Parks and the outdoors in Sanford

Parks and the outdoors in Sanford

1. See

   Cameron Wight Park

   This is a 3-acre (1.2 hectares) park used as a boat launching facility into the beautiful St. Johns river basin. It is 5 miles (8 km) east of US 17-92 on State Road 46 at the Lake Jesup Bridge. This park is open daily 24 hours. It has a pavilion, lighting, and paved parking.

2. Do

   Central Florida Airboat Tours

   Operating from Jolly Gator Fish Camp, you can board an airboat and travel into the heart and soul of Lake Jesup and Lake Harney.

3. See

   Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens

   The Central Florida Zoo is a resource center for wildlife and conservation education. Experience a living classroom where visitors can explore wildlife.

4. See

   Lake Dot Park

   This is a 15-acre (6.1 hectares) park with benches and a fishing area located at the south end of Sanford. From Sanford, go south on U.S. 17-92, left onto Fairmont Dr., and right onto Lake Dot Dr. It is open 8AM to sunset daily.

5. See

   Lake Jesup Park

   This park is a 6-acre (2.4 hectares) park primarily used as a boat launching facility into Lake Jesup. The park is 4 miles (6.4 km) south of State Road 46 at the end of Sanford Avenue. There is a pavilion and paved parking available under shade from the many oak trees. The park is open 24 hours daily.

6. See

   Lake Jesup Wilderness Area

   Wildlife lovers will find 3 miles (5 km) of trails in the 490-acre (200 hectares) Lake Jesup Wilderness Area where lakeside benches provide a great viewing platform for spotting bald eagles and alligators.

7. See

   Lake Monroe Wayside Park

   This is a 3.5-acre (1.4 hectares) park used as a boat launching facility into Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River basin. This park is 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Interstate 4 on State Road 17-92 on the St. Johns River. This park has pavilions and a historical swinging bridge used as a fishing pier. It is open 24 hours daily.

8. See

   Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park

   An 18,000-acre (73-km²) Florida State Park on 6 miles (10 km) of the St. Johns River in Seminole County. The park forms a wildlife corridor to the Ocala National Forest along the Wekiva and St. Johns Rivers. Among the wildlife of the park are black bears, river otters, alligators, wood storks, and sandhill cranes. There are two sections to the park, north and south. The northern section's entrance is in Pine Lakes, off S.R. 44. This entrance leads to the multiuse trails, primitive horse camping and backpack camping areas. The entrance to the southern section, off S.R. 46 nine miles (14 km) west of Sanford, provides access to 5,000 acres (20 km²) of the park. There is no horseback riding in this part of the park. Neither section provides water access. Although canoeists can travel the Wekiva River through the park, they must launch from outside.

9. See

   Museum of Seminole County History

   The museum highlights Seminole County, the historical gateway to interior Central Florida via the St. John's River. All artifacts housed in the museum have been donated.

   Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM

10. See

    Paw Park

    The oldest off-leash dog park in Central Florida is well shaded with mature oak trees. Features include a small dog alternative play area, a time-out area, bag dispensers for disposal of dog waste, park benches, dog showers, self-watering bowls, historic lighting, and a community bulletin board.

11. Eat

    St. Johns River Steak and Seafood

    American cuisine. Restaurant is at the far end of the marina, in a small blue-colored building at the loop, with views from the back overlooking Lake Monroe.

12. Do

    St. Johns Rivership Co.

    Rivership Romance

    Offers daily riverboat cruises along the St. John's River. Climate controlled. Reservations required.

13. See

    Sunland Park

    This is a 15-acre (6.1 hectares) park 1/2 mile south of Lake Mary Boulevard on US 17-92. There is a ball field, tennis & basketball court and playground available for public use. The hours of the park are from 8AM to 10PM daily.

14. See

    Sylvan Lake Park

    This park is 5 miles (8 km) west of I-4 off State Road 46 on Lake Markham Road. This is a 126-acre (51 hectares) park with a 188-acre (76 hectares) lake adjacent to the park known as Sylvan Lake. Sylvan has become a soccer lover's delight, with a sport training facility and 6 soccer fields.

15. See

    Wilson's Landing Park

    387 Malekean Trail. Wilson's Landing is a 19-acre (7.7 hectares) facility developed in 2004 that includes a small pavilion, overlook pier of the Wekiva River, restrooms, and paved parking. This park is in the northwestern corner of the county off S.R. 46 on Malakean Road. Hours of operation is 8AM to sunset seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Sanford (CC BY-SA 4.0).