A natural playground! We couldn't get enough of the huge trees, nature-based playground, and…read moreexpansive trails. It was the perfect place to explore for kids and adults alike! It's dog-friendly, so we can't wait to return with our leashed pups! We stumbled upon the old country club building and other structures, and it was fun learning the history behind the area. Can't wait to return! Note: plenty of parking, but police was waiting by the gate when we left 15 minutes to close, so be mindful of open hours!

One of the cutest playgrounds around! The entire area is shaded by trees, giving it this true…read morewoodsy, outdoorsy vibe. The playground has so much to do for all ages. The area is clean and very well-maintained. I love that everything is made of wood so nothing gets overly hot to the touch. My son easily spent two hours here without getting bored.

Truly my favorite nature preserve. The boardwalk makes for nice, safe exploring with a view of the…read morelake at the end. I just discovered the more woodsy trail and couldn't believe how much there was to explore! There is a row of rocking chairs on the back that look over the woodsy area. I could spend all day here.

We went to the preserve to see the firefly's. It is really a nice place to walk around and there is…read morea lot of people that work there to help you along. We walked out to the pier and saw the most beautiful sunset over the water. It was a little windy the afternoon we went so the fire flies were not out at the pier. As we were asking back we saw a lot of them in the woods. They were beautiful. This preserve has a lot of different events from 5k walks to live music.

We love this hidden jewel for boating and jet skiing. I like the fact that this park is clean and…read morehas a beautiful beach to pull your boat/jet ski up to and a large sandy area for swimming. There is a sidewalk, picnic tables, a large grass parking area for trailers, and a wide grassy bank for setting up chairs, umbrellas, etc. Another BIG plus: bathrooms! And they flush!! The lake is not as large as some but there are usually less people than at many other Central Florida ski lakes so it makes it nice. It is great for skiing but you can also find a quiet spot for fishing because there is a small canal leading to another even less busy lake. They do have a fishing pier too. They just finished a renovation on the ramp (a double) so it is even nicer than before. The people who use the lake are often times more courteous than at many other, more popular lakes.

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for…read moreswimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;)

Great service, selection and value. Provides everything you need to have a great day of fishing.read more

Service is excellent spoke with Todd got a ton of information. Store is well stocked. Prices are…read morevery reasonable. Ima coming back soon!

A hidden gem in Florida. Looking for a great affordable day out in the lake look no further then…read moreButlers boat rental. The owner received us with boat in the water, instructions, and briefly gave us layout of the lakes. After four hours of fun in the water we arrive back and there he was waiting with boat trailer in water. Highly recommend.

Great time and good boat. We went on the big pontoon boat for several hours. Very easy to schedule…read morewith Daryl. Super guy and right on time. Great fun instead of Chicago winter!!!

This park gives the opportunity for a wonderful sunset…read more They have plenty of parking areas, and it seems that it has a weeding venue inside. They area is quiet and you can see manyphoto session going around from time to time.

This was a nice park to watch the sunset at. I can't remember the last time I've had a clearer view…read moreof the sunset actually. Beware there are lots of cobwebs and spiders on the pier. There's lots of wildlife in general. The birds here are incredible, there's so many different kinds and all so colorful!

This is probably Apopka' best park - there's a large, modern, shaded, fenced playv area with things…read morefor younger and older kids. There's a lake with a dock, and plenty of green space and covered pavilion areas. There is also another park space across the street with another kid's play area. That one is an oldet style, but still nice and well-kept. There are tons of pavilions and grilling areas with nearby parking. You can really have your own space here. Overall, very nice park with all the bells and whistles.

My son and I came across this beautiful little gem of a park while looking through the map on the…read morelake Apopka wildlife Drive pamphlet. We decided to check it out. We were not disappointed! Boy, did we not expect to see what we saw! Peacocks! Just living their lives amongst this beautiful serene park. Just make sure to respect the wildlife here, as well as anywhere else. I did not approach the peacocks, I waited for the peacocks to approach me at a safe distance. This park is quiet, beautiful, relaxing, and fully equipped with playground equipment for all ages. It also has a volleyball court and nice pavilions that you can rent out and barbecue at. There are even campgrounds out here on the property. There are so many things that you can do here in this beautiful little oasis of a place. Come take advantage of all that you can see and do! Take my word for it. You will not be disappointed.