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 ;)

I am new to the area and Florida freshwater fishing. I stopped twice recently. The staff is…read morefriendly and patient, determining our needs, and making recommendations. Pricing seems fair. Although the shop is small, it seems to have everything needed for local fishing.

I must saw that this was a very nice experience. This store has everything in it! It's very tight…read morein here and parking was hard to come by. But that is just a sign. Bait, troiling motors, rods. They have it! The workers where helpful and nice to us. It did not feel like we were being rushed even though it was 5:25 and they close at 6:00. Sits on a one way street. Be careful getting in and coming back out of this parking lot.

Ferran Park felt like a calm little refuge on this foggy morning, even if Lake Eustis was mostly a…read moresuggestion somewhere beyond the gray. The Christmas decorations gave the whole place a warm lift, especially the lit tree glowing through the mist. With the bandshell looking sharp and the grounds in excellent shape, it was easy to settle into the rhythm of the wide, smooth walking paths and just enjoy the quiet. You can tell the lake views are usually the star here, and on a clear day the sweep of that massive water must be something to take in. Today wasn't that day, but the park itself carried the moment just fine, offering space, light, and a bit of holiday charm to brighten the morning of my Eustis exploration. [Review 1624 of 2025 - 2201 in Florida - 25172 overall]

Inaugural year of Lake County Pride at Ferran Park, Eustis, FL. It's always great to show love and…read moresupport the community. Glad to see that Pride events are still growing and people are still coming out to support despite current government situations. Love is Love and Pride is for EVERYONE!

This is a fairly new and great little park on the side of Eustis where there isn't much in the way…read moreof recreational areas, except nearby Carver Park. A paved path surrounds a retention pond. The path is about a half-mile around, good for walking, of course, and even for biking. We live close to the park, so we ride it when we have less time to spare or as part of a longer ride. You will see long legged water birds there, and occasionally a small alligator, especially in winter when they like to float in the sun. So no swimming allowed! There are also exercise stations every fifty feet or so, and recently they added a set of 18 disc golf nets for tournament or individual play. Some are near the pond while other nets are in the nearby woods on paths. There is also a fine rest room building with plenty of parking next to it. I believe there are a couple of picnic tables near the rest room building, as well as benches on the trail. If you go there to walk your dog, I would suggest using a leash as sometimes a dog roaming free wanders around and you will want to be able to control your fur baby. You probably won't run into a kitten with a fish hook in its side as we did. But I can report a happy ending as the little rascal is the latest member of our cat family.

I had a friend convince me to play disc golf with him and This is a top level disc golf course that…read morechallenges every aspect of your game. They have clean restrooms, good parking and a soccer field to warm up before you play. This course is not beginner friendly, I did lose a few here trying to be aggressive. This course was designed with 2 tee pads and 2 baskets giving lots of options. This would be the typical Florida course. It has natural beauty, its challenging and wooded. This was challenging and fun, don't forget sun screen and bug spray!

Fantastic trip with a very knowledgeable and professional crew. From check in to the boat ride it…read morewas safe and fun. We saw plenty of gators and learned a lot about them and the surrounding area. You can tell they love the lake and the animals. It is definitely worth the trip, we will be back.

Awesome experience.. everyone was super friendly.. awesome tour.. randy is an awesome guide and we…read morewere able to pet Luke their alligator..

Mount Dora has a lovely marina where you can rent boats and more. Their shop is small but offers…read moreall the essentials as well as a restroom. We enjoyed doing the CatBoat Adventure Tour that left from the marina.

Mount Dora Boat Center is perfect for renting a boat and going exploring the Harris Chain of Lakes…read more They offer friendly, fast service with clean and modern boat choices. Rates are fair and you will have an amazing day viewing wildlife and cruising the canal!

Friendly staff and volunteers: Many reviews mention that staff and volunteers are helpful,…read morewelcoming, and contribute to a good visitor experience. * Kid-friendly / educational aspects: There are components (touch tables, specimen exhibits, etc.) that are good for children.

We went to the Trout Lake Nature center for a concert. It was wonderful. Everybody there was really…read morefriendly. The building has a beautiful butterfly collection and a lot of taxidermies animals and birds. The grounds are well kept. And there are hiking trails. It was too late for us to hike but I would love to go back sometime.e.

No one answers the phone and the voice mail is full. It has been that way for months so don't waste…read moreyour time.

We had an amazing time doing the 2 hour Silver Springs river tour with Captain Debbie and Captain…read moreAdam. They were both very informative and made it a super relaxing and fun tour. They were also really prompt with getting back to us on scheduling and very accommodating to our schedule. We saw several different birds, alligators, manatees and monkeys on the tour. Thanks so much for making our last day in Florida a wonderful one!