Seminole Ranch Conversation Area is located just across from the Orlando Wetlands Park and is an…read moreopen area with cattle. It was pleasant enough to walk, but I would recommend keeping an eye focused on the ground. Where there is cattle, well, cattle eat and that food has to go somewhere. Still, a cool place.

Across the road from the more well known Orlando Wetlands Preserve is the 6,000 acre Seminole Ranch…read moreConservation Area bounded on the east by the St. Johns River and on the south by SR 50. Portions of this vast conservation area are in four counties and it was the first in Florida to be acquired with funds from the Save Our Rivers program. Seminole Ranch Conservation Area includes 12 miles of the St. Johns River. Ninety-six percent of the area is part of the St. Johns River floodplain and the hydric hammocks in this conservation area helps to filter nutrients out during seasonal flooding. What makes this area unique is the plants that grow in the salty water flowing from springs near Harney and Puzzle Lakes. The salt tolerating marine dwelling organisms found here are not present anywhere else on the St. Johns River. Seminole Ranch is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Many migratory and resident wading birds are frequently found here. Roseate spoonbills, white pelicans, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, painted buntings, and turkeys have all been recorded. Recreational activities permitted in this conservation area include hunting with proper permits and licenses, fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, hiking, paddling, boating, bicycling and picnicking. Running through the property are more than 4 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Camping is permitted only at the trail campsites along the Florida Trail for hikers accessing the area by the Florida National Scenic Trail. Much of the landscape of the preserve is open. About a half mile from the parking lot is the Fishhawk Camp with a picnic table and fire ring. Throughout the preserve expect to find large marshes, miles of open water, pine woods, and hammocks. Although central Florida is densely populated, this is a place where you are able to revel in the remoteness. Those looking for a short hike are best served by the Orlando Wetlands but long distance hikers and backpackers looking for a quiet getaway will appreciate all that Seminole Ranch has to offer.

I stopped by this park while driving through Rockledge and had a pleasant visit. I even had the…read moreentire park to myself. The park was dedicated on April 12, 2012, to Larry L. Schultz, a former Rockledge mayor who served on the City Council for 34 years before retiring in 2011. In addition to his public service, Schultz had a distinguished career with NASA at the John F. Kennedy Space Center, where he was responsible for the design, development, and operation of facilities, systems, and equipment used to support space vehicle launches. Together with his wife, Wanda, he also founded the Rockledge Open Space and Conservation (ROC) Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing recreation, open space, and conservation throughout the Rockledge community. Schultz passed away in 2018 at the age of 74. Adjacent to the parking lot is a memorial wall honoring police officers and firefighters. Jimmy Weaver Lake in the middle of the park is named in memory of Deputy First Class James "Jimmy" Weaver, who was tragically killed in 2003 after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic at the scene of a crash. This 7.5-acre park features a half-mile walking path around the lake, a playground, restrooms, a fishing dock, benches, and a covered pavilion with picnic tables. I enjoyed my walk around the lake and spotted a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks, along with several ibis. While walking through the park I spotted a Peace Pole dedicated by the Rockledge Rotary Club. A Peace Pole is an eight-sided aluminum monument displaying the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in different languages on each side. These monuments are installed around the world to promote peace and harmony. The Peace Pole Project even has an interactive online map showing the locations of Peace Poles in communities across the globe. More than 200,000 Peace Poles have been installed on every continent. It is always fun to find one.

Great park just as you get into Rockledge, Florida. I enjoyed the walking path, which goes around a…read morelake. It also has a nice pavilion and a decent amount of parking. Since I was here on a Thursday just before noon, the park was not overly crowded (there were just a few people here) and it felt like I had the park to myself. All in all, this is a great park and a wonderful addition to the community.

What a great place to see the native wildlife and plant species. During my walk along the trail, I…read moresaw so many birds, turtles, and alligators - it's definitely a place to take photos. Besides hiking, the park also offers biking, bird watching, and horseback riding, plus guided tours. Check out the visitor center, you'll see live fishes and baby alligators, as well as taxidermy displays of the local wildlife. You'll also learn how this wetland functions as an advanced treatment for Orlando's reclaimed water. I thought it was super informative!

Truly a hidden gem! It's free to visi and they offer free tram rides on the weekends. It's sooo…read morevast and beautiful, there's so much wild life to see. On my hike we saw tons of alligators, birds, bunnies and turtles. Even got to see baby owls. There are miles of trails and a board walk. Went at 8am on a Saturday and there weren't too many people out but as we were leaving the groups were picking up. There are benches along some of the trails and picnic tables and bathrooms near the entrance.

Keys go back in time when there was no electronics, tvs , cell phones etc and see how people lived…read moreas one ! If you love historic things, this is a cool place to check out in Christmas , Fl. I came here with my daughter's class on a field trip and while the adults loved it, I don't think it's for kids under 6. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable but not as understanding that kindergarteners attention spans are a lot shorter and using big words and making them stand through presentations that are not of interest is the reason I gave this a 3. 5-6 years who see farm animals are going to want to run and see them and they get overly excited so I was kind of mind blown that the tour guide couldn't realize that . There were some cool activities that the littlest enjoyed like filling water pails and cleaning laundry the old way and also make candle sticks . I think this is a cool place for bigger kids and adults for sure.

