Small park with beautiful clean walking trails. Free entrance, free parking, restrooms, boat…read morelaunch. Beautiful trees with Spanish moss. I saw rabbits, cardinal, squirrels.

Great walk today with our dog!!! Nice shaded walk. Good surface to walk on. Dog waste stations a…read moreplus!!!

Only GOD forgives you faster than your DOG! #ReflectDogs…read moreLove & Forgiveness What an awesome dog park. From all the old growth trees with Spanish moss growing in them to the Island like feel. Poop bag dispenser and a watering station right in the middle of the park. Multiple places to sit all around the park that are all shaded and cool. Parking is right next to the dog park and there is plenty of it

Fantastic dog park. There's a side for smaller pups also. The grounds are maintained and there are…read morecomfy benches and a water fountain. It's not the fanciest park I've been to, but it was comfy and lovely.

Ferndale Preserve is located in what feels like the middle of nowhere. The park opens at 6:30 am…read moreand closes at 6pm. There are two trails currently open. One is .5 mile up to a high point and the other is a 1.6 loop. No dogs are allowed in the park or in the trails for their safety. Bathrooms are available at the entrance. The playground area is separated into two sections. The sections are age appropriate and super challenging and fun for children. The equipment is clean and has the appearance of being well maintained. The park is not shaded so I don't recommend coming in the middle of the summer. Fall, winter and spring will provide lots of fun.

I'm a sucker for a good nature preserve and this place is no different. I loved my experience here…read morethe trails were fantastic and the wildlife and trees were incredible. This place has a good trail system encompassing about two and a half miles with multiple cutbacks and side trails and they've even got a water access for fishing. The scrub forest was fantastic and this park is at a higher elevation than most area around it so the views were pretty cool especially looking down onto Lake Apopka. I loved my experience here, and they've got nice clean bathrooms in the parking lot available for your use.

Shadow Bay Park is a rare slice of florida's natural landscape. Formerly known as Lake Cane Marsha…read morePark, Shadow Bay Park is a 111 acre natural area preserve and park tucked into Southwest Orlando. Despite being surrounded by busy roads and urban development, the park protects a rare and biologically rich remnant of Florida's ancient sand pine scrub ecosystem, preserving a small piece of old Florida in the middle of the city. The park straddles an ancient shoreline associated with the Lake Wales Ridge, one of Florida's most important areas for rare and native plants and animals. Its diverse landscape includes rosemary scrub, xeric oak scrub, longleaf pine forest, wetlands, and four ponds, creating a variety of habitats for wildlife. It is one of the last remaining urban scrub habitats in Orange County and provides an important refuge for several rare and endangered native species. Shadow Bay Park is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a statewide network of more than 500 wildlife-viewing sites. The northern portion of the park, especially the trails between Lupine Pond and Woodland Pond, offers some of the best birding opportunities. Depending on the season, visitors may spot Blue-headed Vireos, House Wrens, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-throated Warblers and Indigo Buntings. The ponds attract Limpkins, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Mottled Ducks, while Glossy Ibis and, occasionally, American Bitterns make appearances. Keep an eye on the sky for Ospreys and Cooper's Hawks, both of which nest within the park. I enjoyed exploring the trails throughout the park. A paved walkway and separate unpaved footpaths wind through the landscape. In the sandy trails through the rosemary scrub, you can find rare plants such as scrub lupine and threatened gopher tortoises. During migration season, you may see species such as Magnolia Warblers, Ovenbirds, Eastern Wood-Pewees and Baltimore Orioles pass through the oak area of the park. In addition to wildlife watching, the park offers plenty for active visitors and families. These include basketball and pickleball courts, softball fields, a fitness path, fishing areas around Shadow Bay Pond and a playground. The Lake Cane Tennis Center has been part of the park since 1986, when Orange County partnered with MG Tennis to operate the facility. Over the years, it has grown into a major Central Florida tennis destination and tournament hub. What I appreciate most about Shadow Bay Park is that it preserves an important part of Florida's original landscape while the surrounding communities continued to grow. It is a rare ecological refuge hiding in plain sight. Come for the trails, birding, wildlife, recreation or just for a peaceful escape from the surrounding city. This is a park worth exploring.

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.

I had a group meet up here for a fun time of food and games. This was my first time at this park…read moreand overall a good experience. Apparently, the pavilions are first come first served. A sweetheart from the group arrived at 6 am and was able to secure a nice pavilion on the lakeside, adjacent to the restrooms and across from plenty of parking. The pavilion come with a grill (we didn't use) and a large trash bin nearby. The area had a few trees around and was nicely shaded, this made the combination of good weather result in a really good experience. There is a nice trail for walking, hiking and cycling. Near the parking, there is a play area for children and a fenced dog park area. Overall, I thought I had a good experience and think that it is a fabulous area. I do hope to get back out here at some point in the future.

