Great paddle boarding spot. There's bathrooms at the parking lot, which is super convenient…read more Unfortunately, I paddled here on a fairly windy day so paddling against the current was very difficult. Would definitely come back here on a less windy day with friends! There are a bunch of scenic boat tours that circle around the lake, as well as a few people on jet skis but other than that, it was fairly quiet on the water!

Whenever we go paddle boarding, we always start from Dinky Dock. The nearby canals offer plenty to…read moreexplore, and the whole area has a relaxed, family-friendly vibe. It's a scenic little spot and a great place to visit during the summer. Lots of shade and not too crowded, perfect for a laid-back day by the water. It's also great for wildlife watching, we've seen all kinds of birds and even a few otters here. Parking can be tricky on busier days, but if you arrive early, you'll usually find a spot. Bathrooms are available and surprisingly decent for a dock area.

Large Walkability, and some people may jog…read more The most clear lake in Urban Orlando. My guess is Spring Fed. Incredibly clean view all the way down to Lake bottom vegetation. The dock provided excellent sightings of turtles, small fish, water fowl, and vegetation on the bottom of Clear Lake. Picnic Tables with Covered Pavilions equiped with Charcoal Grills spaced far apart to provide some privacy for gatherings. Upgraded Playground for Younger People & Families located directly near Parking Lot. Extensive Old Growth Oaks, Covered in Spanish Moss, Providing Extensive Shading, to Nearly All Areas in the park with Seating spaced throughout & a Playground. No Restrooms but Several Water Fountains. Across the Street from a Public School & other Local Government Facilities. Located a Very Short Distance from John Young Parkway & Interstate 4. Working Class, Old Orlando, Urban Neighborhood. Welcoming and located on the Clearest Lake in Orlando. Large Parking Area. Plenty of Field Space for Some Athletic Purposes. Very Expansive and Shaded Urban Park

While I would not recommend this for hiking or getting back to nature, Clear Lake Park serves well…read moreas a neighborhood park for the community. It is primarily an open piece of land with paved sidewalks circling it with a few stops for what they call the VitaCourse 2000, which seems to be a series of stations for various exercises. There is a decent playground for kids. The highlight of this park, as the name would imply, is the lake. A pleasant enough view. It seems the neighborhood enjoys this park, people were walking the paved path, a gentleman was on the dock, I even saw an industrious older man with a pail and a metal detector, looking for his pot of gold or some other form of riches. As stated, this is not a place I would recommend to "get back to nature," however for a neighborhood park, it admirably serves its purpose.

Lake Baldwin is my go too for my walks and jogs! I feel safe here no matter the time of day because…read morethere are so many people being active rather walking, cycling, jogging or a walk/ run club or 5! The scenery is peaceful and it's a good way to clear your mind, get fit or enjoy a nice convo and coffee with your friends, partner or kids. This is my 3-4 day routine and I love it so much !

This is one of my favorite parks. I've been visiting for over a decade. It used to have a different…read morename. It's a great dog park. I really miss the giant tree by the dog wash area. The stump remains. There used to be an incredible piece of art carved into the tree. There are still other great trees remaining though. Lots of trees. One time I went there on a cool autumn morning and I thought I had passed into dog HEAVEN!!! The fancy dog rescue groups met up and there were tons of incredible dog breeds, especially the ones that look like big fluffy mops. I've been here numerous times, & this park means a lot to me. I have incredible memories. *Beware of the lake, there might be alligators. (I used to enjoy watching the sailboat lessons.) *Best if you wear boots. Last time I ended up with a bunch of dirt in my shoes. *I've only seen 2 dog fights. Stay close to your dog. *Once, I saw what appeared to be coyote fur on a fence, there might be one around there sometimes. The walking trails in the woods/forest part is really fun. A guy used to play his guitar in a center area. I like walking my dogs through the woods there. Sad when I see my dogs years later unable to walk like they previously could, or disoriented, lost in there. We sure did enjoy that park extensively. Bring dog shampoo & a towel if you want, the dog shower bench is free.

