Fire up that Merlin app and get ready for a heavy data usage day — the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a drivable 11 miles of birding nirvana. Open on weekends and holidays only, the drive takes anywhere from one to three hours through one of Florida's top three birding areas, home to 377 different bird species. During the winter months, more than 150 species regularly use the property, "from showy herons and egrets to numerous tiny warblers and flycatchers," according to the St. John's River Water Management District. Audubon Expert certification is within your grasp!
2850 Lust Road, Apopka, sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/lake-apopka
Best of Orlando 2025: Attractions + Recreation
1st Place: Arcade Monsters, arcademonsters.com
2nd Place: Boardwalk Bowl, alomabowlingcenters.com/boardwalk
3rd Place: WonderWorks Orlando, wonderworksonline.com/orlando
1st Place: Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, centralfloridazoo.org
2nd Place: A Petrified Forest, apetrifiedforest.com
3rd Place: Gatorland, gatorland.com
1st Place: New Smyrna Beach, visitnsbfl.com
2nd Place: St. Pete Beach, visitstpeteclearwater.com
3rd Place: Clearwater Beach, visitstpeteclearwater.com
1st Place: Boardwalk Bowl, alomabowlingcenters.com/boardwalk
2nd Place: Splitsville Luxury Lanes, Disney Springs, splitsvillelanes.com/location/orlando
3rd Place: Primrose Lanes Restaurant and Bowling Club, primroselanes.com
1st Place: Wekiva Island, wekivaisland.com
2nd Place: Wekiwa Springs State Park, floridastateparks.org
3rd Place: Rock Springs at Kelly Park, ocfl.net/cultureparks
1st Place: Lake Eola Park, orlando.gov/parks-the-environment
2nd Place: Mead Botanical Garden, meadgarden.org
3rd Place: Central Park, Winter Park, cityofwinterpark.org
1st Place: Dubsdread Golf Course, historicaldubsdread.com
2nd Place: Shingle Creek Golf Club, shinglecreekgolf.com
3rd Place: The Country Club of Orlando, countrycluboforlando.com
1st Place: Icon Park, iconparkorlando.com
2nd Place: Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, piratescove.net
3rd Place: WonderWorks Orlando, wonderworksonline.com/orlando
1st Place: Marta, Orlando Pride, orlandocitysc.com/players/marta
2nd Place: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, nba.com/player/1631094
3rd Place: Anthony Black, Orlando Magic, nba.com/stats/player/1641710