-- Recreational Boaters Alert! -…read more Floridians like their boats and that's certainly true in Highlands County as we have over 100 lakes! This boat ramp is very popular and a bit special and here's why- * It's directly off US Route 27 North between Avon Park and Sebring so it's ridiculously easy to access. *It has picnic tables shaded by a small pavilion. * It has an unusual and very nice T-shaped fishing dock so you can easily fish from the shore with folk's love! See my pictures. *It even has a Little Free Library so you can grab a book if the fish aren't biting. Pro Tip- Avoid the Mexican restaurant at the site as there are many better options minutes away! Just check Yelp and my reviews. This lake is relatively small at just under 200 acres, but it's packed with bass and crappie and the fishermen love it! Pro Tip- 12lb bass have ben caught at this lake! If you are in the area with your boat or just want to do some fine freshwater shore fishing, you could have a great day here!

Large lake that has clearly been set up for scuba training. There is a large parking lot and a…read morelarge concrete pad with many picnic tables that classes can use to set up gear, brief their dives, etc. The path from the pad to the lake has been cleared and is easy to traverse in full gear. They recently put up "sails" over the picnic tables to keep most of the sun off, which is really helpful. Every time I go, I can see some new improvement to the facilities. The lake itself is laid out with many lines and markers to facilitate underwater navigation. They have set up some "fun" things to see, such as mounting bicycles or creating a "gnome garden," sinking a boat with skeletons on board, etc. There are platforms that can be used for skills. The lake is good for Open Water and for Advanced classes. The bottom is fairly silty and it's easy to kick up a "storm" of silt and screw up visibility. The viz is between 10 and 20 feet (on a good day), and mostly greenish, so make sure you're sticking together. There are two port-a-potties and a small changing room...and that's it. Bring lots of water and snacks in a cooler. Waivers and reservations are done online. If you're a scuba instructor, register with the management of the lake (free) to get an instructor ID number. Use that number when you make reservations for your classes. Instructors are free, students pay $20 plus $1.20 in tax. Well worth it. When I have the time and students are willing to make the drive (it's 2 hours from my home and scuba shop), I prefer to do training here because I can take my time and not worry about the tides at Blue Heron Bridge.

So, sue me! My teeny tiny town Of Avon Park in Central Florida is lousy with lakes. You can't throw…read morea stick without hitting a lake. Of course, the stick would clunk a gator on the snout first! I finally got around to visiting this particular lake. Do your homework- If you are not from the area and looking for a place to swim & picnic, this isn't it! This lake has a lot of private homes surrounding it, but it has a big reputation for SCUBA divers. There is a divers parking lot with a few picnic tables where they lay out their gear. Local organizations hold diving classes here. There is also an adjacent boat ramp, but there is NO public swimming! Pro Tip- If you are traveling with little munchkins and looking for swimming & picnicking, I recommend Donaldson Park in downtown Avon Park. It's just minutes away. Nice beach. Divers love this place because the water is so clear and it's up to 50ft deep. If SCUBA is your thing, this is a four star stop.

Do you like where you live? Do all the things that make up "your city" match up with your needs? If…read moreyou are honest, probably not everything but Avon Park is close enough for me and I'm content! I've retired here for five years now but visited many times for decades before that as my parents retired here. It's safe to say I know the city very well. It's a teeny tiny place with a population of around 10-12,000. It's in agricultural Highlands County so it's off the beaten track. If you stick a thumbtack in the middle of the state, you might hit my condo! Orlando is 70 miles North and Tampa is 75 miles West. Head East 80 miles to Vero Beach. I live in a beautiful condo on a lake with exceptionally low taxes and extremely low cost of living. There really isn't a rush hour here. The medical community caters to retirees and I'm fine with that. Do I have 1000 restaurants like Orlando? Nope but I have enough to get by. I have all the retail I need with two Publix within striking distance. Amazon ships most of my stuff in one day! On any given day I could stop off at my Cheers bar, you know the one where everyone knows your name, and then grab some authentic Mexican food from any one of a dozen places. It doesn't get much better than that!

I had a problem and Danielle took care of it for me that afternoon! Thank-you so much for helping…read moreme.

If you're local and you've been meaning to do this tour for years... get out there and do it! If…read moreyou aren't local and you would have to fly/drive for hours... still do it! We saw SO MUCH more wildlife than we saw on Everglades tours! We even caught a roseate spoonbill! We felt we got a great bang for our buck. We will be taking our friends here whenever we have visitors, from now on. I can't even describe to you how prehistoric feeling and impressive this area is; it feels like another world. Locals, skip the Everglades - you have the Everglades at home. Tourists - save money AND get a better tour, this is IT! We are local and we have our own boats and jet skis, but the airboat goes places we never could. We will be back!

My husband and I loved this experience! John, our guide, was friendly and outstanding at…read moremaneuvering the boat and pointing out the wildlife. We saw several gators, turtles, lots of beautiful birds, even cows and a lush diversity of plants and trees. This is well worth a visit. I've wanted to take an airboat ride for years and this experience checked all the boxes!

