Reviews
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Trailblazer Park is a great find in Lake Mary in Seminole County! It has a cool playground, pavilion with picnic tables, and splash pad. There are a few trees for shade near the playground but the splash pad is mostly in the sun. The splash pad is seasonal and $2 cash per person, is fenced in, and has an attendant.
The playground has swings and couple fun climbing structures. The bathrooms are clean and there is a changing table in the women's restroom. We would come back to this nice park again! -
Thank you for letting me join in on the virtual workout from Orlando! This High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout was no joke. It was only about 30 minutes but I was out of breath shortly into it! Good thing I was muted on Zoom.
Libby did a great job at going through the moves in a limited amount of time and keeping her enthusiasm throughout. I liked the different variations of exercises that were basic yet effective. Squats are always productive and I liked trying a burpee going all the way to the ground (I usually end up in push up position).
Thank you Nashville Yelp and Libby from the F45 gym for a heart pumping workout from my home! -
Such a pretty place to shop, eat, drink, or relax! Winter Park has it all. There are plenty of places on Park Avenue and the outskirts to grab wine or a delightful meal. Shopping includes lots of clothing stores, jewelry, housewares, and more.
Central Park is one of my favorite places to relax in Orlando. The grass is wonderful for having a picnic on. It's soft, well trimmed, and a beautiful green. The trees bring shade and even more beauty to the area. If you have kids, they can see the trains ride by frequently on the weekdays.
Walking around the area, you can come upon different signs that will give a little history of the area. It's fun to find then scattered about.
There is much more to say about the Farmers Market and Train Station in Winter Park too. Here's a plug to go check out the reviews, photos, and tips for these places on Yelp! -
Torcaso Park (also called Torcaso Cove) is a brand new park in Winter Springs. There is a playground, swings, sand play area, and splash pad. There is a parking lot right next to the park and it's easy to find.
The splash pad is especially fun for kids. Importantly, it is fenced in. Keep in mind the splash pad is seasonal and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so visit the park's website or social media page for hours.
The biggest downside is that there is not much shade. There is a little shade under the playground covering so that does help. It has been very busy at the park the times I have gone, so I would recommend going early in the morning.
The restrooms are clean, but there are no changing tables in them. There are cold water fountains though!
We will be visiting Torcaso Park again! -
You had me at cupcakes! Yelpers spent an afternoon decorating cupcakes and chatting on a virtual call, which was a great way to spend Sunday.
I purchased cupcakes from Butter Bliss Bakeshop, which included bags of frosting and assorted toppings. It was all packaged together very nicely and pick up from Lisa was easy!
The owner of Butter Bliss Bakeshop, Lisa, was on the call at the beginning to tell us a little about her business and answer questions. I wish she was able to be on the call longer for more instruction, but I'll take any help I can get! The different ways to cut the end of the piping bags were a big help. I tried different variations with the bags and had fun with it.
I made friends with more Yelpers in the breakout rooms and loved Andi's photo taking tips! Bonus that the cupcakes were delicious- my favorite being the vanilla. Thank you for a sweet event! -
Just beautiful! Leu Gardens has so much to offer its visitors who enjoy nature. There is such a variety of foliage. For someone who is a native Floridian and used to lots of oaks and palms, the trees and plants here are a breath of fresh air (pun intended)! Bamboo, maple, and even various fruit trees. Many of the plants are labeled so that you can learn the names as you walk along.
Let's talk about the size of the gardens. It's a good size to leisurely explore for a few hours! There is a gorgeous pathway that takes you down to the lake that is a must-see. There is plenty of shade and it's just a relaxing walk along the water! Another pretty area of the gardens is the rose garden. It's not as shaded, but still beautiful. Close by that is the butterfly garden. There were a lot of butterflies (and bees) on the day we visited recently, which were fun to see.
I'm thankful for Leu Gardens being open during the 2020 pandemic. Social distancing can be practiced here as everything is very open. There is normally a daily admission or you can purchase a membership. There is a glass donation container in the main building and you can make donations online to support them as well. -
Hourglass Brewery led a virtual beer tasting recently for Yelp Elite, and I'm glad I got to take part! They allowed us to pick up the beer package from either the Curry Ford or Longwood location, which was a great. I picked up from Longwood and was surprised to find four good sized ice cold beers, a special reusable bag, koozie, and even an Hourglass branded glass!
A Zoom call was held for the virtual tasting. I loved how much knowledge and passion the Hourglass team had for beer! My husband and I shared the beer tastings during dinner that night. My favorite was the rice beer, Hour Wolfe, which was light and crisp. We enjoyed trying some beers that we wouldn't normally order. It's good to broaden your horizons!
Thank you to Andi and Hourglass for setting up this special virtual event for us! -
Large and lush with greenery, Mead Botanical Garden is a great place to take a nature walk. I've been here a couple times in the past for 5k runs, but recently took the time to explore it in more detail.
There are trails all around the park, although many of them are not paved, so be ready for potential mud. Following the trail will take you past tons of trees and bushes. Flowers can be found in some small spots around the gardens, so be on the lookout for them (and butterflies). There is a nice stream and pond toward the back of the park that makes for pretty photos and a peaceful setting. Listen for the cardinals chirping and the wind blowing through the trees in this area.
I would recommend coming to Mead Gardens on a weekday if you can, as the park is not nearly as crowded. -
Gideon's Bakehouse has some of the most sought after cookies and cakes in Orlando! The cookies are HUGE and more like brownies, with a chewy consistency. You can find these desserts at East End Market.
The cake is extremely decadent and is quite pricey. It can be ordered by the slice or whole cake (whole is preorder only). They have lots of limits and rules for ordering and pick up listed on their website, so it helps to read those in advance.
There often is a line to wait for these cookies and cakes because they are so popular. They often sell out. Each cookie is $5 as of April 2020. Any cookie of theirs with peanut butter is a winner for me but the triple chocolate is an absolute treat too! Plan ahead and treat yourself (or someone you love) to these desserts! -
I loved the informal Happy Hour gathering of Yelpers on a weeknight! This was a great way to break up the week especially during this time. I loved making a cocktail in advance - I chose a coconut and pineapple martini because it's simple to make and delicious. I picked up the ingredients at my local ABC Liquor in Oviedo. Also LOVED seeing the other drinks that Yelpers chose and their stories. It was a nice idea to keep the recipes housed in Google Docs for use at a later time!
The breakout rooms were an easy way to mingle in a smaller group. I met some new Yelpers and familiarized myself with those that I am friends with but don't know as well. Thank you Andi for a fun night!4/24/2020
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