Fun little park just on the beaten path of Woodland Blvd, great place to catch some fresh air and a…read morelittle live entertainment when available. Fun time listening to Anique Jolee! https://instagram.com/aniquejolee?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

A small park with a…read morebig picture Pioneer Park is indeed a small park, just occupies a corner of a couple of streets. It does have a nice fountain, some cool benches and tables and a interesting sculpture of an alligator. A very pleasant place for a little rest while walking around the center of Deland. However what really catches the eye in Pioneer Park is the gigantic mural that takes up the entire side of a building. The mural probably covers more area the the entire rest of the park. The picture is called Pioneers Parceland and I believe it was dedicated in 1996. Huge, stunning and brightly colored, it has amazing detail and shows the early settlers arriving in the area. We just sat there for a long time taking in the beauty and different parts of the mural. It's so large that you actually have to back away at times to take it all in. The mural at Pioneer Park is a extremely mesmerizing work of art that photographs cannot begin to justice to. It has to be seen in person to truly be appreciated. it shows what a progressive town can do with a small and seemingly useless piece of space.

Great walking trails through the forest, & paved biking trails. Saw lots of friendly bicyclists…read more Air pump & bicycle tools available for bicyclists near the restrooms. Parking gets full, but there's additional parking north on Fatio. Saw small wild blueberries. A tiny red tick dropped from the trees & landed dangling in my hair. Only saw that one. Great shade & lots of plant diversity. Fun seeing the different trees & plants. Saw a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar also.

I love Lake Beresford. My favorite place to get my outdoor time in. I love how quiet and shady this…read moreplace is. A paved 1.8 mile path to run and even have the option to try the spring to spring trail if you dare. Can't wait for the expansion that's coming.

Such a beautiful place to spend a day with endless activities! You can walk the boardwalk, swim,…read moresnorkel, scuba, tube, kayak, or paddleboard down the spring. Fishing is permitted from the fishing dock on the St. Johns River. There is also camping, cabins for rent, hiking, and manatee viewing. You can even rent an all-terrain tracked wheelchair for accesible hiking! You can find a gift shop and a concession stand inside the park. Follow the Blue Spring State Park Facebook page to stay up to date on fun activities and events like Manatee Bingo, Meditate & Move with the Manatees, guided moonlight hikes, and the Junior Ranger Program. My favorite event of the year is Firefly Nights from around mid March to mid April. You get to walk the boardwalk after the park closes to see thousands of Florida fireflies! It is absolutely magical, and a little surreal. Weekdays are less crowded, but honestly if you can only go on a weekend it's worth braving the crowd. It's a separately-ticketed event, and it does sell out some nights so make sure to get your tickets in advance!

The Baseline: For a park/monument the site must be informative, have great attraction, and have a…read morepark rangers that are knowledgeable of one of the park we are visiting. Park: This was one of the cleanest and best organized state parks I have ever visited. The parking was easy and the access to the main attraction was easy to get to. The walkway trail along the spring was well taken care of and safe. There is no graffiti or vandalized buildings in the park. Thank you State of Florida and California you should take notes. Attraction: The Springs are the main attraction with options to swim, tube, snorkel, and scuba dive in the spring in the summer. When we visited that was all restricted because the manatees were here to nest in the winter. This was awesome and it was great to see these amazing creatures in their winter respite. This is a must if you are visiting the Orlando area in the winter. Cost: Six dollars to come into the park with up to 8 people in the vehicle. Great price for an unforgettable experience.

We hiked and it was an adventure We saw a lot of woodland…read morewildlife. The weather was perfect. Low humidity with pleasant temperatures. The ferry operator was informative and the ride was smooth from the parking lot dock to the island. If you want to experience the real Florida I highly recommend Hontoon Island. Make sure you don't miss the museum and gift shop.

This is a very unique Florida State Park located in Deland. The park is a small island right off…read morethe St.Johns River.You have to take a free ferry to get to the park.There is a playground, grills, restrooms and scenic waterfront views. The island is pet friendly-so we brought our dog.I absolutely loved the giant trees, green grass, beautiful plant life and picturesque water views.It is FREE.

This park is HUGE. A lot going on! But it's convenient for parties, BBQ's , family get-togethers,…read morereally any event you have going on this park can handle it! From the play ground area (which is nice and clean) to the pond ( which you can stroll around the walking path) heck, you can even go see some turtles or ducks. Feeding the ducks is always a memory that brings a smile to my face!!

Nice park great walking area even with my dog. Love feeding the ducks. Good shade. Easy path paved…read moreto walk.

Lake Colby Park is beautiful! If you've never been, you need to go. The energy around here is…read moreamazing. It's just quiet and peaceful. It's definitely a place that you come when you want some respite.

We checked this spot out for fishing with the kids (beware of gators and snakes) and it was…read morepeaceful and secluded. We got to see a variety of bugs and tons of beautiful deer! There's a little walking path hidden off to the side when you're exiting to circle so don't miss it! Cute little walking paved path we did with the kids and got to see deer, turtles and so many butterflies. If you go out here take a lunch as they have many picnic tables to sit at.

Every neighbourhood park tends to be unique, and this one definitely has its charm. The park's main…read moreappeal for me is the walking trail that basically envelops the square-shaped park ground along four roads, and I like how safe it feels perhaps because of its location in a residential area. Although I've never personally visited, there's more than one parking area, picnic shelter and benches with tables, a fancy children's playground, butterfly garden, and a museum.

this is a little hidden gem in DeLand! the Butterfly Sanctuary is quite small and, unfortunately, i…read moredidn't see any butterflies other than the large sculpture. the park itself take up a good bit of space with its large playground, 4 covered pavilions with picnic tables, and many benches. it's a great place to come to for a little walk, breath of fresh air, or to host a picnic, cookout, gathering, or birthday party. there's plenty of parking all around, nice public bathrooms, and water fountains. it's also home of the DeLand Memorial Hospital and Veterans Museum.

A lonely little…read morepark Cypress Lake Park is a little park on a little lake. Not really a lake, more of a hole with some water. Probably even less water than usual lately because of the lack of rain. It does have a boat ramp but I suspect not very many people use it because there are probably all kinds of nasty things living in that water. All you could is just go around in small circles. The park does have a little playground, hoop court, picnic area and a barbecue grill but not a whole lot more. I suspect some local people bring their kids to the park but probably not a whole lot going on here. The area is actually a pretty lonely place too. It was going to be a new development that was started a while back and then stopped suddenly when the housing market crashed. Some of the roads around the park are still unpaved and houses unfinished. Maybe now that the economy seems to be improving the park and area will start to grow again. It is a pleasant place that just needs a bit of TLC.

This is my DPE deland awareness group meeting place a beautiful place to watch the sunset and go…read morefishing..... watch out for the Gators!!!!

Nice little park. Not a large parking lot. But easy to get to. Nice. Clean restroom facilities…read more Only complaint is poop on docks. You would think when they open the restrooms and park in morning they would have someone rinse them off.

This a nice park with lots of amenities with restrooms, boat ramps and a nice pavilion it's known…read moreas a fishing park and it seems to live up to its name with a numer of regulars that find this the best place in the area to wet a line. Also known as Crow's Bluff and was the site of the original ferry crossing between Deland and Eustis ca.1900. It also seems to be a very popular place for the locals to spend their lunch hour in the shade during the week.

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 ;)