Sharlette Carey

Great spot for a family friendly hike. We went during 4th of July weekend and were a bit taken back by how crowded it was, but I guess everyone had the same idea. Very clean and well maintained. There are parts of the trail that are a bit narrow so you will need to be mindful when passing those going the opposite direction. Dog friendly and many were on the trail the day we were there. You might notice people walking along the main road at some point- this is because it is an in-and-out trail but there is a point where the trail can dump you on the road if you want to make it a loop. I do not recommend since the road is curvy and there are no sidewalks or shoulders so it seemed very dangerous.

Beautiful wildlife drive not far from Orlando! This is a self-guided drive for your personal vehicle and is well worth the trip if you are looking to get out of the house/hotel but not necessarily trying to be exposed to the heat or spend a lot of money. The drive took us about an hour and we did get out at the pump house to walk around. You will typically know if there are interesting animals coming up because you will see cars stop ahead of you and people taking pictures out the windows.

Beautiful historic building right in the center of Oxford. A great focal point for anyone driving through and they host free concerts on the lawn on Sundays during the summer. Also a neat spot to visit for field trips or tours to learn more about the history of the building and town.

A beautiful little lake in the sleepy town of Oxford. I grew up just down the street from this lake and have seen it come a very long way over the years. It is a safe environment with a lot to offer- everything from a sandy beach area with lifeguards for swimming, clean bathrooms with changing area, a snack bar with freshly cooked food and ice cream offerings, paddle board and kayak rentals that make it easy to just get right in the water, a butterfly garden, walking trails, soccer fields, boat launch with a floating dock next to it as well as a raised fishing dock. There are also many native plants growing around the lake including a plethora of common milkweed around the soccer fields. Plenty of parking and public BBQ grills are also available. Endless possibilities for family fun at the Oxford Furnace Lake with continuous improvements made yearly.