This historic 9000-acre park opened in 1931. It's considered an old growth forest and full of bald…read morecypress trees. There are a wide variety of endemic wildlife and plants. The main feature of this wonderful park was the boardwalk that goes through the swamp forest. Some really old trees that are possibly 1000 years old, is located in this park. There are nine trails, a campground, a playground, and a picnic area. There's a 3-mile loop trail for biking and driving. Also, a museum and concession built by the Civilian Conservation Corps; they constructed many buildings, bridges, and blazed trails in Florida State Parks. We were staying nearby and decided to explore this park. I enjoyed the historic land and old trees. The boardwalk was pleasant to stroll on; I saw quite a few memorial plaques. Generations of people walking on the same paths decades ago. It's a peaceful place and I'm glad they didn't turn it into farmland back in the 1930s.

This park is wonderful, plenty of trails, a cute store and just peaceful nature where you can see…read moreall kinds of birds, sometimes deer or gators and it's just a great place to visit.

Very clean and scenic dog park! There are a few ponds nearby and it is nestled in a growing…read moreneighborhood right by a golf course.

Excellent Well maintained dog park for both large and small dogs.Beaux and his smaller friend…read moreBellystar had a great time playing running and even swimming in kiddy pool. Truly a great place

We stayed at Canopy Oaks over Labor Day weekend, and it was an amazing experience! The resort was…read morefantastic, and we had such a great time. There was so much for the kids to do that they were never bored. They loved everything from the waterslide and foam party to the arts and crafts, but their absolute favorite was the scavenger hunts. The pool was perfect for the Florida heat, and the refreshing drinks available poolside were a great bonus. One employee was walking around kindly reminding guests to keep their drinks on the edge of the pool instead of in the water. He was always polite and friendly, which we really appreciated. Overall, we had a wonderful weekend and can't wait to come back!

Booked about a week ahead, at that time tgere were 147 sites available. It shows you what is…read moreavailable to pick from. I picked one in the low 400's...I think it was 405, because one on each side was empty. Fast forward to the day before I get an email about virtual check in. However it states I am in the mid 100's....so I call and inquire. At the time of the call there were 109 sites vacant. The girl proceeds to tell me if you dont pay a $50 lock fee. They can move me at their discretion. So I got moved....additionally, got here an hour early and had to pay $25 early check in. 109 empty spots and the pool is like a carnival cruise pool....SLAMMED! Only 2 small comfort stations. No shade to be found. We are here now, and this may well get updated for a vetter rating...or worse, who knows. But it seems like a resort that will nickel and dime you to death. And moving someone who booked, and paid in full is some shady crap....they are all about the money grab!

A work trip brought me to the area for the first time. I was told by family that the downtown was…read morebuilt from a circle. I was like "what?! No..". I had to see for myself! I planned to visit the circle first. I was there on a Tuesday afternoon in June. There was plenty of parking to be found infront of the nearby shops in the circle. I had my dog with me and we walked across the street to the park. The park was really cute! It was well taken care of and the grass was manicured. There was a man playing music which provided a nice vibe. There were a few police officers sitting on benches in the parking taking a break. I thought that it must be nice for the officers to choose here to relax. There was a blue wavy installation that children were playing on and a photographer was there taking professional photos. Looks like a great spot for some family candid photos. My dog and I enjoyed some quiet time sitting in the gazebo. It gave us some shade and a place to sit. While the park is so cute, I did wish to see more people here enjoying it from the town. It was a summer day with no school in and I saw a few kids/people in general but not many.

Sebring Circle Park is the heart of downtown Sebring, often celebrated as "The City on the Circle."…read moreEstablished in 1912, it sits at the center of the historic district, surrounded by restaurants, shops, and small businesses that make the area lively and inviting. Street parking is available along the spokes leading into the circle, with additional lots nearby, making it convenient for visitors to stop and explore. Inside the circle, the shaded park offers a welcome pause from the Florida sun, with mature trees casting cool cover over benches and walkways. Visitors will find paver walkways lined with traditional park lamps, cafe tables, and benches that make the space inviting for both strolling and lingering. Families often enjoy the playground areas, while children are drawn to the whimsical "blue wave" play structure. For casual recreation, the concrete ping pong tables and corn hole courts are tucked into the park, complete with trays to hold paddles and bean bags, making it easy to join in a game. At the center, the gazebo serves as a focal point and gathering spot, often used for community events. The park is dotted with features that give it character, including a central fountain, commemorative markers, and landscaped beds that add color and charm. It is a place where locals gather for events and visitors linger to enjoy the atmosphere. While pedestrians have the right of way here, it is worth remembering that many visitors come from places where that is not the norm, so crossing the circle requires a bit of caution. [Review 1455 of 2025 - 2139 in Florida - 25008 overall]