I had advertisment for a honey tasting class and decided to sign up for it. It was about 28…read moredollars, which included admission to the gardens. I was greeted when I arrived, then I checked in to the class. The instructor was a beekeeper from University of Florida. He introduced us to various types of honey, including many from different countries and types of flowers. We also tried were a few local honeys from Florida. It took about 1.5 hours to sample over 20 different types of honeys. A bit of description was provided for each honey, but questions were answered. I really enjoyed the Manuka honey, Lavender honey, and the various honeys from Florida. After the class, there were certain items for sale, but I decided to head to the gardens. While I did enjoy the displays and the fountains near the home, I couldn't enjoy much and left early due to the thunderstorm nearby. Still, I did enjoy about 15 to 20 minutes of walking through it. Parking was free and ample. Being a foodie, I really enjoyed the honey tasting experience. The instructor was great and informative, and I enjoyed most of the honeys I tried. The garden admission addition was a plus, but I wish I was able to stay a bit longer. I will definitely register for another class in the future, and hopefully be able to spend time at the gardens a lot longer. Overall: A

If you're visiting Orlando, I highly recommend this as one of your stops. A historical landmark of…read morethe city. I found out the Leu family donated their family land hoping to share its beauty. Unique gardens with plenty of shade. Great for all ages, including toddlers. It is fenced in with lots of areas to picnic, if that's your thing! There's a small cafe for coffee, ice cream and a few snacks. On certain days they have infant and toddler reading time (20minutes long). The first Monday of each month is free entry however there are no guided tours. Check their website for more info!

I was born in Orlando in 1961, so Lake Eola has been a part of my entire life. I rarely make it…read moredown here anymore, but I had an appointment near here and as I parked, I look at the park and the lake and made sure that I would spent some time after the meeting, and I am glad that I did. It is so beautiful here, a sanctuary in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Orlando. I walked around the lake, people watching, enjoying the foliage, the trees, the wildlife, so serene and tranquil. If I lived downtown, I would be here every day. I highly recommend taking a trip here and getting away from the city for a few minutes- you will be glad you did.

I've been going to Lake Eola on and off for about 30 years, and every time I come back I have such…read moremixed feelings about this place. I have beautiful memories here with my mother, my father, who has been gone for many years now, and my cousin, so I think that's part of why seeing this park now affects me as much as it does. I can still remember those different periods of my life here, but then I look at the lake and the wildlife and I keep thinking about how much better this place could be. I actually had to go look up the facts about Lake Eola because I started wondering if I was being unfair or if I was simply seeing it differently because I've known this place for so long. What I found was pretty surprising. Lake Eola has had serious water-quality problems going back decades. By the 1980s, pollution and debris were entering the lake with rainfall, and the lake eventually had to be de-mucked and cleaned in 1992. Today, it's an urban lake that receives stormwater from a large portion of downtown Orlando, which means everything washing off those streets and surrounding areas can ultimately make its way into the lake. What bothers me most isn't even the people walking around the park. It's the wildlife. There are swans, ducks, egrets, herons, fish, turtles and other animals living in and around this lake, and once you start paying attention to them, it's hard not to wonder what their environment is actually like. I see these beautiful animals swimming around, and then I look at the water they're swimming in and see the debris and the muck, and it really gets to me. Maybe I'm more sensitive to it because I've known this place for so long, but I can't just look at the swans anymore without looking at what's underneath them. Then all those memories come rushing back. All these different versions of my life that somehow happened around this same lake, and now I'm standing here decades later looking at that water, watching the wildlife swimming through it, and thinking about how much has changed and how much of this lake is still dealing with the same problems. And honestly, after all this time..... the City of Orlando needs to simply "DO BETTER"

Is Princeton Park is a pretty cool in College Park (hey, that is a lot of use on the word "park")…read more It has a children's play area and is a pleasant enough place to visit.

This is one of the cutest little parks in College Park. It has the best trees. They are large and…read morefull, so pretty and provide great shade. There is a small play area for children. They also have a covered pavilion. I see birthday parties there almost every weekend. Signs say it's on a first come, first serve unless you rent through the park services.

4 stars for my tiny little neighborhood park, perfect for taking my baby out for a quick stroll…read morearound the square. This park is located at the Colonialtown Neighborhood Center, and has been my frequent stroller route for the last year. Just a couple laps around the center, community garden, and park and I've worked up a pretty good sweat in this heat. My son is just getting old enough to start enjoying the swings and playground area. To be honest, this park could use a bit of a refresh and a little TLC. I do wish there was a bit more shade, especially over the baby swings. Those black swings get so hot in the blazing sun, you can't even use them some days. Same goes for the slides. They do have some triangle canopies over the picnic area, but they don't do much to actually provide shade. I also always pack baby wipes to wipe down the swings & equipment before we use them. I appreciate that this park is just a short walk from home and I look forward to watching my son grown and & play here.

Colonial Town Park is a small neighborhood park not far off of Mills Avenue. This park is more…read moregeared towards young children, but otherwise is a decent enough park. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if you are in the general area and have young kids in tow, Colonial Town Park is a decent enough place to spend a bit of time.

