Exploring Orlando's Parks and Enjoying a Couple of Day Trips

Happy Monday! I hope you got out and had some fun exploring Orlando. I started last week off with a run around Lake Baldwin in Lake Baldwin Park.

Fishing on Lake Baldwin

I stopped by the Brass Tap in Mills Park on Monday. They had a couple of beers I wanted to check out. This was my first visit to a Brass Tap. I enjoyed the setting and they had a nice selection of beers on tap and in bottles.

Brass Tap in Mills Park Orlando 

Thursday I went downtown to check out Catalyst the new co-working space. Bryan and I enjoyed a nice stroll around Lake Eola afterward. I love this park. There are lots of great parks in this city, but Lake Eola Park IS Orlando.

Swans at Lake Eola Park

Friday we stopped by Gringos Locos in the Milk District for some Friday Night take out. They have a good Happy Hour with food specials and free chips and Salsa. Their back deck will be ready this week, so no more take out!

Gringos Locos Mouth Hugger Burrito with Due South Category 5 IPA

Saturday was a fun day exploring downtown Winter Garden. This is such a charming town with a great Main Street filled with eateries and shops. Bryan and I grabbed a bite at Harry & Larry's Bar-B-Que before we went exploring the new Plant Street Market. The Market is filled with great vendors and even has a brewery! We capped our afternoon noon off at Crooked Can Brewing Company. We enjoyed beers with friends we hadn't seen in a while. 

Harry & Larry's Bar-B-Que Brisket Sandwich

Plant St. Market in Winter Garden

Crooked Can Brewing Company 

Winter Garden is a great place to explore!

Sunday was a day trip to Tampa to spend time with our oldest daughter. We had a great time exploring downtown Tampa. We walked downtown from her campus at the University of Tampa to Tampa's Riverwalk. I love walking around because it's the best way to explore and discover a city. We would have missed out on the dolphins in the bay if we weren't on foot!

Once downtown we hopped on the historic streetcar and wandered a bit around Ybor City. We had a fun time bonding and checking out local spots in Tampa.

Downtown Tampa

Tampa's River Walk

Ybor City in Tampa 

It was fun checking out a bunch of new places last week. I'm surprised at how many new things have popped up in Central Florida in the seven months we've been gone.

I'd love to hear where you went exploring last week. Did you discover new places?

Happy exploring and discovering how wonderful Orlando is to call home!

Kelli

Exploring Orlando's Milk District, Parks, Local Eateries and more

My first full week back in Orlando and I had some fun exploring a few favorite spots and checking out some new spots along the way.

I enjoyed a few parks this week. Orlando has a lot of great parks worth exploring. Each one a bit different from the other. I got to check out the new F-4 Phantom at Colonel Joe Kittinger Park.

F-4 Phantom at Colonel Joe Kittinger Park

Headed over to the Mills 50 neighborhood for some lunch at one of my favorite sandwich shops in town. Banh Mi Nanh Trung makes delicious banh mi sandwiches and they're a great deal at $3.50/$4 each.

Banh Mi Nha Trang #18 the Vegetarian

Tuesday Bryan and I took our son over to the Milk District for Tasty Tuesdays. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy food trucks. The two of them enjoyed Cheesesteaks from Philly's Best Cheesesteaks while I enjoyed some tacos from Bem Bom Food Truck.  I like that you can enjoy your food in the Milk Bar and get a couple of beers to go with your dinner.

Food Trucks at Tasty Tuesday

Bem Bom Tacos & Beer in the Milk Bar 

We enjoyed some Cotton Candy from Sky Candy for dessert.

Sky Candy Cotton Candy

Since I've been back in town I'm trying to keep up with my running. I've been able to run through some nice parks. One park I enjoy the view with my run is Greenwood Urban Wetland. It has a nice path that goes around the lake. 

Greenwood Urban Wetland

Thursday I headed downtown to check out The Woods for the first time. They were having a couple of Michigan beers on tap that I loved. It was a nice opportunity to check out this cool watering hole.

Hopslam at The Wood Orlando

Friday morning I headed over to Se7ven Bites over in the Milk District. This local eatery is quite the hot spot in town. Their food is delicious! I enjoyed a Chocolate Duffin (part muffin & part donut) and some coffee after my morning run.

Chocolate Duffin

Saturday I stopped the beautiful JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. I was invited to a beer pairing lunch at Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen. This was a wonderful experience. It's great that The Kitchen and The Brewery are using ingredients from their on-site farm. It was a delicious event and I look forward to enjoying more of their in-house beer in the future.

Smoked Ham with fried egg, avocado, mustard frills on a honey pecan roll paired with a Lemon Grass Amber Wheat

Sunday I did a little exploring at some parks. Langford Park and Dickson Azalea Park are located next to each other. Both beautiful parks and both quite different from each other. Langford Park is great for groups and Dickson is a nice spot to sit on a bench and take in the scenery.

The lighting made for a beautiful glow among the trees at Langford Park.

Langford Park

I love exploring in Dickson Azalea Park.

Dickson Azalea Park

I hope you enjoyed exploring Orlando last week. I'd love to hear where you went?

Have a great week and be your best!

Kelli

Exploring Mayor Carl T. Langford Park in Orlando

I Love finding new parks to explore in Orlando. I Came across Mayor Carl T. Langford Park while searching for another. It's a nice quiet spot during the week. A good place to bring a lunch or picnic, as there are benches scattered about. You will also find a few pavilions with a number of picnic tables.

This park would be a good spot for group gatherings. Along with the pavilions, there are two playgrounds and restrooms. There is a small parking lot, but plenty of off street parking as well. You will also find basketball and tennis courts located at the SE corner of the park.

There are some historic trees located here as well. The park is the starting point to a Significant Tree Tour for the city of Orlando. The trees give that welcomed shade in the Orlando heat.  Nestled between the trees is a small creek.  here is a bridge over the creek that kids are sure to enjoy.

More parks in Orlando to explore.

~ Kelli

For more exploring

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Editor's Note: This post was originally published in September 2011 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.