Newton Park is a beautiful park overlooking Lake Apopka. Shortly after we arrived we were informed…read morethat there was a 10 foot alligator nearby. We decided to stay clear of that area where the gator was spotted. Tanner Hall, located on the park grounds, is an event venue available for rent. As we walked by, we were greeted by members of a family who had arrived for a reunion party that was being held in the hall. There is also a smaller building, Little Hall, that is available for rent. While some came by cars and trucks, others came by golf carts. Some children played on the playground while one child fished. An ice cream truck drove by the park playing that familiar tune that calls and lures children and those wanting a treat. What a sweet way to enjoy an afternoon at the park.

Large park with multiple trails for bikes, walking and dog walking. There are dog bins for waste,…read morebathrooms and a boardwalk! Very cool place to check out!

We went to the preserve to see the firefly's. It is really a nice place to walk around and there is…read morea lot of people that work there to help you along. We walked out to the pier and saw the most beautiful sunset over the water. It was a little windy the afternoon we went so the fire flies were not out at the pier. As we were asking back we saw a lot of them in the woods. They were beautiful. This preserve has a lot of different events from 5k walks to live music.

I have been coming to Oakland Nature Preserve for years, and I can't recommend it enough! There is…read morea wonderful boardwalk that takes you out to a lake. The boardwalk is well-kept and they recently replaced it. It is an easy walk and full of Florida nature surrounding you. There is also an education building that has animals you can visit. The preserve also hosts events throughout the year that I definitely recommend you check out. Parking is free and there is lots to see here!

Highlight of my trip to Orlando. I'm not into the overstimulation that Orlando is famous for, if…read moreyou're looking for a little peaceful contemplation and relaxation come here for a leisurely stroll. There are interesting and tasteful sculptures distributed among the well planned horticulture. I love this park. There are a couple of ancient Oak trees. I'm sad to see the native green anoles are being over run by the invasive brown anoles, but they are both cute. The perfect break if you're in town for a busy convention or meeting. If you're coming to visit the art museum, plan on an hour or so to stroll through this park.

This community park is next to a short trail thats in between apartments, houses, business…read morebuilding. This a park without a playground however with unique art sculptures. Right next to the museum. The grounds are kept up nicely. I haven't seen many cyclists, however you find people walking and running near the trail

A natural playground! We couldn't get enough of the huge trees, nature-based playground, and…read moreexpansive trails. It was the perfect place to explore for kids and adults alike! It's dog-friendly, so we can't wait to return with our leashed pups! We stumbled upon the old country club building and other structures, and it was fun learning the history behind the area. Can't wait to return! Note: plenty of parking, but police was waiting by the gate when we left 15 minutes to close, so be mindful of open hours!

One of the cutest playgrounds around! The entire area is shaded by trees, giving it this true…read morewoodsy, outdoorsy vibe. The playground has so much to do for all ages. The area is clean and very well-maintained. I love that everything is made of wood so nothing gets overly hot to the touch. My son easily spent two hours here without getting bored.

What a fantastic park! Located just outside of Camping World Stadium, I recently learned that Lake…read moreLorna Doone Park is one of the oldest parks in Orlando. It underwent a major renovation in 2021 where they added lots of amenities and made everything brand new. Even now, 5 years later, everything has been so well maintained and still feels like new. They have a free miniature golf putting course, an awesome splash pad, shaded playgrounds, basketball courts, and a nice nature walking path. You'll also find shaded picnic pavilions and a community garden. My son absolutely loves coming here. The parking lot can be a little tricky to find because my GPS using Google Maps never takes me to the right place. Don't let the location detour you from visiting. It's such a nice park and feels very safe.

Lake Lorna Doone Park is one of the oldest parks in Orlando. It is just north of Camping World…read moreStadium. The neighborhood and the park is named after one of the earliest property owner's daughter's favorite novel, Lorna Doone, written by English author, Richard Doddridge Blackmore, published in 1869. Lake Lorna Doone was the site of the South's first integrated Little League Baseball game on August 9, 1955. The 1955 little league season was the first after US Supreme Court rulings had eliminated "separate but equal" conditions in the nation's schools and public parks. The Pensacola Jaycees were declared winners of their local district by Little League headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. When local officials would not allow them to play against the all-white teams they instead advanced to the Florida State Tournament which was held at Lake Lorna Doone Park. They ended up losing to host Orlando in the second round, 5-0 but they were welcomed by the hometown crowd and given encouragement. In 2021, 12 acre Lake Lorna Doone Park underwent an $8 million renovation. Added to the park was the nine hole Arnold Palmer Putting Experience, fitness stations, a playground, football fields, basketball courts, a splash pad and the Winnie Palmer Nature Trail. I especially liked the nature trail where I got to see native plants and wildlife. With the upgrades, this park now has all of the amenities needed to inspire a healthy, active lifestyle for the West Lakes families who live in this neighborhood and all who visit.