Beautiful park for a walk, biking, picnicking, or letting the kids play. There are several historic…read morebuildings on-site, which were unfortunately closed when I visited, but I still enjoyed reading the informational signs and learning about the history. It's great to see that being preserved here in Maitland. The trails are perfect for a walk or short run, with plenty of nature and wildlife to take in. One full lap is about 1/2 mile, so it's better suited for shorter workouts rather than long-distance runs. I'll definitely be back!

This is a nice and quite small park located in Maitland,Fl…read more There is a lake in the middle with a trail to walk, there is also a park for kids to play and Public restrooms. They use to have the farmers market here but it got moved to downtown Maitland Overall, the park is clean and safe and great go bring the family for a picnic. There is plenty of benches and shade to sit and relax.

Best decision I've made , This community checks off all my active lifestyle needs and investing in…read morereal estate here as also blessed my business . Everyday I utilize the jogging trail and neighborhood. I can take my little one on beautiful walks in nature , fish, check out the local restaurants, grab groceries and have peace. This community is involved and there is always something to do here. Yard sales, community events, daily walk / jog clubs, tons of things for kids of all ages and senior life as well. 10/10, best community in Orlando !

I love Baldwin Park! I regularly drive here from about 20 minutes away because it's such an…read moreenjoyable walk. Obviously during the hotter months you might wanna sit this out or only come in the early or late hours of the day to avoid the scorching heat. The path around the lake is about 2.5 miles, and you will see walkers, joggers, and bikers of all ages. Walking in this neighborhood reinforces a strong sense of community, because you will see people sitting on benches, enjoying nature, bunny rabbits hopping around, wildflowers, and families taking photos in some of the more picturesque locations! Parking can be a bear, but if you have a little patience, you can usually find street parking or lot parking. And when you're done, you have the enjoyment of being in a walkable downtown area with lots of restaurants and shops.

I totally dig this spot - even if it's not always the quietest park area in Orlando. The best…read morestretch of green space is across from a few of our low-key vintage industrial buildings along Alden Rd - which I think add it's own special charm here, and something I appreciate. Late mornings and late afternoons there will probably be loud trucks making deliveries, but other than that - it's fairly peaceful (for now - but I doubt that will be the case after all this upcoming urban development in this area). Although, you might hear the occasional clanging metal of some guy earning his living. It's a small little cove of a place - but if you are walking/riding bikes around Lake Formosa, there is a beautiful shaded spot with a picnic table to take a break (also, a good spot to just read a book). Keep going around the lake past the little park area towards the museum, rec center, etc. and you can get to the bridge to make a full circle around the lake, and end up connected to the Orlando Urban Trail.

Lake Formosa Park check-list: a good book…read more Yep, what a fabulous place for a quiet spot under a tree to kick back and relax. On a breeze sunny day this is your goto! There is 1 picnic table if you want to post up there or enjoy lunch on the lake. Not much room from grass to the lake but just enough. It's super simple and serve a great afternoon getaway from it all.

