Overlook Park is located on Lake Jessup near the southern end of the beltway bridge. Lake Jessup is…read morenotable for being the home of over 13,000 alligators giving it the highest concentration of alligators in Florida. The park is surrounded by two sulfur springs of historical significance, one to the east and one to the west that give you the feeling as if you are on a small island. The three acre park has a pavilion with several picnic tables and a grill. Throughout the park are large oak trees covered in moss that provides a shaded canopy from the sun. Around the water's edge are Cyprus trees with their interconnecting roots, also known as Cyprus knees, that stick up out of the ground. As you look out towards the water, you can see a newly reconstructed boardwalk popular with local fisherman. I especially enjoyed the wildlife at the park which is home to osprey, various Florida wading birds, and the alligators of Lake Jessup. This is an especially picturesque and peaceful park with a rich depth of area history.

If you like the sound of the highway as you gaze across the St. John's you…read moreMight like it. There is no trail. A nice long boardwalk over the river. Right now there is an algae alert so wouldn't recommend fishing

The playground is so much fun. My daughters ages 3 and 6 had a great time on the climbing…read morestructure, slides, and swings. I especially enjoyed the "double swing" where you can swing with your toddler/infant. We attended a birthday party here and the pavilion was extremely close to the playground which made it easy to go back and forth. Also around the corner from the playground is a little stage on the edge of the woods that the children liked pretending to perform on and there were benches for people to sit and enjoy their show. Lots of trees for shade as well. Highly recommend!

Beautiful park. Quiet, peaceful, and shaded! We love taking the kids here! Definitely recommend.read more

We have a boat and wakeboard often. I was looking for a place to help take my 13 year old son's…read moreboarding skills to the next level (and mine too). After reading reviews for several places in the Orlando area, we quickly decided on The Boarding House. It was THE BEST decision I could have made! We just finished a 3 day stay and I don't even know where to begin. The set-up is unreal - super clean, comfortable accommodations, a private lake with perfect water and coaches that are likely the best you can get anywhere in the world. This place far exceeded our expectations and is worth every penny. Luckily we only live 3 hours away - and are planning our next visit. Thank you Travis, Scott & Freddie (& Ozzie) - It was truly magical!

What a great place to see the native wildlife and plant species. During my walk along the trail, I…read moresaw so many birds, turtles, and alligators - it's definitely a place to take photos. Besides hiking, the park also offers biking, bird watching, and horseback riding, plus guided tours. Check out the visitor center, you'll see live fishes and baby alligators, as well as taxidermy displays of the local wildlife. You'll also learn how this wetland functions as an advanced treatment for Orlando's reclaimed water. I thought it was super informative!

Truly a hidden gem! It's free to visi and they offer free tram rides on the weekends. It's sooo…read morevast and beautiful, there's so much wild life to see. On my hike we saw tons of alligators, birds, bunnies and turtles. Even got to see baby owls. There are miles of trails and a board walk. Went at 8am on a Saturday and there weren't too many people out but as we were leaving the groups were picking up. There are benches along some of the trails and picnic tables and bathrooms near the entrance.

This 92-acre Brevard County park, located behind the Eastern Florida State College gymnasium, is an…read moreexample of how environmental restoration and public recreation can coexist together. It was created through a unique partnership among Brevard County Natural Resources Watershed Management, Eastern Florida State College, the City of Titusville, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and Parrish Medical Center. Within the park is a series of interconnected lakes designed as a stormwater treatment system that cleans runoff from both Titusville and unincorporated Brevard County before it enters the Indian River Lagoon. Wetland vegetation naturally filters pollutants from the water, improving its quality before it returns to the environment. Without this treatment, stormwater runoff can contribute to algal blooms, muck accumulation, fish kills, and other ecological problems that threaten the lagoon's health. Beyond its environmental benefits, the restored wetlands provide valuable habitat for wildlife, particularly Florida's wading birds, while offering visitors opportunities for nature observation and outdoor recreation. The park contains a variety of habitats, including artificial lakes, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, mangrove communities, and hardwood and sabal palm hammocks. Visitors can explore approximately three miles of paved trails, including a scenic 2.6-mile loop for walking, running, and cycling. Additional amenities include a five-story wildlife observation tower offering a stunning view of the wetlands, athletic fields, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and access to the surrounding trail network. The park is an official stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a statewide network of more than 500 premier wildlife-viewing sites. It is well known for its abundant wildlife, and visitors can expect to see Ospreys, herons, egrets, turtles, and alligators, one reason swimming is prohibited in the lakes. During my visit, I spotted Black Vultures, a Great Blue Heron, and a Great Egret. Other species frequently seen here include Wood Storks, Glossy Ibises, Cattle Egrets, Mottled Ducks, Laughing Gulls, and Forster's Terns. Roseate Spoonbills make occasional appearances, along with Bald Eagles while ospreys are common throughout the park. During migration along the hammock trails you may find songbirds such as Prairie Warblers in spring and fall, or Painted Buntings during the winter months. The park also hosts the annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, one of the largest birding festivals in the country. Cyclists will appreciate that the park serves as a trailhead for both the Brevard Coast-to-Coast Trail and the East Coast Greenway, providing miles of additional scenic riding along the corridor that parallels US 1. Chain of Lakes Park demonstrates how wetlands can improve water quality, support wildlife, and help protect one of Florida's most valuable ecosystems while also making a great recreational space for wildlife photography, walking, cycling, and play in a beautiful natural setting.

