| Downtown Orlando offers a welcome reprieve from | | | | Florida's oldest and largest oak trees, "The Mayor", |
| the purpose-built areas to the south-west of the city | | | | grows in the park near Orlando's Mennello Museum of |
| that have been created solely to accommodate | | | | American Folk Art. |
| tourists. In fact, many of the historic downtown | | | | Located just minutes from downtown Orlando, |
| neighborhoods are beautiful, offer a great variety of | | | | Dubsdread Golf Course features the oldest public |
| architecture, and give you a feeling of community | | | | layout in the area, originally designed in 1923. This |
| where regular people actually live and work. | | | | classic course has plenty of history attached to it as |
| Right around the downtown core are a number of | | | | the former site of the Orlando Open, when it hosted |
| beautiful neighbourhoods that lend themselves nicely to | | | | such golf legends as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and |
| exploration on foot. Some of the streets are | | | | Claude Harmon. Today, golfers are treated to the |
| cobble-stoned, making them the perfect destination for | | | | same beautiful scenery and challenges of the original |
| a neighborhood walk. | | | | course, including narrow fairways and heavily bunkered |
| After visiting Loch Haven Park, on this grey and drizzly | | | | greens. A full restaurant and bar complete the ultimate |
| day, we decided to drive south, park our vehicle and | | | | golfing experience. Dubsdread is also the home of the |
| explore some of the central neighbourhoods on foot. | | | | Dubsdread Golf Learning Center, a full service teaching |
| We parked in Lake Cherokee Park, walked all the | | | | facility. Visit " for more information. |
| way around the lake and delighted in admiring the | | | | The Mayor Carl T. Langford Neighborhood Center |
| upscale architecture and the wildlife on the lake. | | | | provides a natural oasis in downtown Orlando. The |
| Bird lovers are able to see a great variety of water | | | | center is located in a shady oasis of mature oaks, |
| birds right in the middle of town and we observed one | | | | wide sidewalks, green lawns, birds, butterflies and |
| waterbird, as it sat quietly and then catapulted its head | | | | plenty of room for the kids to play. Young children will |
| forward to catch its winged prey, all within a split | | | | love the swinging bridge over the creek and the |
| second... | | | | playground . There are a great deal of educational and |
| On this misty day the atmosphere was even a bit | | | | fun nature programs offered in this beautiful |
| mysterious, with Spanish moss hanging down from | | | | neighorbood center.It offers a yearly summer nature |
| ancient oak trees. You could almost see mist drifting | | | | and art camp, as well as family and corporate picnics |
| off the lake. One of the interesting features of Orlando | | | | at a reasonable rate. The Mayor Carl T. Langford Park |
| are its lakes, more than 300 of them, that can be | | | | is a beautiful place to have a quaint wedding |
| found throughout the entire city, and many of them are | | | | ceremony at an affordable rate. The Central Florida |
| equipped with facilities and public parks. | | | | Folk, Inc. performs the second Sunday of each month |
| We carried on from Lake Cherokee to Lake Lucerne, | | | | through fall and spring. |
| which is immediately south of Orlando's downtown | | | | The Wetlands Park is a great place to come out, relax |
| core. Several fountains adorn the middle of the lake | | | | and enjoy nature. The most popular activities are |
| and you get a perfect view of downtown Orlando's | | | | bird-watching, nature photography, jogging and bicycling. |
| architecture. | | | | Nature enthusiasts will be greeted by 1,650 acres of |
| Orlando has a surprising number of public parks with | | | | hardwood hammocks, marshes and lakes. There are |
| special facilities that provide recreational opportunities | | | | over 20 miles of roads and woodland trails |
| for local residents as well as tourists. With the help of | | | | crisscrossing the Park. |
| the City of Orlando's website I have compiled a list of | | | | Experience a walk through time as you meander along |
| some of the special outdoor public spaces that | | | | Fern Creek in historic Dickson Azalea Park located |
| Orlando has to offer. These places include a very | | | | across the street from the City of Orlando's Mayor |
| reasonably priced golf course, Loch Haven Park - | | | | Carl T. Langford Park. The Washington Street Bridge |
| Orlando's center of culture and science, the Dickson | | | | was constructed in 1926 and is reflective of many |
| Azalea Park, a variety of wetland areas, an ecology | | | | bridges found in South Florida. The lush landscaping, |
| center, camping and more. In one word, public spaces | | | | singing birds and flowing water are a treat to many |
| that offer free or inexpensive recreational and | | | | visitors. This park is an oasis for those needing a quiet |
| educational opportunities: | | | | place to eat lunch or to reflect when this area was a |
| Lake Cherokee is bordered by a 3.8 acre scenic park | | | | watering hole years ago for cattle ranchers to quench |
| and surrounded by the Lake Cherokee Historic district, | | | | the thirst of their cattle in Ferncreek. The dragonflies, |
| a residential neighborhood with architecture | | | | shady trees and quietness of Dickson Azalea Park |
| representing virtually every significant period of | | | | are a must see for people of all ages to experience. |
| Orlando's history. | | | | Enjoy a day of family fun and play in the City of |
| Lake Eola Park is a popular destination in the | | | | Orlando's beautiful 300-acre Bill Frederick Park at |
| downtown area, with many people taking advantage | | | | Turkey Lake. Open year-round, seven days a week |
| of the beautiful surroundings to walk at lunch or in the | | | | this park has something for everyone. A swimming |
| evenings. The sidewalk that circles the lake is .9 miles | | | | pool is open for those hot summer days, large pavilions |
| in length, making it easy for visitors to keep track of | | | | for huge group picnics are available for rent and small |
| their walking or running distances. Other activities | | | | sun shelters for family gatherings are available on a |
| available to park visitors include renting ($10 for ½ | | | | first come first serve basis. The well stocked lake for |
| hour) swan-shaped paddle boats, feeding the live | | | | fishing is tempting to all anglers from novice to |
| swans and other birds inhabiting the park, being | | | | experienced. A children's farm is on-site as a remnant |
| paddled around the lake on a romantic gondola cruise ( | | | | of the farm era of the property. The Ecology Center |
| seeing a concert or a play in the Walt Disney | | | | has an air conditioned meeting room. The camping |
| Amphitheater, watching the children play in the | | | | area is a reasonably priced destination for people from |
| playground, grabbing a bite to eat at The Terrace on | | | | all over the U.S. and the world who visit Orlando and |
| Lake Eola or relaxing amid beautiful flower beds and a | | | | area attractions. Another area has bunk houses and |
| spectacular view of Orlando's skyline. | | | | grills for those nature based group retreats or |
| Orlando Loch Haven Park covers 45 acres and | | | | chaperoned youth groups. Park visitors are offered a |
| serves as the region's premier cultural park. Nestled | | | | wide variety of nature-oriented activities including: hiking, |
| between three lakes, Lake Estelle on the north, Lake | | | | baseball / softball, volleyball, biking, and large playground |
| Rowena on the east, and Lake Formosa on the south, | | | | for the kids. Feel free to take advantage of our Youth |
| the park is located on North Mills Avenue and | | | | Group rates, Family Pass and Individual Pass. |
| Princeton Street. The park was renovated in February | | | | As you can see, in addition to theme parks, Orlando |
| 2001. With the many museums or theatre groups | | | | offers a surprising variety of inexpensive family fun |
| located in the park, there is always something new to | | | | and recreational opportunities off the beaten path that |
| see or do. The lawn areas in the center portion of the | | | | offer interesting things to explore for the whole family. |
| park are wonderful places to sit and enjoy the lake | | | | For more information about Orlando please contact |
| views shaded by majestic oak trees. One of Central | | | | the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau. |