Came out with my girlfriend to paddle board and we had a very friendly and fun experience. Shout…read moreout to Mike! He told us all about the history of the lake and the town. He can also slide the hell out of the guitar keep it up!

I booked the 10 pm bioluminescence kayak tour on Merritt island…read more They had different options available on-site of clear 2 people transparent Kayaks, also on person transparent single Kayaks. It was easy to see the company truck by the launching area on the on the Indian river lagoon. There were life vest and small lights for us to be able to see the other members of the group while paddling in the dark. We paddled to horseshoe crab island and got to see dolphins a couple of times. Overall is pretty dark so mostly you see them around. Our guide was Jordan. He was great! We could not have asked for a better guide. He gave us instructions on how to stay safe, and what to expect during the tour. He also worked hard to communicate with the group while in the water, and made sure that the group stayed together the whole time. He has the right personality for the job making our experience easy and fun. We could see the bioluminescence phenomenon what was pretty incredible. I wish we could have Good pictures of it but unfortunately they don't turn out good. Bring bug spray ! Lots of mosquitos!

In the middle of the city is a peaceful oasis of nature situated around nine acre Park Lake…read more Historic 1925 Park Lake Presbyterian Church is on the lake's southwest corner. In the center of the lake is a fountain. Note that swimming and boating are prohibited. Park Lake Park is a passive park that is on Park Lake's southwest corner and also runs along the south side of Colonial Drive. The park is conveniently located near downtown Orlando, making it an easy getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Park Lake Park attracts both wildlife and local residents in search of a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. The trees that frame the picturesque lake provide welcome shade and beauty to the park. This park is a great environment for jogging, walking, or leisurely strolls. Park Lake Park is also equipped with benches and is ideal for families and groups looking to enjoy a meal outdoors. Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts will appreciate the diverse wildlife that frequents the park. The tranquil lake is home to various bird species, and it's not uncommon to see ducks, an anhinga drying its wings, and other waterfowl gliding across the water. While Park Lake Park may not have the amenities of larger Orlando Parks it is still an important recreational amenity to those who live in Park Lake/Highland community of Orlando.

I happened to ride my bike through here while I was discovering what was around the urban trail…read more It's pretty, but really small. If you walk half a mile around, you've seen everything and there isn't anything for children like swings, or slides. Not really sure I'd consider this a destination park given all the larger, nicer parks in Orlando.

A great facility for those 55 and older. Located just north of downtown Orlando right in between…read moreOrange Avenue and Magnolia. Activities include arts and crafts, dancing, fitness programs such as yoga, aerobics, strength training, card games such as Bridge and Texas Hold'em, and other special events. Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex has several class rooms available. A computer lab, a weight room and cardio equipment room for exercise, a ballroom, library, and a billiards/game room are available as well. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sunday hours are from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Billiards and Fitness Rooms are always open during operating hours.

The Orlando Tennis Centre is next to the Grove on New Hampshire Street just off of Orange Blossom…read moreTrail. The courts are well-maintained and there is plenty of parking.

Orlando tennis center is a simply beautiful complex. We decided to get a family membership which…read moreallows us to book a court 48 hours in advance. Court time is always free as long as you have the membership. We have never had issues getting a court yet, as there are many options available (mostly clay courts but also hard court and pickleball). The staff is friendly, the locker rooms and the rest of the premises are extremely clean. The only downside is that you cannot bring more than 6 balls or a hopper for practice. I feel like they have this rule so you will pay for their ball machine which is $15/pp/1 hour. Regardless, I am glad we joined and we no longer have to drive to random public courts crossing our fingers we get lucky!

The Gardens are beautiful and a great place to reconnect with the world. We went to see the…read moreNight-Blooming Cereus. It's a once a year blooming that is amazing. The trails are an easy walk and quite beautiful. I highly recommend it.

i had a great time walking around this garden located in winter park. there was a wedding…read morehappening, a family gathering elsewhere by the river, & the whole space was buzzing w/ summer energy. there is a whole area of the garden i have yet to explore but good thing is - it's free! i was a little lost on the map, it would have been nice to have a more clear distance gauge because some of the lines look like the trail is super long when in reality it's not and just the placement of buildings/parking too. i'll be back to conquer that map !! or maybe i'll stay a while and smell the roses.

This park is so beautiful with a ton of shade! The playground is small, but there's so much space…read morefor picnics and lounging that it still wins your heart by just existing. Cross the street and you'll get a beautiful scenery for photos as well!

This is a great little park in the Colonialtown South neighborhood near downtown. We took the baby…read morefor a stroll this past weekend and enjoyed the breezy weather. This park has lots of tree coverage which is much needed in the summer months. You can tell there was likely some damage and downed trees due to the recent hurricanes and some of the big oaks have uprooted. It's still a nice park nonetheless with wooden bridges, 2 playgrounds, a basketball court, and tennis court, and plenty of covered picnic areas and benches. They have a parking lot onsite as well as a community center. This park is also directly across the street from Dickson Azalea park, so if you're down for off-roading in more of a forest vibe (not stroller friendly), be sure to skip over there for a true nature adventure!