Nestled on the shores of Lake Maitland, Kraft Azalea Garden is one of the most peaceful and…read morebeautiful spots in Central Florida. From the moment you walk in, you're surrounded by towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, creating a calm, almost magical atmosphere. The lakefront views are absolutely stunning, especially around sunset when the light reflects off the water--it's the perfect place to relax, take photos, or just unwind. The historic Exedra monument adds a unique touch and makes for a great backdrop. What really stands out is how quiet and serene it feels, even though it's so close to everything in Winter Park. Whether you're going for a peaceful walk, a picnic, or just some time to clear your mind, this hidden gem delivers every time

Excellent park with easy parking. Take deep breaths of fresh air, and enjoy the breeze. Sit on a…read morebench. No restrooms that I found, but Park Avenue is nearby, drive over. Great place to find peace.

If I had turned around to do a 360 from the view in front of me of the incredibly peaceful Lake Ola…read more(beach) and taken a picture, you would have been able to see a gorgeous Victorian mansion that just so happened to be sitting directly on Lake Ola Beach. I thought better of taking a picture to protect the privacy of the residents of this fabulous-looking Victorian home, complete with wraparound porch and the Victorian look inspired by lacy, delicate, scalloped trim. I have always had a penchant for this type of architectural ornamentation. I found myself wondering if the inside is as ornate, then quickly turned my attention back to this peaceful lake. Besides Lake Ola Drive being a beautiful alternate route not only dotted with stately mansions, there are other good things you will see along the way on this drive: Farm Stands: There are several, and a couple of them were large enough to have a great selection of fruits and vegetables, as well as some landscaping plants and both potted and loose flowers. I didn't have time on this particular Sunday, but next time I'll be stopping to see what interests me. Lemon Groves: The lemons are big and are at their prime this time of year and are ready to be picked and enjoyed. The biggest harvest comes at this time in Florida. If you're ever in the area of Tangerine, Florida, and traversing on State Route 441 near Orange Blossom Trail, take the turnoff to Lake Ola Drive to see this beautiful area. I spent about ten minutes on Lake Ola Drive, then pressed forward to my destination. On another visit, I'll plan accordingly to stop at a few of the farm stands. *****FIVE FABULOUS STARS!!!!!*****

Hidden gem! We loved swimming and my boys enjoyed climbing the palm tree…read more We did a short trail and saw plants and bugs! We had a picnic at a table but moved to the sun because the boys were cold.

One of my favorite springs. All the wildlife, the 72 degree year round water. Feels so good on a…read morehot summer. Only bad thing is that they charge $15 a person. Used to be $5 a person. During the busy season you have to make reservations

Lake Wauburg is wonderful. I have been here on many occasions for fun and some professional…read moredevelopment and the staff and students here are so great. As a UF graduate student, all you need to do is show your Gator-1 card and you and 4 friends get into the park for free. There is something for absolutely everyone to get involved in. If you are looking for a day on the lake, you can do that with canoeing, kayaking, sailing or just swimming. If you want to be extra safe doing these activities they have life vests and lifeguards working to help you out. If you are looking for some adventure, then try the high ropes course or the rock climbing wall. Both of these have different hours, but you can go when they have those times and go on an adventure in the trees with these courses. My office last year went on a professional development, trust exercise last year and it was great. We all got to work together and create a wonderful experience with our teammates. We did the low ground course and learned to work together better. If you are just looking for a great picnic spot, this is the place for you. It has tons of picnic tables and charcoal grills, so you can your friends can use these. Overall a great place to spend the day on the water or just relaxing in a great space! I highly recommend this!

Lake Wauburg is a cool lake that sits just south of Paynes Prairie and is located in Alachua…read moreCounty, Florida. It is a pleasant enough lake and while not big, it is a nice place to chill for a bit.

If someone in Lakeland tells you they are going to walk/ run/ rollerblade/ bike/ set up a hammock…read moreat "the lake", there's 0% chance they are talking about anywhere other than Hollingsworth! (okay, so maybe more like 2%, but you get what I'm saying). Hollingsworth is the lake. It's the place to go anytime you need to get out, need something to do, need to exercise or see some nature or are a bored college student. (especially the college student thing) It's a fantastic lake, and easily one of the largest in Lakeland. There's a lovely walking and running path that wraps around the lake, that adds up to being just shy of 3 miles total. It takes half an hour at a slow jog to get around the lake, or 45-60 minutes to walk. If you watch closely enough, you can spot a few gators, ducks, cranes, egrets, and even the occasional turtle or otter hanging out at Hollingsworth. It's not just a Lakeland local spot for people, it's the animals' choice too! Not to mention the walking paths also have markers indicating how far you've gone, at quarter mile intervals. So if you go here deciding you'll torture yourself with a run, you know how long you've lit your body on fire and how much longer you need to reach full battery drainage. It's really a lovely attribute. There is free parking and a decent amount of spots, but in the evenings it fills up quickly and many will park on the grass right along the path. Brb, I'm gonna go walk the lake!

Came to visit this place with my family and enjoyed the walk very much. I like the fact that the…read morepark offers different types of activities you can do with the family or on your own. If you like the outdoors and like nature walking, this could be a place for you. Come visit this place if you happen to be in Lakeland.

Jimmy Weaver Lake is a small lake located in Larry L. Schultz Park in Rockledge, Florida. While…read moresmall, I enjoyed walking on the walking path around the lake. This is a nice enough place to unwind for a bit.

Overall, this is a pleasant park in Lakeland, Florida. It has a welcoming ambiance and there are…read morequite a few restaurants around it. If you are in the area, I would definitely recommend checking this park out.

The lake (or really nice giant pond) is pretty. It is the backdrop for Hollis Gardens and is easy…read moreto walk around. There are several types of birds and ducks. We saw several nests while taking pictures. The lake has steps but there was so much trash and debris in and around the water that I would not want to sit there. There is an art museum, fire department, the Joinery (with restaurants and bathrooms) and stores nearby. Parking is free.

If you have an opportunity to go out on lake tarpon, it's beautiful and serene! The boat ride we…read moretook was amazing and serene! The breeze was incredible!

I just love this place (University Gardens lake overlook) for its serenity, and for the people you…read moremeet! I have met people from: Italy, Romania, Brazil, Mexico, Taiwan, Germany, and India. This just shows that this place appeals to humanity, and attracts everyone!! Full disclosure: I am a polyglot, so I was able to speak to each of the above-mentioned people in their native languages, save India. I only speak a little Mandarin and Romanian.

Located on the UF campus, this lake across from the Bat Houses and next to the Baughman Center,…read morethis lake is a popular spot to study, picnic, or watch for alligators,birds, or turtles. Yes alligators, so if you bring a picnic, watch your surroundings and don't leave anything unattended. There are a couple boardwalks around the lake for better viewing. Area is mostly very tranquil even with Museum Rd running right near it. Worth a pop by if you are in the area and want to wildlife watch, relax, or even recharge. If you can time it right, visit the Baughman Center and then stay for sunset at the Bat Houses across the street, you won't be sorry.