Walking in and around Orlando

[christinehb]

Hi everyone

We love wandering around lakes and footpaths through woodland etc but we often struggle to find public footpaths, walkways around Orlando.
Many of the lakes in Central Florida have houses running right up to them and are a no go area for visitors.
Anyone have any suggestions where we could find pleasant lakeside or woodland walks. We are keen bird and wildlife watchers.[msnsmile]

[shockey]

There are some nice walks in the state parks. Lake Kissimmee, Lake Louisa and Blue Springs State Parks all have nice walking trails. Try this link: [website link edited]

We have also used this book, which has more good walks, mostly quite short: 50 Hikes in Central Florida, by Sandra Friend.

[sundowner]

Hi Christine,

Here is a good link to the parks and lakes in Kissimmee. There are a lot of walks and bike rides etc in Kissimmee. We have only done one or two very short, leisurely walks in the area but have plans for many more.

If you do go on one of them, don't forget to put a report on here for us all to see.

[website link edited]

Mary

[Newhomebuyer]

How about Lake Eola in the centre of Orlando or the Lake front at Historic Kissimme . There is an osprey there who nealy always occupies the same lamp post and will steal fish out of the fishermen's buckets.
The boardwalks at Celebration are great to walk round and there are snowy egrets, great egrets and blue heron along there to say nothing of the resident ducks.
I also like Disneys wilderness preserve to walk in. It's much quieter and closer to nature.
Another walk I enjoy is the pathway from Disneys Wilderness lodge up to the campground . Its not very good for bids bnt ir is very good for butterflies and rabbits and of course you can check out pets corner when you get to the campground.

I love going to Blue springs state park. Have you been there yet?

[christinehb]

Thank you for the suggestions. We have been to Blue Springs State Park and to Kissimmee but I will look at the links and try some of the others

Walking within Disneyworld but away from Magic Kingdom - now there's a novelty

Cheers[msnsmile2][msnsmile2]

[shockey]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote: Thank you for the suggestions. We have been to Blue Springs State Park and to Kissimmee but I will look at the links and try some of the others

Walking within Disneyworld but away from Magic Kingdom - now there's a novelty
[/quote]

Sorry, Christine, the website link has been edited out (not sure why, it was a government website, not advertising), but you can find it again by googling Florida State Parks.

The Disney Wilderness Preserve, which Newhomebuyer mentions, is near Poinciana, not at Disneyworld. I believe that Disney set it up to compensate for some of the wild land lost when Disneyworld was built. There is a website for it - better not post a link for it, but you can find it by googling.

There is a small entrance fee for the Preserve (also for the state parks), so it is not quite "Orlando for Free"!

[anorak]

Try going 12 miles down 192 from Kissimmee to St Cloud, turn left anywhere after the Walmart and drive down to the Lakeshore Boulevard. Free parking, free barbecue cabanas, loos, walking path/cycle track, a beach for swimming, clean pleasant and safe.
At this time of year you will see Sandhill Cranes with their chicks as well as lots of wading birds.

[Nina A]

We love walking round the lakes at Celebration. Amazing wildlife there and very tame, you also get to see how the other half live with their amazing over the top homes.

Lake Louisa is great, there is a small entrance charge but well worth it.

We also enjoy the Disney Boardwalk area in the evening, you can walk right round the lake past the Disney Yacht and Beach Club Resort. or try Universal City Walk (free parking in the evening)and walk past the Hard Rock Hotel round to the stunning Portofino Bay Hotel. Not so much wildlife at either of these but the tropical landscaping is superb.

Enjoy!

[eagleydo]

Walk around the lakes at Celebrations is definately one of my favourites

[mfairhurst]

We go to the beach at ST CLOUD if you go down right at the bottom of ST CLOUD all of the streets on the left are names of AMERICAN states go down any one and you come to lake toho and there is a beach a resturant and a marina also you can do a lot of walking .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx