectural details in the home. After each morning match, we couldn't wait to get back to enjoy all of the fun the location offered. Our family had a great time fishing, playing the piano and enjoying board games together. And my husband found a home away from home watching World Cup soccer on the flatscreen in the library! And as they say in real estate, location, location, location! The location was perfect. We love Winter Park and enjoyed an afternoon in the Park Avenue area. With the home located near the interstate, we drove to the tournament in 15 minutes, Millenia Mall in 20 minutes and Universal Studios in 30 minutes. It's a convenient location. The owners went the extra mile to ensure we had a wonderful stay by providing great recommendations for the area and full amenties were at our disposal. They had compiled a list of restaurants in advance so we could make reservations. Dinner at Houston's at sunset was spectacular! We would highly recommend this property to friends, family or anyone looking to stay in the Orlando-area. We definitely plan to rent again!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+.

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STANDARD (low) Season:
$550/weekday night, $650/weekend night, $3,950/week, $13,950 month 
PEAK Season (Spring Break, Peak Seasons, Seasonal Holidays/Special Events):
$690/weekday night, $790/weekend night, $4,950/week, $19,250 month(excl.Christmas)
CHRISTMAS/New Years (Dec 14 - Jan 5):
$900/weekday night, $995/weekend night, $6,400/week

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.