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