DK Travel : Orlando : Outdoor

Page
1
2
3
4
5

Tosohatchee State Reserve

Swamps dotted with hard-wood hammocks (tree islands) and a 19-mile (30-km) stretch of the St. John’s River combine to make this one of Central Florida’s prettiest and most primitive parks. Photographers will appreciate the scenic locales, some with wild orchids and other flora. Hawks, eagles, fox squirrels, and song-birds can sometimes be seen from the park’s trails.
Turkey Lake Park

Unlike many state parks with spartan amenities, this 300-acre (120-ha) city retreat has a swimming pool, picnic pavilions, a lake full of fish, nature and jogging trails, three kid’s playgrounds, and a farm-animal petting zoo. It also has camping areas if the call of the wild is too strong to leave.
Typhoon Lagoon

This Disney water park is an enthralling mix of slides, tubes, and the largest wave pool in the US. It’s well-suited to families with pre-teen children who’ll appreciate the gentle nature of the attractions here. One stand-out is Shark Reef, a short snorkel course over a coral reef teeming with tropical fish and live sharks. Wannabe surfers (see Surfing) can pay an extra fee to use the wave pool out of regular hours. (see Water Parks).
Walt Disney World Marathon

A 26.2-mile (42.6-km) race with entrants from around the world.
Water Mania

Though not as large as Wet ’n Wild, this Kissimmee park offers a good assortment of slides and thrill rides. Some are unique, such as Wipe Out, a wave generator pool for surfing on body boards, and the Double Berzerker, a steep, double-dip slide. There are also loads of land-based activities such as a children’s playground, beach volleyball, and mini-golf. Water Mania often gets packed.
Watersports

Test your water-skiing legs at one of Sammy Duvall’s Water Sports Centers (which also offers parasailing and wake-boarding). Buena Vista Watersports (which also charters and rents boats) is another option. (see Buena Vista Watersports).
Wekiwa Springs State Park

These springs and the river they feed provide a fertile habitat for such species as white-tail deer, gray foxes, bobcats, raccoons, and black bears. They also provide some of the best places for paddling in a boat in central Florida. With canoe rentals, and picnic, grilling, camping, and volleyball areas, this is outdoors heaven.
Wet ’n Wild

Orlando’s best water park is full of rides and slides to keep the most hardened thrill-seeker’s adrenalin pumping. But it’s not all action – there are kids’ rides and chill-out areas, too.
Wheatley Park

This city park is more urban oasis than rustic countryside retreat. It features lots of facilities such as basketball, tennis, and sand volleyball courts, and picnic areas with grills for a barbecue. Kids will appreciate the well-equipped playground.
YMCA Aquatic Center

Lap swimmers who find hotel pools insufficient for training will delight in this championship facility, with its 25-lane regulation lap pool. Although YMCAs are very family-friendly, the facilities here are geared toward serious swimmers.