Founded by The Walt Disney Company in the mid-1990s, the master-planned community of Celebration, Florida, was modeled after early-20th-century American small towns, with buildings designed by world-renowned architects such as Michael Graves (the post office) and Philip Johnson (town hall).

Today, Celebration has a character all its own — in fact, Forbes Magazine named it one of America’s Prettiest Neighborhoods — with a walkable downtown and a diverse mix of housing options, including condos, townhouses, and grand “estate homes," all situated on pedestrian-friendly streets.

Visitors can learn about Celebration by taking the self-guided architectural walking tour (pick up a map at Town Hall) covering Celebration’s downtown and explaining the stories behind the town’s architecturally interesting buildings, including the original preview center designed by Charles Moore.

The tour passes some of Celebration’s restaurants and cafes. After your walking tour, rent a bicycle and explore Celebration’s miles of scenic trails. Celebration Bike Rental, located behind The Inn at Celebration, Autograph Collection, will rent you a bicycle, hand you a map and a bottle of water, and direct you on an 8- to 10-mile journey along lakeside nature trails, quaint residential streets, and the brick-lined roads of downtown.

The main shopping promenade in Celebration is Market Street, but shops are also located throughout downtown. Shopping options include a dog bakery; clothing boutiques for men, women, and children; and the Market Street Gallery, which offers home décor, jewelry, and a year-round Christmas room. Downtown also offers plenty of places to relax and enjoy the outdoors, including the tree-shaded Market Square Park, with its water fountain surrounded by benches.

One of the most scenic spots in Celebration is the Lakeside Promenade Fountain overlooking Lake Rianhard. Surrounded by palm trees and benches, the fountain is interactive, so you'll often find kids splashing and playing in its three rings of water jets. Some of Celebration’s downtown structures were designed to encourage people to congregate. An example is a Philip Johnson-designed red brick building that previously served as a town hall and welcome center. Its “forest” of white columns and sloping metal roof creates covered “porches.”