This historic 9000-acre park opened in 1931. It's considered an old growth forest and full of bald…read morecypress trees. There are a wide variety of endemic wildlife and plants. The main feature of this wonderful park was the boardwalk that goes through the swamp forest. Some really old trees that are possibly 1000 years old, is located in this park. There are nine trails, a campground, a playground, and a picnic area. There's a 3-mile loop trail for biking and driving. Also, a museum and concession built by the Civilian Conservation Corps; they constructed many buildings, bridges, and blazed trails in Florida State Parks. We were staying nearby and decided to explore this park. I enjoyed the historic land and old trees. The boardwalk was pleasant to stroll on; I saw quite a few memorial plaques. Generations of people walking on the same paths decades ago. It's a peaceful place and I'm glad they didn't turn it into farmland back in the 1930s.

This park is wonderful, plenty of trails, a cute store and just peaceful nature where you can see…read moreall kinds of birds, sometimes deer or gators and it's just a great place to visit.

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

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to read two reviews. Read Ariel W's and especially…read moreperuse her photos. As a five-year resident of this teeny tiny town, I'll add to hers and here are my additions- * The pavilions are a big draw as they have nice big canopies for shade and sturdy picnic tables. Each has its own trash bin a few feet away. That's nice but they are fly and hornet magnets! Just sayin- * Because of the adjacent playground, birthday parties are common. Expect a bunch of rug rats to be running around. * This is a no pets park except for service animals of course. There is minimal chance you will step in something horrendous with your bare feet. * It's nicely lit at night so it's a nice place to enjoy the cool of the evening. * If you enjoy alcohol, as long as you wrap your can, you know what I mean, nobody with bother you. * This is rural Florida and everyone with half a brain knows every lake has gators! The beach is nice and if you swim during the day the chances of even seeing one is minuscule! If you decide to take a swim at night with an open wound, well, you didn't really need four appendages, did you?

Donaldson Park is located on East Main Street close to downtown. There are shady oaks, picnic…read morepavilions with tables, and a playground. During my visit there was birthday party in one of the pavilions. Donaldson Park sits on the shores of Lake Verona and there is a beach for swimming. I have always heard that if you swim in lakes in Florida you can get the brain eating Naegleria fowleri amoeba. When water gets up your nose it travels to your brain which is almost always fatal. There have been 37 reported cases in Florida since 1962. Peak times to get it are July through September. I am not sure if they test the water here or if people are just careful not to submerge their heads in the water. Although I grew up swimming in lakes in New Jersey, this is the first time I have seen a swimming beach on a Florida lake. Also noteworthy is the dinosaur skeleton on the beach. It features heavily in promotional pictures for Avon Park. The park is used by the City of Avon Park for events like the Blueberry Festival and Christmas in the Park. The beach looked inviting but I am just not sure how safe it is to swim here.

Large lake that has clearly been set up for scuba training. There is a large parking lot and a…read morelarge concrete pad with many picnic tables that classes can use to set up gear, brief their dives, etc. The path from the pad to the lake has been cleared and is easy to traverse in full gear. They recently put up "sails" over the picnic tables to keep most of the sun off, which is really helpful. Every time I go, I can see some new improvement to the facilities. The lake itself is laid out with many lines and markers to facilitate underwater navigation. They have set up some "fun" things to see, such as mounting bicycles or creating a "gnome garden," sinking a boat with skeletons on board, etc. There are platforms that can be used for skills. The lake is good for Open Water and for Advanced classes. The bottom is fairly silty and it's easy to kick up a "storm" of silt and screw up visibility. The viz is between 10 and 20 feet (on a good day), and mostly greenish, so make sure you're sticking together. There are two port-a-potties and a small changing room...and that's it. Bring lots of water and snacks in a cooler. Waivers and reservations are done online. If you're a scuba instructor, register with the management of the lake (free) to get an instructor ID number. Use that number when you make reservations for your classes. Instructors are free, students pay $20 plus $1.20 in tax. Well worth it. When I have the time and students are willing to make the drive (it's 2 hours from my home and scuba shop), I prefer to do training here because I can take my time and not worry about the tides at Blue Heron Bridge.

