Spent the day at Barber Park and honestly forgot how much there is to do there. The park is always…read moresuper clean and well maintained, and it's one of the better parks around Orlando for both families and adults. There's a huge playground, splash pad, walking paths, sports courts, skate park, dog park, and plenty of open space to just relax. What I like most is that it never feels overly crowded or chaotic even when there are a lot of people there. It has a really laid back atmosphere and there's something for everyone whether you're bringing kids, skating, walking your dog, or just trying to get outside for a bit. The shaded areas and lake views make it even better, especially during sunset. Definitely one of the best public parks in Orlando and a spot I'll keep coming back to

I absolutely love this park. Used to come here when I was a kid with my dad for playground days,…read morepicnics and drill work ( track and field ). Now I bring my little one who loves the covered play area, huge fields and ducks ! She can ride her bike or scooter or make new friends on the playground. I also have come here for boat days with friends and romantic day picnics with my honey . This is a very nice smaller park and they even have a doggie play area !

Lake Eola has truly become the people's community park…read more The farmers market on the weekend is still a great place to find unique, handmade items. Although, they can be a bit expensive. Take a stroll around the lake for a nice long walk and take in the gorgeous, lively scenery at the same time.

I went to this park for the corporate 5k event. It is a nice park to walk around with the big lake…read morein the center and the famous fountain. At night it is nicely lit with many colors and I believe every hour they have a music and fountain show. There is an amphitheatre, and there were musicians playing for the event. There are a lot of ducks and swans, which can dirty the place because of the feathers and poop. You used to be allowed to feed them food from a small stand, but due to health concerns, it's now banned. There is a playground, but it's for kids only. There are 2 bathrooms area, but it can get dirty occasionally. There are a couple restaurants to enjoy near the park too. A nice park to have a nice walk, job, and exercise. Overall: B

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.

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for…read moreswimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;)

These bots ticks gardens is such a beautiful conservatory of a lot of amazing floral and plant…read morespecies. You can take your time and stroll through the gardens or come or one of their many events they hose such as outdoor movie nights! Check their website and calendar to see when you'll want to stop by

I had to schedule some activities on non-theme park days, found Harry P Leu Gardens as an option,…read moreand it was one of our favorite visits. They host various exhibits at different times of the year to keep things fresh. I was there for Origami in the Garden, which ran from February to September last year, and they had 13 different origami sculptures scattered around the gardens. We got lucky for parking, which seemed plenty, but the gardens was host to several private celebratory events. The people at the welcome center were very friendly and informative, letting me know where to go and giving me useful guides. There's also a small cafe and marketplace before you make your way to the gardens. Overall, the grounds has a fair ratio of both shaded and unshaded areas with different plant species organized in some manner that goes beyond my understanding. You MUST make sure you are well protected by the UV, as it bears down. You should consider thirst quenchers, too. It wasn't too crowded, and there's plenty of semi-secluded spots for a peaceful picnic. I loved that the origami exhibits allowed us to have goals along the grounds. If I go here again, I'd be interested in touring the historic Leu house. The "secret garden" was not really anything except a bunch of foliage, in my opinion, so it was kind of a waste of time trying to find it. The map is very helpful, and the paths are distinguished enough to not get lost. It looks like they had several beautiful options for wedding venues. The Leu Gardens is a great place to pair with some downtown Orlando or Winter Park exploration.

Cady Way Trail is picturesque and beautiful. The Advent Health Run 4 Love run/walk takes us through…read moreneighborhoods, Cady Way Trail and back to Ward Park/Showalter Field. Signs of encouragement and amusement were placed along the Cady Way Trial. The trail provides some scenic views of nature and has enough space for walkers, runners, pets and bicyclists alike.

My daughter recently showed me this beautiful trail near her house in Winter Park. Cady Way Trail,…read moreis a 6.5 mile stretch constructed along the abandoned roadbed of the East Florida & Atlantic Railroad and which ran to the former Naval Training Center Orlando. The trail is jointly owned by the Orlando Department of Families, Parks and Recreation and by Orange County Parks and Recreation. I was able to pick up the Cady Way Trail in Winter Park near Cady Way Park and take it down to Lake Baldwin. The paved Cady Way Trail is not open to motorized vehicles making it safe from cars although there was a famous murder of two Winter Park high school students that took place on the trail in 2012. Cady Way Trail travels through the Audubon Park. Baldwin Park, Colonial Town Center, and Coytown neighborhoods of Orlando. Cady Way Trail is actually part of a larger regional trail. From the trail you can connect to the 2.5 mile trail loop that lops around Lake Baldwin as I did or to another 1.5 mile trail around the west side of Lake Susannah. The shady trail is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors by walking, running, and biking.

