Orlando’s College Park Main Street

Orlando is one of many U.S. cities with a College Park neighborhood. In most cases, the name marks the area closest to a college — but in Orlando, it’s because numerous streets are named after colleges. Drive around for a bit and you might even find your own alma mater.

Come hungry to College Park, because it has several eateries you’ll want to try. The Tap Room at Dubsdread is a longtime local favorite thanks to fresh seafood, prime cuts of steak, homemade desserts and more. And golfers, take note: This restaurant is the official clubhouse for Dubsdread Golf Course, a public, 18-hole course that opened in 1924.

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In recent years, College Park has gained even more stellar dining options. Dig into fresh pasta and homemade sauces at Turci Pasta, or enjoy gourmet pies and world-class garlic knots at Pizza Bruno. You can even learn to cook at a local culinary school, Truffles & Trifles, which hosts fun classes perfect for date nights.

Famed author Jack Kerouac started writing The Dharma Bums while living in a College Park cottage from 1957 to 1958 — the same period during which On the Road was published. Today, The Kerouac Project gives a rotating lineup of up-and-coming authors the chance to write and sleep in the same historic home.

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College Park also traditionally hosts several fun cultural events, beginning with April’s Dancing on the Drive. Taking over the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, Edgewater Drive, it features a giant dance floor, food trucks and vendors. November’s JazzFest features several bands, and December’s Holiday on the Drive turns the area into a wintery wonderland. (Please note that College Park’s annual events are subject to changes and cancellations.)

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You can even host events of your own at The Acre Orlando. Or just kick back at Albert Park, complete with a gazebo, picnic tables and other amenities for you to enjoy.

College Park boasts numerous shopping opportunities, too. Local retailers with a wide range of merchandise include Good Crowd, Bijou’s Boutique and Ritzy Rags. You’ll also find much in the way of specialized shopping. For example, Orange Cycle has anything and everything to do with bicycling, while Foundation is a hip music and clothing store. These are just some of the many reasons why visitors and locals alike can’t get enough of College Park — see why for yourself the next time you’re in Orlando.

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