I was born in Orlando in 1961, so Lake Eola has been a part of my entire life. I rarely make it…read moredown here anymore, but I had an appointment near here and as I parked, I look at the park and the lake and made sure that I would spent some time after the meeting, and I am glad that I did. It is so beautiful here, a sanctuary in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Orlando. I walked around the lake, people watching, enjoying the foliage, the trees, the wildlife, so serene and tranquil. If I lived downtown, I would be here every day. I highly recommend taking a trip here and getting away from the city for a few minutes- you will be glad you did.

I went to this park for the corporate 5k event. It is a nice park to walk around with the big lake…read morein the center and the famous fountain. At night it is nicely lit with many colors and I believe every hour they have a music and fountain show. There is an amphitheatre, and there were musicians playing for the event. There are a lot of ducks and swans, which can dirty the place because of the feathers and poop. You used to be allowed to feed them food from a small stand, but due to health concerns, it's now banned. There is a playground, but it's for kids only. There are 2 bathrooms area, but it can get dirty occasionally. There are a couple restaurants to enjoy near the park too. A nice park to have a nice walk, job, and exercise. Overall: B

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.

This is one of the most beautiful places in Florida! Highly recommend visiting at least once. Being…read morelocal, I've visited a number of times. A few things knock the stars down: - The amount of rules/ regulations is a downside. There are more than any other river we've visited in Florida. It's nerve wracking to make sure you're following every new rule. - Launching and landing at the dock is stressful. It feels rushed and disorganized. - The bathroom situation is DIRE. They have a few porta potties but they're pretty gross. - I've found some of the staff intimidating/ borderline rude. There are a lot of newbies to kayaking/ paddleboarding so patience is a virtue at busy times! It's a hard paddle up stream and coming back it can be easy to lose control around the corners. There are a few spots to be cautious of other paddlers. With that said, it's really stunning. They keep the area very clean and there are a lot of spots to pull off to the side to enjoy the view. I've never done a guided tour, but I've heard they're really well done!

If you're visiting Orlando, I highly recommend this as one of your stops. A historical landmark of…read morethe city. I found out the Leu family donated their family land hoping to share its beauty. Unique gardens with plenty of shade. Great for all ages, including toddlers. It is fenced in with lots of areas to picnic, if that's your thing! There's a small cafe for coffee, ice cream and a few snacks. On certain days they have infant and toddler reading time (20minutes long). The first Monday of each month is free entry however there are no guided tours. Check their website for more info!

This garden is huge with wide paths through all the gardens with optional dirt paths. Most paths…read moreare naturally shaded by the tall mature live oak, cypress, crepe myrtle and banyan trees. If you love nature, you are in for a special treat as this garden has hundreds of plants and flowers all very clearly labeled. Sprinkled throughout the paths are funky bird houses and information on the birds there which sing non-stop in the background which is mesmerizing to sit on a bench by the brook and listen to birds and water, like I said, a special treat. I located a new bird to me, the gila woodpecker! The house museum tour is full of local Florida history and the house is beautiful with many interesting details like the children's back stairs and the bathrooms have original tiles and fixtures! The bathrooms are accessible, clean and well stocked with supplies. The map gives a clear idea of where you want to wander to and where you might want to stop to take in nature. One of my favorite places with sculpture added to the gardens along with specialized gardens for cocktail ingredients, salsa garden, chutney garden and tea garden! Fun! Many fruits and herbs as well. A must see if you love the outdoors, birds, plants, flowers, gardening or the peace that nature brings. A must see!!!!

Cady Way Trail is picturesque and beautiful. The Advent Health Run 4 Love run/walk takes us through…read moreneighborhoods, Cady Way Trail and back to Ward Park/Showalter Field. Signs of encouragement and amusement were placed along the Cady Way Trial. The trail provides some scenic views of nature and has enough space for walkers, runners, pets and bicyclists alike.

My daughter recently showed me this beautiful trail near her house in Winter Park. Cady Way Trail,…read moreis a 6.5 mile stretch constructed along the abandoned roadbed of the East Florida & Atlantic Railroad and which ran to the former Naval Training Center Orlando. The trail is jointly owned by the Orlando Department of Families, Parks and Recreation and by Orange County Parks and Recreation. I was able to pick up the Cady Way Trail in Winter Park near Cady Way Park and take it down to Lake Baldwin. The paved Cady Way Trail is not open to motorized vehicles making it safe from cars although there was a famous murder of two Winter Park high school students that took place on the trail in 2012. Cady Way Trail travels through the Audubon Park. Baldwin Park, Colonial Town Center, and Coytown neighborhoods of Orlando. Cady Way Trail is actually part of a larger regional trail. From the trail you can connect to the 2.5 mile trail loop that lops around Lake Baldwin as I did or to another 1.5 mile trail around the west side of Lake Susannah. The shady trail is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors by walking, running, and biking.

Loved the experience - we went on a whim. Weather tried to be temperamental which impacted the…read moreexperiences fully but stand up company and our all worth it!