Dolphin and manatee tour. The captain and guides were…read moremasters of the area and the topic. They were also great small talk artists. The stop at the island was a highlight. Worth the time and money.

This was a lot of fun, and completely on a whim! We were visiting my daughter and new grandson and…read moredecided to stay at a nearby resort. Looking for some activities, this came up in our search, so we made an afternoon of it. First off, the captain and crew was comical and they made the experience that much more memorable. We seen turtles, dolphins, and a few manatees! On top of that, we debarked on a small island along our tour, got out, stretched the legs, and took in some amazing views. The Mangroves were a sight to be seen. I can just imagine all the sea creature they give habitat to. We also seen some amazing boats, as well as, some interesting... uh... placement of sailboats. Great history of the local storms and the havoc they wreaked! Thank you for the fun experience for the Familia!! As always, enjoy and Happy sailing!

We're always looking for new parks to take my son to play on the weekends and we recently visited…read moreDelaney Park for the first time. It's nestled in a little historic neighborhood just south of downtown, and we really enjoyed it. I appreciate that they have a dedicated smaller playground for younger kids ages 2-5 as well as one for older kids ages 5-12. The gated playground area was very toddler friendly and not too crowded on a Sunday afternoon. My son loves the swings and the slides. The park was clean and well-kept with plenty of shade from the oak trees. Parking was easy and free along the street. This park also has restrooms, picnic tables, tennis courts, and a baseball field. Adding this one into our regular park rotation!

Orlando is home to many local parks throughout the city. Every city should provide as many…read morerecreational opportunities like Orlando for its residents. We visited Delaney Park recently with our grandchildren. They had a great time. The playground is enormous and kept the children busy and active for a long time. The baseball fields, tennis courts, playground, fountain, and rest rooms all appeared to be well maintained. Lots of trees for shade as well as some picnic tables are scattered around the park.

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!

This charming park is located next to H.H. Dickson Azalea Park. H.H. Dickson is credited with…read morebringing azalea's from England to Orlando. Both he and Mayor Carl T. Langford are buried in Orlando's historic Greenwood Cemetery. Carl T. Langford (July 23, 1918 - July 9, 2011) was mayor of Orlando from 1967 until 1980. He was one of the first two Eagle Scouts in the state to be awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. After serving in the military he attended the University of Florida and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1948. Carl T Langford is most remembered for being instrumental in bringing Disney World to Orlando. Carl T Langford Park is an oasis of nature in Orlando. It is located along Central Boulevard just south of downtown. This 19 acre park has an abundance of ancient shady live oaks, wide sidewalks, and green open spaces. There are also laurel oaks and swamp chestnut trees. Many birds, butterflies, and squirrels make their home here. Park amenities include a playground, boardwalk, basketball and tennis courts, picnic pavilions, a gazebo and neighborhood center can be reserved for parties. A loved discovering the suspension bridge. In 2014 a three foot pink bunny sculpture appeared in the park. The rabbit was placed in the park in honor of Charles Smith (Chase Smith) a longtime aide to City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. Smith died in August 2013 at the age of 41, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Chase Smith stepped in one year to play the Easter Bunny for the children at the egg hunts in Lake Como Park and here in Carl T. Langford Park. He was a natural and was beloved for the role. To honor him, a pink bunny was placed here and at Lake Como Park. I enjoyed such a relaxing visit to Carl T. Langford Park. The trees are beautiful and this park is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Go for a hike, take the kids to play, host a party, or enjoy a picnic. Whatever you do, you can't help but be charmed by the abundance of nature in this picturesque park

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.

Swimming lessons - Disappointed. Instructors need to have a stronger program with tips and tricks…read more Issue- The kids and adults are bunched up together in the pool which is a lot of noise and feel chaotic. BEWARE - if classes are cancelled due to weather you can only make up 1 class on that Friday. Meaning, if 2 classes are cancelled you can only make up 1 class. The weather issue need to be posted on their website so that people signing up for these classes are aware. Hard to get someone on the phone or no one is in office area at the pool. Lots of room for improvement.

Although I've never been inside, I'm impressed that they have bins outside for composting and…read morerecycling. They also have charging stations for electric vehicles.