I really wanted to love Lakes Park Children's Garden because honestly... the park itself is…read moreBEAUTIFUL. The location is great, it's gated, and at first glance it feels like the perfect spot to take kids, especially if you're just trying to kill time like we were before a flight. But I'm going to be real, the safety concerns completely changed the experience for me. It gets VERY crowded, and there's a big mix of people coming in and out. There were tons of kids, which is expected, but a lot of them were not supervised and were honestly pretty rough/mean. It didn't feel like a calm, safe environment where you can just let your kids play without constantly hovering. Also... the slides were SO hot. Like, borderline unusable hot. That alone was frustrating. The biggest issue for me though was the bathrooms. They are far from the main play area, and as a mom, there was no way I felt comfortable letting my kids go alone. When I did go, the bathrooms were extremely dirty, and I noticed syringes in a nearby area which was honestly alarming. That completely shifted my level of comfort. It also gave off the vibe that it's a place where people hang out who aren't necessarily there for the park, if that makes sense. I will say again, the park itself is beautiful and has so much potential. But just because it's gated doesn't mean it's actually safe. If you go, just be VERY vigilant, especially if you have more than one child. This is not a "sit back and relax" kind of park in my opinion.

All Children's Park is a brand new playground along the Caloosahatchee River in Centennial Park in…read moredowntown Fort Myers. The full name of the playground is the Lizbeth Benaquisto Inclusive Playground, in honor of the former state senator who pushed the legislation that set aside state funds for the playground."We were very particular there was going to be a playground that was successful for kids with very unique abilities," Benaquisto said at a January 2021 council meeting. "They have never had a safe place to play." The playground has swings, slides, and numerous climbing structures. I love all of the uniquely Florida touches like the puffer fish, manatee, and the Model T car in honor of Henry Ford who had a winter home in the city along with Thomas Edison. This is one of the nicest playgrounds I have ever seen and the kids playing on it we're having a ball. Best of all it is ADA accessible so children of all abilities can enjoy it. The new playground is a fantastic addition to Centennial Park.

Awesome beach and picturesque.Great place to visit! There is a little hot dog stand there also.The…read moreowner of the stand is really awesome.

Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda has that easygoing, waterfront charm that makes you want to…read morelinger, even if you miss the big show at sunset. I arrived too early for the evening colors, which is a bummer, but the park still delivers plenty to enjoy. There are picnic tables, shaded spots, and enough open space for families to spread out and make a day of it. The fishing crowd was out in full force, and the boat launch gives you direct access to Charlotte Harbor, which adds a nice sense of motion and purpose to the shoreline. The only real disappointment is the boardwalk. It is completely closed and visibly buckled, likely from hurricane damage, and it leaves a quiet gap where a scenic stroll should be. Even so, the park holds its own as a relaxed, functional waterfront stop with a lot of local life happening around it. [Review 1591 of 2025 - 2171 in Florida - 25141 overall]

We had a great time walking the preserve. There is a parking lot with a handicapped porta potty on…read moresite that was clean. My sister and I planned to walk a few miles so we brought a backpack cooler with drinks and lunch. We walked a total of 6.5 miles. Most the of the trails did have some shade. There were numerous benches to sit throughout the preserve. We did end up coming to a dead end and had to crawl under the Bob wire fence but was totally worth it as the trail was trees lined and absolutely beautiful. We did see some cattle that moved out of our way. Lots of birds and some baby gators. It was a very nice hike and was worth it. We seen two other people on horses on the trails but besides that very peaceful.

I'm so glad that Walton Ranch Preserve is opened to the public…read more Great walking place and what is even more exciting it is a wonderful biking area. You can bike for miles on well kept dirt roads,best time to go is the dry season,after rain the Preserve could flood. I loved biking through the Cattle fields.Beautiful and timeless experience. Lots of cows few babys too.So beautiful and peaceful. Walton Ranch Preserve is not well known even by the locals,it only went public a few years ago. So this place is never too busy.Planty of free parking. Only has a porter potty,no real restrooms. Bring planty of water and plan your trip ahead. Not all the trails are well marked,so best if you make a map before heading out for your first hiking trip. As far as biking the best way to go is north from the parking lot kinda towards the Myakka State Forest although it is a long way from there. I think the farthest we went was about 8 miles. Beautiful,beautiful unspoiled Florida. For that 8 miles it was flat,hard packed dirt road,easy to ride even with a bicycle without any gears. No motorized vehicles. Safe with the kids. Minimal traffic. My only wish would be that I could take my dog on a leash here. Other than that it is fairytale like!

This large park is Wauchula's main recreation area, offering quite a lot of outdoor sporting…read moreactivity opportunities. The park has a playground, picnic tables, walking paths, tennis courts and a pickleball court. The tennis courts looked to be in pretty awesome condition and are surrounded by high fences with multiple entrances. The playground has some climbing and some slides. At the moment, it is completely exposed to the sun but I suspect that the four tall green posts may support some sort of cover during the regular season. There is parking available along 7th and 8th Avenues. [Review 16808 overall - 1532 in Florida - 321 of 2022.]

