When I was growing up, each school year felt like it dragged on forever! I was always counting down the days until summer. But now as a parent, it’s wild how quickly we move from all the chaotic mornings of trying to get everyone awake, fed, dressed, and to school on time to taking graduation photos and making summer plans. The whirlwind speed that these milestones occur makes me want to take a pause to really savor the moment I’m in. Along with slowing down and reflecting, I want to create unique experiences to celebrate and honor my kid and all their milestones as they evolve into independent adults. The list below features locations to celebrate that might be a little different from your regular routine in order to create a memory for every that stands out compared to the rest of the year.
Preschool
If you like a little more structure, our top choice would be PopStrokes, located in Waterford Chase. This sports bar restaurant has a full menu, a fenced in and shaded playground (this is the real highlight for me), an ice cream bar, and of course 18 holes of putt putt. You can conveniently place orders from your phone while you are roaming the playground or putt putt, which definitely comes in handy when you have a little one who has little patience for waiting.
Our less structured choice would be The Acre Orlando, located in Fairview Shores. The Acre Orlando appropriately advertises themselves as a place to picnic and play. They have large open grounds, a small market for prepackaged picnic goods like fruit and cracker/cheese boards, and a few food trucks for coffee or pizza. The main appeal is that the little ones can roam and explore the grounds, which includes fountains, ponds, playground equipment, gardens. This location is especially great if your little graduate has younger siblings that make eating out at restaurants a little more challenging. Adults can set up inside the barn, outdoors on provided seating, or on picnic blankets. The best day to host your celebration would be on Sundays, when the Arce is open 11am-8pm or in the evenings. Be sure to check their schedule as the venue is also commonly reserved for private parties and weddings.
Elementary School
Graduating from elementary school is often a mix of excitement and apprehension. It’s the first time our children step out of the comfort of their familiar surroundings, establish their own routines, and embrace a world that we aren’t the center of. As parents, we can’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety as we watch them navigate this new chapter, but we’re also filled with pride at how far they’ve come and the bright future that awaits them. Our picks for celebrating elementary graduation are focused on a unique dining experience. For preschool, the food didn’t matter as much, but as elementary graduates, we want to provide choices that were fun, communal, and delicious.
Our first pick would be Colorado Fondue, located in Casselberry. I don’t think I need to elaborate here…who doesn’t dream of an entire meal focused on cheese and chocolate?
Our second pick would be a teppanyaki dining experience (more commonly referred in the US as hibachi) and our favorite is Central Florida based Kobe Steakhouse. The chefs always treat each meal as a special occasion and provide fun entertainment as they cook. Arrive hungry as even the kid’s meal is several courses.
Middle School
Middle school graduation is such a big moment to really acknowledge the transition from childhood to adolescence. Middle school graduation is the graduation I remember the most from my own childhood! It felt so major. I couldn’t stop listening to Semisonic’s “Closing Time” or Third Eye Blind’s “How’s it going to be?” on my discman. It was all very melodramatic. I felt so closely connected to my group of friends and wondered what would happen as we went to the high school we were all zoned for. I was so anxious to finally be in high school and experience everything I had watched in movies for years. It is definitely a time when we are very much in our own heads and starting to want that control over our futures. I remember my favorite graduation dinner memory being lunch at TGI Fridays and ordering lots of apps and desserts with friends and shopping at the mall afterwards. As parents, we of course want to celebrate this transition from childhood to adolescence and let our children know we see and support them as they transition to high schoolers.
Mamas, I don’t have the right recommendations to offer you. Truthfully, I think at this stage, anything a parent recommends is going to sound lame to their teenage ears. I would ask your graduate what they want and embrace whatever that is.
High School
Then comes high school graduation, perhaps the most poignant of all. It’s a true culmination of all our work as parents coupled with our child’s years of hard work being a student of school and life. Our hearts are so proud of the children we have poured into and in awe of the adults they have become is so much dedication and perseverance on both our parts and so much to celebrate in this moment. I hope you celebrate yourself as much as you celebrate your graduate in this moment. This is the time to splurge on the moment, whether that is a nice meal or a family vacation.
When it comes to high school graduation, we looked for a list of places that had created a nice vibe, could accommodate larger groups, and had good quality food that would please a crowd.
One choice would be Enzos on the Lake, located in Longwood. This beautiful location has several dining areas, a vast back garden and pier on the lake offering sunset views, and excellent Italian food.
If your high schooler prefers brunch, there are two restaurants that stand out to me. For American fare, I love Hampton Social, located in Pointe Orlando. The interior is bright, the vibe is upbeat and positive, and the food is equally delicious and beautiful. It definitely feels like a place to celebrate and offers lots of insta-worthy photo opportunities.
For a Spain inspired brunch, I would recommend Cafe Tu Tu Tango, also located in near Pointe Orlando. The vibe is vibrant, artsy, and fun! My favorite aspect is the quality of the food. They offer a brunch that is made up of an extensive menu of small plates that is made to order, served tableside, and bottomless! It’s like a high-end buffet but better!
No matter how your family chooses to celebrate, I hope you are feeling proud of yourselves. Yes, your kids are going to school and doing the work, but you’ve poured hours of energy helping them along the way and both of you deserve to be celebrated.