20 out of 10! Wow this place is absolutely relaxing and enjoyable! A great place for the family!…read moreI learned of this out door museum years ago. I fell in love with it. It's been years simce we have returned buy we finally came with our family a few days ago. Tje weather was absolute perfection! Breezy, sunny with a hint of cloudiness. Nice cool weather, in the low 70's. I planned to come here and have a BBQ with my family. They have grills there. After enjoying some food we decided to walk around and enjoy the scenery of history itself. Experiencing how many lived long ago. Travel back in time with your family and learn about life in the early 1900's. Walk through the houses from back in the day. House of the rich, poor amd middle class. Fun and educational for the family, especially for the kids. Why not plan a picnic or a BBQ with the family, friends or just you and your honey. Either way i guarantee you will have a nice relaxing day. I love it there. One thing I do miss though is the gift shop they use to have. But other then that you could spend hours there! They also have a tennis court there as well. And you can rent out 1 of the 3 gazebos they have there depending on how large your party is. Each gazebo holds a different amount of people. So go and visit this beautiful outdoor museum. Enjoy a peaceful day with the ones you love. I know i will return.

If you want a great view of the Indian River look no further than this little known treasure. It…read moretook me two tries to try and find the entrance to the parking lot but it was worth the extra effort. Shoreside Park offers a tranquil retreat for visitors. Park amenities includes a fishing dock, new picnic pavilion with tables, and a playground with climbing equipment, slides, and swings. I think the best feature of this park just might be the beautiful view of the Indian River where you might catch sight of native Florida birds, dolphins, and manatees. A great egret was waiting for me on the pier while osprey flew overhead. The park has a view of the nearby Pineda Causeway. This serene park is the perfect antidote to the daily stressors of life.

This park is along the East side of US 1 just south of the Pineda Causeway. The parking lot has…read moreabout 8 parking spaces and no other room. There is a ramp down to the walkway and the playground. The playground is to the north side (straight ahead) when coming down the ramp. The walkway to the right leads off to to a covered dock. The view is very pretty of the river and the land across the water. It is a very pleasant place to just enjoy the water, to fish or watch the birds. It is a hidden gem for the area.

The playground is so much fun. My daughters ages 3 and 6 had a great time on the climbing…read morestructure, slides, and swings. I especially enjoyed the "double swing" where you can swing with your toddler/infant. We attended a birthday party here and the pavilion was extremely close to the playground which made it easy to go back and forth. Also around the corner from the playground is a little stage on the edge of the woods that the children liked pretending to perform on and there were benches for people to sit and enjoy their show. Lots of trees for shade as well. Highly recommend!

Beautiful park. Quiet, peaceful, and shaded! We love taking the kids here! Definitely recommend.read more

Veterans Memorial Park in Titusville serves as a tribute to the men and women who have served our…read morecountry. Dedicated on July 4, 1991, the memorial sits connected to Space View Park by a pier along the scenic Indian River at the east end of Broad Street. The centerpiece of the park is the Circle of Memories, an 80 foot circular memorial featuring ten granite monuments with bronze plaques that honor the ten major U.S. conflicts, from the American Revolution through more modern wars, including Desert Storm. At the heart of the circle stands a Peace Monument, representing hope for the future. In addition to commemorating America's wars, the memorial includes special tributes to the courageous Tuskegee Airmen and to the hundreds of Allied soldiers who lost their lives in the tragic sinking of the S.S. Leopoldville during World War II. These memorials to lesser known chapters of history spotlight those whose service and sacrifice might otherwise be overlooked. The serves as the gathering place for Titusville's annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. it is also a great place to watch a space launch since the Kennedy Space center is less than 15 miles away across the lagoon. The thoughtful design, scenic waterfront location, and memorials make this an exceptional Veteran's Park.

This is a small park by Space View Park and is located down at the end of a street. There really is…read moreno parking lot, but there is plenty of on street parking. This is definitely a park that you would want to check out if you are in Titusville, Florida. While you are here, walk over to Spave View Park and check out two great parks. We need parks like this. Parks to gather as a community and also to remember those in history who helped allow us to live as we do. This park remembers our veterans.

Warren Park was such a delightful discovery on a recent trip to Orlando. This park in Belle Isle is…read morenamed after Wilbur and Rose Warren. In 1924, they donated eight acres of land along south Lake Conway "in consideration of the sun of $10" to Orange County, establishing the county's first public park. This donation was the foundation for what would later become Warren Park. For decades, this beachfront park offered a spot for folks to gather and visit with family and friends. Wilbur Warren also served as the first park commissioner when the Office of the Park Commissioner was established in 1926. In 1996, a park renovation added a dock for kayaks and paddleboards. Warren Park also has a rental pavilion, tennis and pickleball courts, picnic tables and grills, sand volleyball court, and a playground. A paved 0.3-mile walking path with exercise stations encircles the park. Note that the park is in two pieces. You have to cross the street to reach the smaller waterfront portion of the park. Warren Park is an important recreational resource for anyone seeking a peaceful retreat. The large shade trees are especially lovely but my favorite part might be the scenic lake view. Take the pups for a walk or the kids for play. This family friendly park has something for everyone.

I grew up going to this park with my cousins. It was one of…read moreour favorite things to do I. The summer. We would run around the field with frisbees or play in the park. We would bring our tennis equipment and play on the courts when they weren't being occupied. I haven't been to this park in a while, but pass it by on the way to the mall quite frequently. It's still looks as fun as I remember! I'm glad to see it's still in good upkeep!