So, sue me! My teeny tiny town Of Avon Park in Central Florida is lousy with lakes. You can't throw…read morea stick without hitting a lake. Of course, the stick would clunk a gator on the snout first! I finally got around to visiting this particular lake. Do your homework- If you are not from the area and looking for a place to swim & picnic, this isn't it! This lake has a lot of private homes surrounding it, but it has a big reputation for SCUBA divers. There is a divers parking lot with a few picnic tables where they lay out their gear. Local organizations hold diving classes here. There is also an adjacent boat ramp, but there is NO public swimming! Pro Tip- If you are traveling with little munchkins and looking for swimming & picnicking, I recommend Donaldson Park in downtown Avon Park. It's just minutes away. Nice beach. Divers love this place because the water is so clear and it's up to 50ft deep. If SCUBA is your thing, this is a four star stop.

This looks like it's public but it is not. It's a park for the neighbors with one handicapped…read morespot. No parking anywhere near by. Water was beautiful and sandy with a nice picnic table but the parking makes it a no go for me

It's a nice little beach, but there is only one handicap parking space. In front of the nearby…read morehomes are signs indicating "no parking between 8am and 8pm". Bummer. Other than that, it's a nice little spot with some grass, some trees and a light beeze if you're lucky. But I prefer the Veterans Beach on the other side of the lake.

What a perfect way to spend your day!! The beach is right close to the parking area and the…read moreplayground is small and comfortable!! With outside seating you can keep a close watch on the beach/playground/vehicle!! It's a cozy little area that I definitely recommend seeing at least once while in Sebring!! Right next to Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant, enjoy a smoothie drink after a day playing in the sun!!

What a beautiful beach and park to go swimming water skying , boating,fishing . Loved the homes…read morearound the lake .I would definitely like to spend more time here . The park has a play ground , boat ramp, picnic tables and grills. Very peaceful and beautiful.

Once or twice a year, I visit this teeny tiny park, sit on a simple stone bench, and pay homage to…read morethese amazing American heroes. This park is dedicated to the memory of the 23 Florida recipients of the Medal of Honor. There is a memorial for each individual. Additional memorials are located throughout the park and are worth the walk beneath the oak trees. Plans for a piece of static military equipment to join the park are underway. Most of the stories of these awesome men and women, read like fictional action movies. Unfortunately, unlike the movies, these awesome patriots have often been severely wounded and sometimes killed. I for one, go out of my way to remember their sacrifice.

I was in town for my Mom's 85th BD and the kids wanted to go swimming, so we stopped by and checked…read moreit out. It was July 4th and the weather was hot and humid, of course. I didn't swim myself but just people watching while the kids swam. They had a good time and I saw some people fishing off the pier but didn't see them catch anything. The park was nice although it could use some more shaded benches.

Location, location,location. Fishing is what it is about. Have tons of fish here. Cannot expect…read moremore.

Just not very happy with the quality of the cabins, very old, dirty and nothing is updated. It's…read more2019, get with it people.

Do you like where you live? Do all the things that make up "your city" match up with your needs? If…read moreyou are honest, probably not everything but Avon Park is close enough for me and I'm content! I've retired here for five years now but visited many times for decades before that as my parents retired here. It's safe to say I know the city very well. It's a teeny tiny place with a population of around 10-12,000. It's in agricultural Highlands County so it's off the beaten track. If you stick a thumbtack in the middle of the state, you might hit my condo! Orlando is 70 miles North and Tampa is 75 miles West. Head East 80 miles to Vero Beach. I live in a beautiful condo on a lake with exceptionally low taxes and extremely low cost of living. There really isn't a rush hour here. The medical community caters to retirees and I'm fine with that. Do I have 1000 restaurants like Orlando? Nope but I have enough to get by. I have all the retail I need with two Publix within striking distance. Amazon ships most of my stuff in one day! On any given day I could stop off at my Cheers bar, you know the one where everyone knows your name, and then grab some authentic Mexican food from any one of a dozen places. It doesn't get much better than that!

I had a problem and Danielle took care of it for me that afternoon! Thank-you so much for helping…read moreme.