Beautiful park with a nice playground. The park itself has all kinds of things like a soccer field…read moreand more. It's huge but we only went to the playground area. There's a few benches and picnic tables. It's clean with pretty surroundings.

I really loved visiting the Fau Lake Wilderness Park. So cool to see snappers, gopher turtles, and…read moreanhinga there. Sad not to get a chance to see alligators, but apparently the water is too cold after the cold snap. Hardly anyone was here in January. The park has playgrounds, pavilions, benched and paved paths. No swimming due to alligators .

This is a fairly large Park!…read more There's a large lake here which I'm not sure they allow swimming. I did get to observe a few wild alligators in this pond. There's a pathway they can walk around the lake which has a few docks that you can stand out to look off of or fish. This park has public bathrooms the same very clean Fair Park that seems kind of far out. The park also has a play area for young kids with monkey bars and slides and swings. Was also large areas of open grass where kids and adults can play. You could probably spend an entire day just explore in this park. I did observe animals there so there's a pet friendly Park however I would keep the animals away from the water just to be safe.

I consider this one of my secret spots. I have been going here for years and every time I do the…read moretrail, I find something different, and feel something new. Sometimes I come here to write or draw or read or think. I like that the trail is soft which makes it easy to jog on. I love that there are many options within the trail that helps you customize your experience depending on the time, energy, and desires that you have. This is definitely one of the spots that I repeatedly go to in order to feel grounded and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's pet friendly, feels super safe, and has beautiful trees.

One of my fave hiking areas! The only con is that there are no restrooms so prepare accordingly…read more You'll see lots of lovely trees, rabbits, tortoises, birds, and the occasional snake, and there is a nice river at the end of the loop with shaded banks to rest.

Hal Scott Preserve is in the back part of the Wedgefield community. This is more a conservation…read morearea and a preserve rather than a park. However, it was rather Pleasant walking along the open Trail. It never gave me the feeling that I was in the woods or anything like that, however, it was a nice respite from the day to day living in a city such as Orlando, Florida. Overall, I am going to give Hal Scott Preserve four stars. As I said, it was a nice respite from the modern world and I enjoyed my time here.

Do not recommend staying here! The workers will sexually harass you and then lie saying they didn't…read moreso that they won't get in trouble. As a female I highly recommend other females avoid coming here! It's sad and pathetic how they belittle you. Had to deal with Officers Dennis Navarino is the only one that can have a civil conversation with you. Officer Caleb Hallsten is wishy washy. However Lieutenant Riley was the absolute worst. He couldn't have a simple conversation and wanted to escalate the situation into a much bigger ordeal. Kept talking over my fiancé and I while we were trying to talk to the other officers. It's sad how they think it's okay for dudes to sexually harass other females and they of course get away with it. They disgust me. I'm still trying to figure out the worker that was onsite for today, November 17,2025. I would avoid at all costs.

Wow, this is a really cool park right in the 'New Downtown' of Oviedo!…read more It sits on a 108-acre mixed use development surrounding Center Lake Park which has two amphitheaters, a dog park, splash pad, swan and paddle boat rentals ($5), a lakeside promenade, playground, and large indoor event center that can be rented for wedding reception, party's and other events. In the surrounding area there a several other eateries, restaurants, an ice cream shop, The Food Factory (Food Hall) which has live music, a gorgeous indoor pub (Park Pub), along with other retail shops and luxury apartments. If you are considering spending the day in Oviedo, I highly recommend checking their website here: https://www.cityofoviedo.net/328/City-Special-Events This way you can plan out the day accordingly, so you don't miss all the activities happening in both the Original Historic Downtown area and the New Downtown. Oviedo is booming and in a good way. We are looking forward to our next visit to the area, see you soon Oviedo!

This park is very nice. This is the first time we came here…read morewe walked around. They have two outside theaters one is large one is small. They also had an event space. You can rent the Little swan boats for $5. I have a park and splash pad for the kids. Some restaurants and shops across the street. Beautiful area

Lake Claire Recreation Area is definitely a cool little part of the University of Central Florida…read more(UCF), it has a few pavilions, a nice lake to kayak on or just chill and enjoy the water, a cool little walkway, a place to play volleyball and a field and a soccer net. It also has a decent enough parking lot. It is on Gemini Boulevard not far off of Lake Underhill Road. All in all, Lake Claire Recreation Area is a great part of the University of Central Florida (UCF) and I would definitely recommend coming to check this place out.

This is one of the highlights of being a student at UCF! Lake Claire has free rentals for students…read moreyear-round, and it has encouraged an extensive kayaking habit on my end. It is a great place to host gatherings and events, especially since it has its own parking lot, electrical outlets, bathrooms, and rentable spaces. When it isn't the rainy season, most of the trails surrounding the lake stay well-maintained. I have not encountered any frightening levels of wildlife (like gators) personally, even though it's always a risk in Florida. It may just be a small, round lake, but it's definitely beautiful and doesn't lack different ways to explore it during your time there!