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.

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 is a truly wonderful place with beautiful decor. It has come such a long way! I absolutely…read morelove coming here to enjoy the peace and nature. Plus, Andrew who works there is always respectful and so helpful with loading me in and out safely.

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.

I absolutely love this public park. It has an excellent layout, a fantastic location, and is one of…read morethe most complete parks in the area. The playground is fun and feels safe for kids. There's also a pier where you can watch turtles and fish, which my children absolutely love every time we visit. If you enjoy being active, there's a scenic trail that's great for walking, running, or biking. The park also features basketball and baseball courts, picnic shelters for BBQs and birthday parties, clean restrooms, and plenty of parking spread throughout the different areas, making it easy to access everything. The real highlight of the park, though, is its tennis complex. Even though I don't personally use it, it's clearly the centerpiece of the park, with more than 10 tennis courts, excellent facilities, kids taking lessons, and tournaments happening regularly. If you're a tennis fan or looking to get into the sport, this is one of the best public places in the area. Overall, it's a fantastic park for families, sports lovers, or anyone looking to spend a relaxing day outdoors.

Nice community park that you'll miss if you blink. This is a decent size park with a few lakes and…read moremiles of walking/biking trails. The core of the park is a tennis center. There are several courts in good condition, including a pro shop and group pavilion. There are a few other picnic pavilions, clean restrooms, baseball field, and basketball court. There is also a playground and mini exercise area. Although not found designated as MTB on most apps, the park has an easy perimeter trail that is good for off-road/pavement cycling. It can be slightly challenging if only for some sandy stretches here and there, but generally a light workout. There are also some side trails as well as several other paved trails to ride on as well.

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!

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.

I went to this park for a food event on Thursday. While there a nice parking lot, parking can be…read moredifficult during events. I parked in the back and walked a little to the park for the event. At least parking was free. I only went to the venue area near the city hall, which was spacious and very clean. I didn't go to the lake area, but it looked nice and I think you can fish there as well. I think there was a playground too, but it was a while since I last remembered. I do like the fountain in the pond not to far from city hall. While I only visited this park for an event, it looks to be a nice park to walk near the lake, go fishing, or playing in the field. Overall: B+

This was my second time visiting this park for the Ocoee MUSIC Festival. Last year we had Joan Jett…read moreand Night Ranger headlining the show. This time around it was the Los Lonely Boys and Bret Michaels. The City of Ocoee, Dan Newlan, and all of the other sponsors kick ass for putting this event on for free. If you're planning on coming, definitely get here early. The first band usually goes on around 6pm. I arrived at 4pm and it took me 30 minutes to park once pulling in off Hwy 50. There is a ton of police presence and volunteers available to keep things in order. There is a designated handicap parking area and staff will escort you to the nearest walkway via golf cart if you need assistance. If you get there early enough you can park your chair right up in front of the stage. Just know that once the headliner comes on people from the back will push their way up. The food and drinks are reasonable. I bought a 20 oz Kona beer for $6, bottled water was $2, bottled soda for $3, and a big bag of kettle corn for $8. There are plenty of other food vendors available selling items such as pizza, corn dogs, funnel cakes, sausage and peppers, arepas, empanadas, chicken on a stick, and more. There is a carnival section in the back where you can play games and ride some smaller type ride. The restroom situation is pretty good. There are plenty of clean Porto-lets available. I've never had to wait to use one and they were kept clean throughout the evening. The only downfall is there is no actual hand washing station outside of the portlets it's just a hand sanitizer station, so bring some handy wipes with you. The rules for the event state that you can't bring in a cooler but I seen many people bringing soft coolers. I carried in several bottles of water and a bag full of snacks and nobody gave me any trouble. If you're close enough to your car you can always just leave the cooler in your car and go back to it throughout the day for meals if you're trying to save some cash. The park itself is beautiful and spacious, it sits right off of beautiful Lake Starke. There are several walking paths but I couldn't tell you how far they go. Even though it was blazing hot out there was always a cool breeze going down the slope of the park past the stage and towards the lake. I highly recommend coming to Bill Breeze park for the Ocoee music festival or just to come to relax. This park is really nice and worth the visit.

We love this hidden jewel for boating and jet skiing. I like the fact that this park is clean and…read morehas a beautiful beach to pull your boat/jet ski up to and a large sandy area for swimming. There is a sidewalk, picnic tables, a large grass parking area for trailers, and a wide grassy bank for setting up chairs, umbrellas, etc. Another BIG plus: bathrooms! And they flush!! The lake is not as large as some but there are usually less people than at many other Central Florida ski lakes so it makes it nice. It is great for skiing but you can also find a quiet spot for fishing because there is a small canal leading to another even less busy lake. They do have a fishing pier too. They just finished a renovation on the ramp (a double) so it is even nicer than before. The people who use the lake are often times more courteous than at many other, more popular lakes.

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.