Shadow Bay Park is a rare slice of florida's natural landscape. Formerly known as Lake Cane Marsha…read morePark, Shadow Bay Park is a 111 acre natural area preserve and park tucked into Southwest Orlando. Despite being surrounded by busy roads and urban development, the park protects a rare and biologically rich remnant of Florida's ancient sand pine scrub ecosystem, preserving a small piece of old Florida in the middle of the city. The park straddles an ancient shoreline associated with the Lake Wales Ridge, one of Florida's most important areas for rare and native plants and animals. Its diverse landscape includes rosemary scrub, xeric oak scrub, longleaf pine forest, wetlands, and four ponds, creating a variety of habitats for wildlife. It is one of the last remaining urban scrub habitats in Orange County and provides an important refuge for several rare and endangered native species. Shadow Bay Park is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a statewide network of more than 500 wildlife-viewing sites. The northern portion of the park, especially the trails between Lupine Pond and Woodland Pond, offers some of the best birding opportunities. Depending on the season, visitors may spot Blue-headed Vireos, House Wrens, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-throated Warblers and Indigo Buntings. The ponds attract Limpkins, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Mottled Ducks, while Glossy Ibis and, occasionally, American Bitterns make appearances. Keep an eye on the sky for Ospreys and Cooper's Hawks, both of which nest within the park. I enjoyed exploring the trails throughout the park. A paved walkway and separate unpaved footpaths wind through the landscape. In the sandy trails through the rosemary scrub, you can find rare plants such as scrub lupine and threatened gopher tortoises. During migration season, you may see species such as Magnolia Warblers, Ovenbirds, Eastern Wood-Pewees and Baltimore Orioles pass through the oak area of the park. In addition to wildlife watching, the park offers plenty for active visitors and families. These include basketball and pickleball courts, softball fields, a fitness path, fishing areas around Shadow Bay Pond and a playground. The Lake Cane Tennis Center has been part of the park since 1986, when Orange County partnered with MG Tennis to operate the facility. Over the years, it has grown into a major Central Florida tennis destination and tournament hub. What I appreciate most about Shadow Bay Park is that it preserves an important part of Florida's original landscape while the surrounding communities continued to grow. It is a rare ecological refuge hiding in plain sight. Come for the trails, birding, wildlife, recreation or just for a peaceful escape from the surrounding city. This is a park worth exploring.

I absolutely love this public park. It has an excellent layout, a fantastic location, and is one of…read morethe most complete parks in the area. The playground is fun and feels safe for kids. There's also a pier where you can watch turtles and fish, which my children absolutely love every time we visit. If you enjoy being active, there's a scenic trail that's great for walking, running, or biking. The park also features basketball and baseball courts, picnic shelters for BBQs and birthday parties, clean restrooms, and plenty of parking spread throughout the different areas, making it easy to access everything. The real highlight of the park, though, is its tennis complex. Even though I don't personally use it, it's clearly the centerpiece of the park, with more than 10 tennis courts, excellent facilities, kids taking lessons, and tournaments happening regularly. If you're a tennis fan or looking to get into the sport, this is one of the best public places in the area. Overall, it's a fantastic park for families, sports lovers, or anyone looking to spend a relaxing day outdoors.

This little park area is Great to bring the kids or walk…read morethe dog. It's got a great little walking path with shaded trees and sculptures on every corner. I also has a little art gallery house but today was Sunday and it was closed. If you come here at Christmas time it's all decorated I must see. They have a long boardwalk that you can walk on that goes over the the lake. They have an art sculpture house and a art gallery. Nice bathrooms. Sometimes they have concerts. A great place to come to walk or sit and relax. I also have a small splash pad for the kids.

Nine acre Lake Concord Park is located behind the Casselberry City Hall and Casselberry Police…read moreDepartment on the banks of Lake Concord. Wide, paved paths wind through lush gardens filled with native plants. The park also has a water play area, amphitheater, playground, boat dock, board walk along Lake Concord, and a fountain. The City of Casselberry has a strong commitment to the environment with its stormwater management initiatives in this park. Lake Concord Park is also a hub of art and culture. The park contains a sculpture walk with over 40 public sculptures, and three free art galleries: The Art House, The Sculpture House, and Art Center. I enjoyed exploring all of the interesting public art pieces in the garden along the sculpture walk. I also checked out the temporary exhibits in the galleries which are further detailed in separate reviews. Many city events are held in the park during the year. These include Earth Fest, Spring Jazz and Art Festival, Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Casselberry Food and Wine Festival, concerts, car shows, and food trucks. Lake Concord Park does a great job of drawing the community together with support for the arts, well thought out recreational amenities, and engaging events.