Braddock Park is well maintained. They offer baseball, softball and soccer fields. The kids…read moreplayground is small but not limited. There is shade and benches for parents supervising. They supplied a hand washing station and have water fountains. Bathrooms are available.

Never open to the public, should be accessible to everyone when academies are not playing. Really…read morethe only reason for 1 star, great facility besides this.

John's Lake Conservation Area is a hidden gem in Winter Garden. The signage is unassuming and the…read moreentrance gives no clue to the adventure that awaits. It's old Florida in every aspect. You have to be alert to spiders, snakes and alligators The trail gets seasonally flooded. The fire ants are everywhere. No bathroom is provided. I definitely don't think that you should with your small dog or children. There is a nice dock and small boat, canoe or kayak launch. They have picnic tables under big beautiful shade trees. There is a pavilion that can be rented.

This area is pretty desolate, consisting mostly of knee-high weeds and scrub. There is a fishing…read morepier and parking area, as well as a mowed path through the weeds that goes down to some water, but the path is as often flooded as dry. Winter is the best time to walk the path. Dogs are allowed, but letting them run free near the water could be dangerous. The law is probably to keep all dogs leashed. There are only three stands of trees, one of which has some picnic tables. Otherwise, you'll need sunscreen, a hat, water and maybe bug spray. No restrooms.

This really is a pretty amazing park that provides such a tranquil and peaceful setting that does…read morecreep into your soul and brings a measure of serenity. That serenity is definitely needed in the hustle and bustle of modern life. We need parks in our communities and this park is a great park. It is not too big, but has a children's playground, tennis courts, a basketball court, a nice pavilion and more. I would definitely recommend here and give it five stars.

This is a good parking spot for West Orange Trail. I like how it has that butterfly garden, the…read morebathroom, and the bike station. This is the biggest station that I've seen on the trail, but I have not had a chance to visit them all. I like all the shaded areas. It would definitely be a nice place to read or lay out. They also have sports equipment nearby like a tennis court.

Windermere Recreational Center is small and during the week days very quiet and peaceful. There is…read morea tennis court, small green space, pier and a couple of gazebos. My favorite spot is the dock. The water is relaxing and you can go into it or sit and watch it slowly move.

This park is one of Windermere's best kept little secrets. Upon entering, it might not look like…read moremuch, but the park is quite big. There's plenty of parking in a parking lot right up front. There is a brand new fenced in playground that is shaded by large trees. There are tennis and sand volleyball courts. There are also multiple pavilions and a restroom. Walk down to the lake. Many people fish off the covered dock. In the evening there are lots of rabbits out by the trees. Be on the lookout for a variety of different bird species.

Wow! What a breath of fresh air this nature preserve can be when you are sick of the craziness of…read moreeveryday life. This park includes a visitor's center, multiple hiking trails, and a cute garden area with a gopher tortoise and salcutta tortoise living their best lives. Make sure to check out the Osprey Overlook as there is a boardwalk that overlooks a large lake with plenty of opportunity to see wildlife including otters, gators, and turtles. Honestly, I feel like this is the one park in Orlando where you can actually go hiking. All of the trails here are on mossy/swampy forest floor with no paved walkways. This is good to keep in mind if you are trying to rollerblade or bike ride as there are multiple tree roots on the trails, so probably best to leave these items at home and witch to trail shoes. This also means that some of the trails may be washed out when you visit, especially if going in the summer months. Actually, I would recommend skipping a visit if it has rained less than 24 hours before going as you will not be able to see as much as you would like. Overall, there is easy parking, great hiking, and excellent photo opportunities. Worth a trip if you are in the Orlando area!

You better think twice before you wear your favorite hiking shoes cause things might get a little…read moremuddy! During rainy season some of the trails even close down due to flooding. But for the most of the year this preserve is about three miles of nice, flat hiking. We even spotted some osprey and a tortoise sunbathing in the middle of the trail on the way out.