Lake Hiawatha Preserve Park - Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf Course)…read more Finally, a legit 18-hole disc golf course near Clermont, Florida. It's also a great place to bring your dogs! They have a nice fenced in area to let your dogs mingle and play with other dogs off the leash and there's a trail and some back country you can take them and run with. The good: - Solid mix of wooded technical holes and a few open bombers around the lake. Holes 4-8 along the water are gorgeous, especially at sunset. - Tee pads are concrete and in great shape (huge upgrade from the old rubber mats). - New Mach X baskets catch well and the bright yellow bands make them easy to spot. - Multiple pin positions on several holes keep it fresh -- they move them every few months. - Free parking, clean porta-potty near hole 1, and the course flows really well. Rarely any backups even on weekends. The "eh": - Can get soggy after rain (bring boots in spring). A couple fairways hold water like a sponge. - Hole 13's long position is a total prayer across the marsh -- fun once, frustrating the other 19 times. Highly recommend for intermediate and up. Beginners might get humbled on the back 9, but that's how we all learn! Will keep coming back. 4.5 stars rounded down only because mother nature still wins sometimes.

Nice small park across the street from Snooky Park. It is a nice place to grab lunch or to just sit…read moreand watch the world pass you by. While small, it is tended with great pride and I am better for this discovery. We need parks and parks are a reflection of the community that they are in. This is definitely a pleasant park and I would recommend coming to check it out.

Beautiful historical park in Lady Lake. Wonderful place for photos!…read more I really enjoyed the garden. Great place to take a walk, watch the sunset.

We visited Hontoon Island State Park on Saturday morning, 9/25, for a hike with some friends and…read moreour girl Lulu. This was my second time visiting, and it was just as enjoyable as the first! One of my favorite parts has to be the little ferry ride over to the island. Lulu was NOT convinced she wanted to get on , but the captain reassured us that lots of dogs get nervous about the ferry, so I scooped her up and carried her aboard. Once we got across, we started our walk and immediately enjoyed all the shaded areas along the trails. The park is HUGE and there is so much to see and explore. Honestly, one day doesn't feel like enough time to really experience everything, and we're already considering coming back to camp! We didn't come across any major wildlife this time, but we saw plenty of birds and heard something scrambling around in the trees that we never managed to spot -- which honestly just added to the adventure. It was another beautiful day surrounded by nature, good company, and my favorite four-legged adventure buddy. Definitely looking forward to coming back and exploring more of Hontoon Island!

Every Florida State Park has a unique feature that it offers. This one is very quaint, small and…read moreoffers some simple amenities. The quick boat ride was cool. They also have cabins and the grounds are well maintained by the staff. If you have a boat, this would be a great place to dock from if that is acceptable. I had a great time here, my first time.

Did you know that one of Orlando's best outdoor recreational areas was once a thriving orange…read moregrove? Today, Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a 183 acre park where families, fishermen, campers, bird watchers, and nature lovers can enjoy a break outdoors that makes you feel a world away from the nearby tourist attractions. This property once contained more than 2,000 citrus trees before the City of Orlando purchased the land in the 1970s under Mayor Carl Langford. It officially opened as Turkey Lake Park in 1978 with the mission of conserving land in its natural state for residents as Orlando's tourism industry rapidly expanded. In 1981, many of the remaining orange trees were relocated to make room for a campground featuring RV sites and cabins. The park was renamed Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake in 2004 to honor former Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick for his commitment to preserving Orlando's natural spaces. Along with former Mayor Glenda E. Hood, he helped ensure the beauty of this park would be preserved for future generations. Today, the park is the City of Orlando's largest community park. Turkey Lake is considered one of Florida's top rated fishing lakes, making it a popular destination for anglers. Beyond the lake, there are miles of walking and biking trails, shaded picnic areas, playgrounds, fitness stations, sand volleyball courts, a seasonal swimming pool, boat rentals, a dedicated drone flying area, disc golf, and numerous pavilions for gatherings. The campground offers RV sites and cabins for overnight excursions surrounded by nature. Admission is a nominal $5 per vehicle or $2 for a single occupant, making it one of the best recreational values in Orlando. Come for a picnic, to swim, cast a line, visit the rescue animals, or hike the trails as I enjoyed doing. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a reminder that Orlando offers more than just theme parks. I am so glad that the former mayors of Orlando had he foresight to preserve this slice of Florida's natural landscape where you never know what you might discover.

This is a really nice park and would be actually a great place if it wasn't right next to the…read moreturnpike. It is a large multi-functional, family-friendly park. There are several facilities available including pavilions, grills, disc golf volleyball, playgrounds, swimming, fishing, and even a drone course. There's a bike path, a nature path and a small animal farm where you can see a turkey, chickens, and maybe a variety of other animals. There are cabins (assuming for rent) and a spot for small RVs and trailers. The park includes several restrooms which are very clean. The disc golf course is extensive and likely a bit difficult as it meanders through several wooded areas and even one hole across the water. The park has several pavilions varying in size. Most have parking nearby, however several will require you to hoof your goods a little distance. This is a great place for a family or larger gathering. Two dollar entry fee. Dogs allowed on leash and there are several pet sanitary stations.