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.

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 ;)

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.

This park is always good to stop at for a good workout or quick trip to the playground with the…read morekids ! Or let's say a field day or even a picnic! It's plenty of space for everyone. I often see yoga classes or speed training and tons of people walking or running along the outside of the park. My only downside is there are no rest rooms here so it makes it harder to actually stay for a longer time especially with little ones.

Very cool park with a lot to do! It's very clean and the structures are new and safe. It's…read morecompletely fenced in, covered from shade, and has a turf ground. There are so many interactive things for the kids! Musical instruments, tic tac toe, items to spin and climb on, hang from and slide on, and even a picnic table to sit at! I wasn't a fan of the swing set being outside the fenced in area. My aim loves to swing, so we kept having to go in and out to get to it. I also docked a star because there are no bathrooms so come prepared with that knowledge.

This was our first time staying here at Encore Winter Garden Rv Resort…read more... We are Thousand Trails members and have been for about 4 years now. We decided to stay here because of the location to some of the shopping and attractions my wife wanted to do while there! * Definitely like how close it is to everything. * The staff has been nice during our once meeting during checkin. Since then I haven't had the need to go to the office for anything. * It's definitely NOT a resort. * We didn't use any of the pools because it was cold but the park does have two nice pools. * Our site was decent and somewhat level and quiet. Overall we will definitely comeback to Encore Winter Garden!

Not really a resort; more of a trailer park vibe. Multiple aged out RV units used as permanent…read moreresidences throughout. Continual parade of speeding vehicles. Cats everywhere. Sketchy looking people walking about. I had multiple daily camera alerts for cats, which are everywhere, and people letting their pets use my site as a bathroom mere inches off the outdoor mat. Positive part was that the staff, especially in the office, were super.

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.

We've been part of Gymnastics USA for nearly three years now, and my kids still look forward to…read moreevery visit. The gym itself is spacious and well-equipped, with dedicated areas for bars, floor routines, trampolines, and a wide variety of other apparatuses that keep things engaging and fun. BUT the gym definitely has a smell... likely years of feet... One of the programs for younger kids is the Ribbon Club, designed for those under five. It's essentially a playful obstacle course that introduces basic gymnastics skills in a way that's approachable and fun. While the structure can feel a bit repetitive week to week, my son continues to enjoy it. Most of the coaches are high school students, and I've been impressed with their ability to connect with the kids. They're patient, encouraging, and do a great job guiding the little ones through each activity. Overall, Gymnastics USA It's a great place for kids to build confidence, burn energy, and develop foundational skills--and they are always quick to respond when you need to switch class dates.

We had a very poor experience, Makeup classes disappeared…read morewithout notice, We allow if it has an expiration date, but you didn't give us any advance notice that this is a problem, I don't understand why the front desk doesn't answer the phone. We've been on the phone for two days from morning to afternoon,how an unreachable phone can let someone use the make up class？ There is no denying that you have many problems, large and small,We always share our experiences with our friends, but I know I shouldn't recommend you.

Our pediatrician and several friends have recommended Southwest Aquatics to teach our toddler how…read moreto float and swim. He just started his lessons this past week and he is doing well. The toddlers will cry at times during the lesson, but the instructors comfort them and use toys at times to relax the babies. He is being trained by the owner of the business and she is AMAZING with our son! She is kind, encouraging, and patient with him. The staff at the facility have all been very nice, answered all our questions, and given us all the information we needed. The facility is clean and organized. They have an indoor, heated pool where they teach the toddlers and kids to swim. They also have a swim team and indoor and outdoor pools for them. The facility has plenty of parking, was easy to find, and has several old, beautiful oak trees around it. Rating from F to A+++, I give it A+++!

Es un lugar donde mi hijo aprendio a nadar y es muy estricto. Tuvimos a mi hijo por casi 6 anos…read morehasta que el tuvo un mal entendido con un companero y uno de los coach del lugar suspendio a mi hijo por 2 semanas injustamente. La amabilidad y la educacion de las directivas , las personas que atienden y los asistentes es equivalente a CERO . las competencias son desorganizadas y hay casi nada de incentivos para los ninos que ganan. Sacamos a nuestro hijo del lugar.

This park gives the opportunity for a wonderful sunset…read more They have plenty of parking areas, and it seems that it has a weeding venue inside. They area is quiet and you can see manyphoto session going around from time to time.

This was a nice park to watch the sunset at. I can't remember the last time I've had a clearer view…read moreof the sunset actually. Beware there are lots of cobwebs and spiders on the pier. There's lots of wildlife in general. The birds here are incredible, there's so many different kinds and all so colorful!

West Orange Trail is definitely a great place to get some steps in and start your day…read more With all the development in this area, it is nice to be able to escape and walk amongst the trees a bit and enjoy nature and allow the simple scenic b beauty soothe your soul. If you are in the area, I would definitely check out the West Orange Trail. It is a beautiful way to start your day. I will give West Orange Trail five stars overall and it definitely earns my recommendation.

This trail is massive!! I walked from the bike rental spot to all the way to Oakland nature…read morepreserve and back which ended up being a ~ 7k/5.6miles. This was just a small portion of the trail! You can seriously put in some miles! The trail itself self if very well kept! Lots of shade! Everyone on the trail seems to be respectful and understanding that multiple people are on the trail. You have people walking, running, biking, dog walking, whatever have you!