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    Dinky Dock

    4.6 (25 reviews)

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    Alexis B.

    Dinky Dock Park is a small park with a boat ramp, a dock, grills, benches, picnic tables, and a sandy beach area. Despite the fact that my mom, my stepdad, and I were visiting Winter Park in January, it was a warm day when we stopped by Dinky Dock Park, and there were lots of people sunbathing and kayaking when we were there. It was lovely. If I lived in Winter Park, I'd sure I'd be there often to read or sunbathe or just take in some beautiful weather!

    Canals connected to lake where Dinky Dock is located @fourjollypets
    Megan J.

    This was my first time visiting Dinky Dock and I loved it! We got there early at 8am and I was able to find parking. I was already warned beforehand, that parking fills up fast and there's not a ton of parking to begin with, so I was very fortunate to find a spot! There are tours that launch out of this dock so there are a lot of people who visit. Great area, it's nice and shady to get my inflatable sup ready for the water. My dog had a great time paddle boarding with me, loved that it's dog friendly. The lake and the canals were breathtaking. For paddle boarding or kayaking you don't have to pay for anything, with boats I heard you do have to pay to launch. There was a lot of activity when I went on the water so we did have to move over for the boats passing by when we were in the canals. I didn't see any gators or any animals while out!

    Ariel W.

    Dinky Dock is the cute name given to the 1.5 acre park located on Lake Virginia in Winter Park. You might think the park was named for a small (dinky) dock but the name actually has a connection to the the railroad. In 1889 the Orlando-Winter Park Railway made it's debut. A Rollins College student called the train dinky and the name stuck. Soon everyone was calling it the dinky railroad until it's demise in 1967. The line ended where the park now sits and that is how Dinky Dock got it's name. Dinky dock is open year round from 8 AM to dusk. The park contains restrooms, a boat ramp, grills, benches, picnic tables, and a fishing pier. Boat permits are needed and can be obtained at the library and finance department. If you don't have your own kayak, Peace of Mind Kayak Tours rents for Dinky Dock and chain of lake tours. You can swim from the park although I believe the lake still contains alligators although I have never seen them. I have also seen swimming closed and different times depending on the bacteria level. I have always wanted to visit this park since passing it a few times on the Winter Park scenic boat ride. It is very small and seems to be used primarily by boaters and Rollins College students. The park offers a nice view of Lake Virginia and I saw students taking advantage of the dock for sunbathing.

    Laura G.

    Dinky Dock Park is a little over 1.5 acres. It has a fishing pier, boat ramp and swimming area. Big beautiful trees line up near the water's edge that give out lots of shade and blocks you from the brutal sun. The park is open 8am to sunset. There are a few benches, grills and picnic tables available to whoever gets there first. Bathrooms are available. It's a natural area with no lifeguards so alligator signs are posted and should be adhered to.

    Lilly pads
    Mandi S.

    Prefect little area to safely launch your water craft of choice. We took our new kayak out here for its maiden voyage and this was perfect for our needs. The parking lot is small so grab the first spot you can get because there probably isn't another available. There is a clean public bathroom nearby with soap and air hand dryer. The rest of this review is more about the lakes than the dock itself: There are canals connecting 4 lakes together. We managed to kayak all four. The wind was a bit tough in some of the areas the day we were out even though it didn't feel windy on land, so just be prepared if it's your first time out on your own. That said, the canals are super chill and it's required to go slow through them so if you are tired head to a canal and enjoy the break from the wind and enjoy the gorgeous foliage. Don't stop! You have to keep moving in the canals but it's a gentle glide out of the wind and your arms will thank you for it, haha. There is a tour boat company that operates through these lakes, they have big white boats. There were 6 of them the day we were out, so listen for them and prepare to move around them as they tend to all travel together. All of the operators were neighborly when we inevitably crossed paths in one of the canals. We were fortunate to be a spot where we could pull over and let them go by. But even if there wasn't I felt safe. They were mindful of those around them and they were genuinely appreciative when we let them go around us. We ran into paddle borders, boaters, kayakers and Canoers. There were even some jet skiers pulling tubers ! Waters are clear a beautiful. We felt very safe, and we can see why people swim in this series of lakes. We didn't see a single gator but we weren't looking that hard. Lots of fish and freshwater clams look like shiny silver glistening in the water between the flowing green underwater grass.

    Beautiful trees
    Sheeka B.

    Spent the better part of Tuesday at this beautiful lake just wandering the shore, watching folks kayak and paddle board, and just sitting on the edge of the docks enjoying the scenery. I love that it has a roped off area for swimming, several docks for accessing the water by boat, and an actual park with picnic tables and BBQ areas. Surround by all sorts of plants including wildflowers and tall trees, I could've gotten lost walking along the sandy beach while tiny waves lapped at my feet. The sunset here was amazing as well and there is ample parking for your car or Boat as well as a dock for walking your boat in and a ramp for hauling your water vessel away. I think this will become a daily visit.

