Ferran Park felt like a calm little refuge on this foggy morning, even if Lake Eustis was mostly a…read moresuggestion somewhere beyond the gray. The Christmas decorations gave the whole place a warm lift, especially the lit tree glowing through the mist. With the bandshell looking sharp and the grounds in excellent shape, it was easy to settle into the rhythm of the wide, smooth walking paths and just enjoy the quiet. You can tell the lake views are usually the star here, and on a clear day the sweep of that massive water must be something to take in. Today wasn't that day, but the park itself carried the moment just fine, offering space, light, and a bit of holiday charm to brighten the morning of my Eustis exploration. [Review 1624 of 2025 - 2201 in Florida - 25172 overall]

Inaugural year of Lake County Pride at Ferran Park, Eustis, FL. It's always great to show love and…read moresupport the community. Glad to see that Pride events are still growing and people are still coming out to support despite current government situations. Love is Love and Pride is for EVERYONE!

Located not far from the Mount Dora Lighthouse, this medium-sized park has a shelter area with…read morepicnic tables, playground facilities with climbing features including one shaped like a pirate ship, a walking trail, public restrooms and even barbecue grills. The playground was getting a pretty good workout for a weekday afternoon. A reasonably sized parking lot where I left the van for a walk around the park. Gilbert Park is named for the person who donated the land, Earl Gilbert. [Review 1030 of 2024 - 1906 in Florida - 22058 overall]

One of many in the string of parks along the lake near downtown Mount Dora this cute spot has the…read more bronze alligator statue.

Loved this Mount Dora gem. We came here at the end of March…read more It's more of a board walk than a park, but there is a small green area with gazebos, picnic tables and bbqs before entering the board walk. Besides the nature walk through the board walk where we saw LOTS of wildlife (woodpeckers, baby alligators, turtles, ospreys and more) and beautiful cypress trees, you can also rent kayaks. This place is dog friendly. There are even baggies for people to pick up after their pets. I recommend wearing closed shoes if you want to walk the full trail. The board walk ends in a dirt path which loops around, but is not ideal terrain for sandals. However, walking to the end of the boardwalk and back again is just as fun (that's what we did ;) ) The park hours are sunrise to sunset but the board walk opens at 7:30am. Honestly this is a must see.

This park has a well-maintained boardwalk and nature Trail that takes you out over the water and…read morewetlands. we saw plenty of birds and certainly places where the gators would hang out. Bring your bug spray and your sunscreen for the parts of the trail that don't have overhang trees. And definitely don't try to go swimmingall

When visiting my boyfriend's mom and step dad in Eustis, we took their boat up to Lake Dora via the…read morecanal from Lake Eustis to have lunch. We took a stroll around this park, and enjoyed the beautiful Florida sun and winter weather. Love the benches and the gazebo as you can take a moment to relax. Definitely return when visiting!

This a unique park- airplanes and wildlife co-exist ..... worth a visit just to see. Planes, tunes…read moreand BBQ this past March was the most recent special event here!

Such a cute little spot. They even have a little tour bus to take you around the town. Came with…read morethe family and it's a super beautiful spot to walk around and enjoy.

Mount Dora isn't a huge lake but it's big enough to warrant a lighthouse and it's apparently the…read moreonly lighthouse in the entire state of Florida that remains an inland aid to navigation. It's adorable, located on a small spit of land at the Port of Mount Dora next to the boat launches. The lighthouse was completed in 1988 and stands 35 feet tall. It is built from brick. There is free parking here and a few benches where you can sit by the water and watch the kayakers or jet skiiers. [Review 1029 of 2024 - 1905 in Florida - 22057 overall]

Friendly staff and volunteers: Many reviews mention that staff and volunteers are helpful,…read morewelcoming, and contribute to a good visitor experience. * Kid-friendly / educational aspects: There are components (touch tables, specimen exhibits, etc.) that are good for children.

We went to the Trout Lake Nature center for a concert. It was wonderful. Everybody there was really…read morefriendly. The building has a beautiful butterfly collection and a lot of taxidermies animals and birds. The grounds are well kept. And there are hiking trails. It was too late for us to hike but I would love to go back sometime.e.

This location is shaded by trees with lots of benches. It is great for people watching, though…read moredoesn't have traditional park play equipment. It reminds me more of a town square, versus park. The benches are old and could be refurbished. Despite that, it is still a great place to relax while shopping the Mount Dora Marketplace.

Christmas Lights Hopping is a must in Mt. Dora…read more Sunset Park is another must stop spot for this. This is where they put their huge Xmas tree. It's pretty nice. It's a block or two away from the Main Street Donnelly. It's also a block away from Lakeside Inn which is the historical inn with Lake Views for days. We go there for the sunset bc they have beach chairs right next to the water. Across the street is also a beautiful house with candy cane lights. I took a pic of tj at one too because u just can't miss it. This is a great central area! Check it out. There are also restrooms here for your convenience. Parking can be a challenge. Be patient or walkover. It's street and lot parking nearby. There are also cute shops around the corner as well!

While I don't have any kids, I meet my friend here, who has kids, so it's a good chance for me to…read morecatch up with them while their kids entertain themselves on the myriad of swings and other playthings. If I had kids, I would bring them here as well! There is no grass, but they have astroturf. Great place for kids to play and adult to chat!

Great addition to the area. We usually park over by the softball fields for the MTB trails but this…read morewas a nice surprise. The restrooms are very nice and quite clean. Easy to drop into the trails from here.

This is a very nice park located in Mount Dora on Donnelly Street on Lake Dora. The park was…read morecreated in 1924 out of fill and named for five term City Council member and prominent citizen Elizabeth Evans who was also active in the Woman's Club and Community Church. She was well known for her work developing a public library and parks. You get a great view of Grantham Point and the lighthouse from the park. Park amenities include a hammock, lookout pavilion, picnic tables, and a grill. Located next to the park is the historic Mount Dora lawn Bowling Club. Parking is free and it's a good place to leave your car because all of the shops and restaurants are just up the hill. Elizabeth Evans Park is where the Annual Scottish Highlands Festival is held every year in mid November. The festival features Scottish musicians and highland games on Friday and Saturday. There are no restrooms here but they did have a port a potty.

A park from nothing…read more Elizabeth Evans Park was established back in 1924 when tons of debris and other crap were dumped here to create some solid land from the swampy river. Although this practice of stealing land from the water is looked upon with disfavor today, it was a common practice back in the early part of the century. Many canals were dug in swampy areas to drain the water and then cattle were let loose to graze on the new, solid ground. Of course now we appreciate the value of the wet lands and many of the areas are swampy again. The park isn't very large so it's not a place for hiking but it has cool views and access to the river. Many large birds make this river there home so with a bit of patience you will probably see an heron, egret, ibis or perhaps an osprey. Definitely a great place for bird watching. There is a cool pavilion and lots of benches scattered about so it's a nice place for a picnic or lunch after walking around the town. A cool, little park that was literally created out of nothing.

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 ;)