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Lake Eola Park

"The City Beautiful," as Orlando is nicknamed, is well-represented by the picture-perfect Lake Eola Park. Orlando postcards often feature this park's ornate fountain, with a backdrop of Downtown's skyscrapers. But with more than 1 million people annually visiting its 20-plus acres (43 acres, if you count the lake itself), Lake Eola Park is clearly more than just another pretty park.

If legend is believed, the city owes its name to the park's site, formerly the location of an Army fort. In 1835, a Native American's arrow killed Orlando Reeves, a soldier keeping watch at the fort to protect his company. In 1883, a citizen donated the land around Lake Eola, on the agreement that the city would beautify the area and make it into a park. The city continues to keep its promise. Lake Eola Park enjoyed a major facelift in 1985, and its amphitheater was refurbished in 1989 to host the first Orlando Shakespeare Festival.

The park's amenities are well-suited for a lunch break, a bit of exercise, walking the dog, a family outing, or simply a breath of fresh air. You can feed the swans and seagulls, ride a swan-shaped paddle boat, or walk the 0.9-mile loop around the lake. You might want to buy an ice-cream cone at the Lake Eola Café, or have a picnic on the grass. Photo opportunities abound as well, with such popular spots as the Chinese gazebo, the bridge over the pond, the playground, the Japanese rock garden, and the famed color-changing fountain. The flowery and tree-heavy landscaping in the park also provides an excellent photo background.

Events at Lake Eola Park keep drawing crowds. Arts-and-craft shows fill the park in April and November. On July 4, the park is host to a picnic, and ends the day with a fireworks display. The 950-seat amphitheater is still home to Orlando's Shakespeare festival, and also features comedy nights, concerts, and a family movie series. And if you don't like the food at one of the cafés or restaurants that surround the park, at least you can't complain about the view.

Location
Located in downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park is bounded by North Rosalind Avenue, East Robinson Street, East Central Boulevard, and North Eola Drive.

Hours of operation
City staff are at the park from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., but the park closes to the public at midnight.

Cost
Entering the park and some parking spaces around Lake Eola are free. Swan-boat rentals are $7 per 30 minutes.

Contact information
Call (407) 246-2827

Special considerations

• Skateboarding, skating, and biking are not permitted on the lakeside sidewalk.
• Dogs must be on a leash in the park, and you must clean up after your pet. Plastic-bag dispensers are located in the park to help with pet-waste clean-up.

Additional information

• Swan boats are available for rental, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends.
• Visit the Lake Eola Park Web site.

Please note
Cost, hours of operation, or other information about this attraction is subject to change without notice. We suggest you confirm with the attraction prior to your visit.