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

    We just moved back to Winter Park and have been fishing a different spot every day. Dinky Dock was our first spot and didn't disappoint!

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    1 year ago

    Great kayak launch. Parking is a but on the tight side, but never had a issue, as there is always a spot for trailers here.

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    6 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Pretty lake and easy access parking. There are benches to sit and it's pretty peaceful.

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    3 years ago

    Clean and fantastic little spot!!! Looking forward to more paddle board adventures here

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    3 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Great place to launch kayaks! Be sure to get there early because parking is limited!

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    Review Highlights - Dinky Dock

    “For paddle boarding or kayaking you don't have to pay for anything, with boats I heard you do have to pay to launch.”

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    Lake Lorna Doone Park

    Lake Lorna Doone Park

    4.8(8 reviews)
    4.9 mi•John Young, Horizons West / West Orlando

    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.

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    Lake Lorna Doone Park
    Lake Lorna Doone Park
    Lake Lorna Doone Park

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    Lake Eola Park - beacon of hope

    Lake Eola Park

    4.6(475 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    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"

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    Lake Eola Park - Night Light Time

    Night Light Time

    Lake Eola Park - Lake Eola Swan boat

    Lake Eola Swan boat

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    Blue Jacket Park

    Blue Jacket Park

    4.6(64 reviews)
    1.2 mi•Baldwin Park

    Blue Jacket Park is definitely one of my favorite parks to visit. It is spacious with many…read moreopportunities to engage in various activities, from working out, biking, jogging/running, walking, picnicking, yoga - you name it, you can do it. While it is a lively park and can get busy from time to time, especially on the days the run/walk clubs are there, it is usually a nice park to visit solo and enjoy the peace of the surroundings offered. There is more than enough open green space and a good amount of seating throughout the park. The park also maintains various courts/area for various sporting events like baseball, volleyball, soccer, and various other outdoor activities. As far as proximity to other areas, this park is also located a short distance from the shopping and food eateries in Baldwin Park. So, after enjoying a great workout or just strolling through the park, you can pop over to Baldwin Park for some food and beverages. The only challenge, at times, is parking. Parking in this area (in general) is just tricky; however, there is street parking throughout the neighborhood near the park as well as a designated parking lot for the park itself. However, you can also park throughout the Baldwin Park area and just walk to the park from there. Before I close this out, I've gone to numerous events in this park as well, so it is great for hosting various community events (of course, with the proper permits, etc.). All in all, Blue Jacket Park is really just a great park.

    I've been coming here since I was a kid, and I still love walking around this park to this day…read more I used to come here to play tennis as a kid. The park is also pretty fun. I can still use the swings at least! One of my favorite things to do here is to walk around the park though. It's great exercise! It used to be a Navy base long ago, with a ship for training! Now it's a park with recently added plaques and statues to honor its past.

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    Blue Jacket Park - Https://page.fundeasy.com/7764430. - I appreciate your support with this great cause. Thank you

    Https://page.fundeasy.com/7764430. - I appreciate your support with this great cause. Thank you

    Blue Jacket Park - MLK chasing dream Event @Park

    MLK chasing dream Event @Park

    Blue Jacket Park - Getting ready for the race to MLK Chase the Dream

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    Lake Baldwin Park

    Lake Baldwin Park

    4.5(231 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Lake Baldwin is my go too for my walks and jogs! I feel safe here no matter the time of day because…read morethere are so many people being active rather walking, cycling, jogging or a walk/ run club or 5! The scenery is peaceful and it's a good way to clear your mind, get fit or enjoy a nice convo and coffee with your friends, partner or kids. This is my 3-4 day routine and I love it so much !

    This is one of my favorite parks. I've been visiting for over a decade. It used to have a different…read morename. It's a great dog park. I really miss the giant tree by the dog wash area. The stump remains. There used to be an incredible piece of art carved into the tree. There are still other great trees remaining though. Lots of trees. One time I went there on a cool autumn morning and I thought I had passed into dog HEAVEN!!! The fancy dog rescue groups met up and there were tons of incredible dog breeds, especially the ones that look like big fluffy mops. I've been here numerous times, & this park means a lot to me. I have incredible memories. *Beware of the lake, there might be alligators. (I used to enjoy watching the sailboat lessons.) *Best if you wear boots. Last time I ended up with a bunch of dirt in my shoes. *I've only seen 2 dog fights. Stay close to your dog. *Once, I saw what appeared to be coyote fur on a fence, there might be one around there sometimes. The walking trails in the woods/forest part is really fun. A guy used to play his guitar in a center area. I like walking my dogs through the woods there. Sad when I see my dogs years later unable to walk like they previously could, or disoriented, lost in there. We sure did enjoy that park extensively. Bring dog shampoo & a towel if you want, the dog shower bench is free.

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    Lake Baldwin Park
    Lake Baldwin Park - Small dogs area is available through a gate.

    Small dogs area is available through a gate.

    Lake Baldwin Park - 1st time at this great dog park!

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    1st time at this great dog park!

    Dinky Dock - parks - Updated September 2026

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