This park was off the beaten track for me but it is well worth seeking out. I wasn't sure what to…read moreexpect when I had to to turn down a remote road past a ramshackle trailer. Fortunately the adventure turned out okay. Istokpoga Park is located on the north shore of the 28,000 acre Lake Istokpoga, the fifth largest lake in Florida. It is believed that Istokpoga is from the Seminole language and means a lake where someone was killed in the water. Legend has it that several Seminoles drowned in the lake while attempting to cross it. The lake is only four to six feet deep and it is fed by the Arbuckle and Josephine Creeks. Despite being shallow, the lake can be dangerous for boaters during windstorms when the waves can get high. The lake is well known for fishing. Lake Istokpoga is home to alligators and it attracts many species of birds including the endangered snail kite. It is also home to one of the largest number of Osprey nests in the United States. When I pulled into the park I was greeted by two sandhill cranes. They are a large species of crane but we don't have them as far south as I live. You only start seeing them north of Palm Beach. If you have ever met one of these characters you would know. YouTube is filled with videos of them squawking at their image in peoples windows. They do not care about you and often block the streets at my daughter's UCF campus. I love their don't give a flip attitudes. During my visit to the park I also spotted a limpkin. Istokpoga Park has amenities that include a double boat ramp, covered picnic tables, grills, bathrooms, nature trails, boardwalk, and fishing pier. This is a beautiful park perfect for bird watching, photography, fishing, and picnics.

We had a great time! We have done airboat rides in the Everglades and they were okay but they were…read morevery short. We went fast for quite along time and saw a ton of alligators. Captain Dave explained many things about the gators, buzzards and eco system to us. My grandkids and my kids along with us had a wonderful time and can't wait to go again. Also, it was an hour ride! Worth the time and the money. Cathy S

My baby loves the playground, she doesn't walk yet but she can crawl up the stairs and go down the…read moreslide without getting stuck. I really like coming to this park it's very nice and quiet.

This park is great for adults and kids offering a skate park and basketball court for the community…read moreand 2 playgrounds for the little to run around its nicely shaded and for a bonus they have a splash pad! This was my second visit and both visits have been wonderful and we always meet super nice people. They do have bathrooms are the recreation center to change after the splash pad and 1 vending machine. Overall I think they take very good care of this park and it's definitely a family friendly fun place to visit.

We recently spent four nights camping at Myakka River State Park while also making day trips to…read moreVenice for some fossilized megalodon tooth scuba diving, and this park was a perfect home base for our adventures. The RV sites are spacious, well-maintained, and thoughtfully laid out. Unlike many campgrounds where you're practically sharing coffee with your neighbors, Myakka provides plenty of room and natural vegetation between sites. It felt private, peaceful, and uncrowded. If you enjoy the outdoors, you'll never run out of things to do here. There are miles of hiking and biking trails, abundant wildlife, and excellent opportunities for photography and birdwatching. For those looking for a little adventure, the canoe rental outpost offers a chance to paddle the Myakka River and lake system while getting up close and personal with about 10 bazillion alligators. (The OG Floridian!) One attraction you absolutely shouldn't miss is the Trail and Observation Tower. The suspension bridge is a fun experience, and the views from the 72-foot tower are spectacular. Looking out across miles of untouched Florida wilderness really gives you an appreciation for how wild and beautiful this state still is. One word of caution: be mindful of the poison ivy. It's everywhere around campsites, trails, and wooded areas. As a native Floridian who should know better, I managed to find it the hard way and am still paying for that mistake. Learn from my suffering and keep an eye on where you're stepping, leaning, and reaching. Whether you're camping, hiking, biking, paddling, or just looking for a peaceful getaway, Myakka River State Park delivers. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and are already "itching" to return. This time without the poison ivy. Pro Tip: Bring your camera, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, and a healthy respect for Mother Nature. You'll be glad you did!

We took a short trip to Myakka River State Park and had a wonderful time. The animals were running…read morefreely. You could stop and look at them and they wouldn't run away from you. They encourage you not to feed them, but you'll see in the picture of the squirrel, he lives by the camp store and where they make food so I'm sure he raids the trash bin often. I had the feeling of being watched as I sat in my golf cart close to the store where they offer free Wi-Fi. Not more than 6 feet away from me. I happen to see two Beaty little eyes with a bandit mask on. A raccoon was watching me and probably hoping that I would throw something his way to eat. It was mating season for the alligators and I am a little intimidated by them so I don't get too close but they have one that's called big daddy and he is massive. You can get boat rides you can go fishing. They have a like a really tall truck that takes you through trails and wet areas where you can see the land and see some of the wildlife. They have beautiful sunrises and beautiful sunsets. If you've never been to Myakka River State Park it is definitely worse the trip. We love camping there.