This was a lot of fun, and completely on a whim! We were visiting my daughter and new grandson and…read moredecided to stay at a nearby resort. Looking for some activities, this came up in our search, so we made an afternoon of it. First off, the captain and crew was comical and they made the experience that much more memorable. We seen turtles, dolphins, and a few manatees! On top of that, we debarked on a small island along our tour, got out, stretched the legs, and took in some amazing views. The Mangroves were a sight to be seen. I can just imagine all the sea creature they give habitat to. We also seen some amazing boats, as well as, some interesting... uh... placement of sailboats. Great history of the local storms and the havoc they wreaked! Thank you for the fun experience for the Familia!! As always, enjoy and Happy sailing!

We're always looking for new parks to take my son to play on the weekends and we recently visited…read moreDelaney Park for the first time. It's nestled in a little historic neighborhood just south of downtown, and we really enjoyed it. I appreciate that they have a dedicated smaller playground for younger kids ages 2-5 as well as one for older kids ages 5-12. The gated playground area was very toddler friendly and not too crowded on a Sunday afternoon. My son loves the swings and the slides. The park was clean and well-kept with plenty of shade from the oak trees. Parking was easy and free along the street. This park also has restrooms, picnic tables, tennis courts, and a baseball field. Adding this one into our regular park rotation!

They have baseball fields, tennis courts, a children's park and plenty of space to walk around. The…read morecourts are usually free for use though we've only had to wait a few minutes for one to open up before. The park is usually clean and there are restrooms and water fountains as well.

This is a great little park in the Colonialtown South neighborhood near downtown. We took the baby…read morefor a stroll this past weekend and enjoyed the breezy weather. This park has lots of tree coverage which is much needed in the summer months. You can tell there was likely some damage and downed trees due to the recent hurricanes and some of the big oaks have uprooted. It's still a nice park nonetheless with wooden bridges, 2 playgrounds, a basketball court, and tennis court, and plenty of covered picnic areas and benches. They have a parking lot onsite as well as a community center. This park is also directly across the street from Dickson Azalea park, so if you're down for off-roading in more of a forest vibe (not stroller friendly), be sure to skip over there for a true nature adventure!

This charming park is located next to H.H. Dickson Azalea Park. H.H. Dickson is credited with…read morebringing azalea's from England to Orlando. Both he and Mayor Carl T. Langford are buried in Orlando's historic Greenwood Cemetery. Carl T. Langford (July 23, 1918 - July 9, 2011) was mayor of Orlando from 1967 until 1980. He was one of the first two Eagle Scouts in the state to be awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. After serving in the military he attended the University of Florida and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1948. Carl T Langford is most remembered for being instrumental in bringing Disney World to Orlando. Carl T Langford Park is an oasis of nature in Orlando. It is located along Central Boulevard just south of downtown. This 19 acre park has an abundance of ancient shady live oaks, wide sidewalks, and green open spaces. There are also laurel oaks and swamp chestnut trees. Many birds, butterflies, and squirrels make their home here. Park amenities include a playground, boardwalk, basketball and tennis courts, picnic pavilions, a gazebo and neighborhood center can be reserved for parties. A loved discovering the suspension bridge. In 2014 a three foot pink bunny sculpture appeared in the park. The rabbit was placed in the park in honor of Charles Smith (Chase Smith) a longtime aide to City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. Smith died in August 2013 at the age of 41, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Chase Smith stepped in one year to play the Easter Bunny for the children at the egg hunts in Lake Como Park and here in Carl T. Langford Park. He was a natural and was beloved for the role. To honor him, a pink bunny was placed here and at Lake Como Park. I enjoyed such a relaxing visit to Carl T. Langford Park. The trees are beautiful and this park is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Go for a hike, take the kids to play, host a party, or enjoy a picnic. Whatever you do, you can't help but be charmed by the abundance of nature in this picturesque park

4 stars for my tiny little neighborhood park, perfect for taking my baby out for a quick stroll…read morearound the square. This park is located at the Colonialtown Neighborhood Center, and has been my frequent stroller route for the last year. Just a couple laps around the center, community garden, and park and I've worked up a pretty good sweat in this heat. My son is just getting old enough to start enjoying the swings and playground area. To be honest, this park could use a bit of a refresh and a little TLC. I do wish there was a bit more shade, especially over the baby swings. Those black swings get so hot in the blazing sun, you can't even use them some days. Same goes for the slides. They do have some triangle canopies over the picnic area, but they don't do much to actually provide shade. I also always pack baby wipes to wipe down the swings & equipment before we use them. I appreciate that this park is just a short walk from home and I look forward to watching my son grown and & play here.

Colonial Town Park is a small neighborhood park not far off of Mills Avenue. This park is more…read moregeared towards young children, but otherwise is a decent enough park. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if you are in the general area and have young kids in tow, Colonial Town Park is a decent enough place to spend a bit of time.