We live in the Sunshine State, but sometimes the sunshine is a little too much. Especially for young kids in the summer! So how do you still let the kids play outside even when the heat is on? There are two neighboring parks that fit the bill perfectly and they’re centrally located in Downtown Orlando! Dickson Azalea and Langford Park are featured on our Orlando Park Crawl, so check that out if you haven’t already downloaded your free copy of the checklist to explore some of Orlando’s best parks!
Growing up, we spent a lot of time at Dickson Azalea Park. My mom and her family went there for photos a few times when she was a teenager and the park is just as beautiful now as it was then. Across the street there’s a park named after Mayor Carl T. Langford (who was instrumental in bringing The Mouse to Orlando) which is a nice complement to Dickson Azalea. We love taking the boys to both of these parks and I wanted to share them with you!
Langford Park is probably the better of the two for young kids. There’s a playground for little kids, a boardwalk area where we used to love to put on “shows” when we were little, and several shaded picnic tables.
The “bouncy bridge” was a favorite of Graham the last time we visited!
Dickson Azalea is great for the older kids. There are garden pathways that lead under bridges and past small waterfalls. It’s the perfect place to let them explore!
“The tree” is still there, but it’s not in the best shape anymore. Visitors are discouraged from sitting or climbing on it (though it’s tempting because it’s SUCH a good climbing tree!) but it’s the perfect place to get some great photos of your kids or have a picnic on a blanket after you’ve walked along the trails.
The Basics
- Location: Central and Rosearden (near Bumby and South Street just a couple blocks away from the 408).
- Amenities: Bathrooms, water fountain, picnic areas, playground
- Ages: All!
Pro Tips
- You’ll want to make sure that you keep a good eye on your little ones because there is a small creek that runs through both parks and it would be easy for them to run right into it.
- Bring a camera! This is one of the most picturesque public parks in Orlando. Take advantage of that and snap some photos of your kids!
- Pack a lunch. You could easily spend a few hours here before you head home!
Do you have a favorite shady spot in Orlando? Let me know where it is in the comments!
GINA!! this showed up on my facebook and i clicked because it looked like a great post — thanks for making it, and i love that i didn’t even realize it was YOU who wrote it! haha 🙂
Hi Dacia!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! If you get a chance to join us on the park crawl this summer, we’d love to hang out with you!
Great postings! Is Langford park the same as Dickson azalea? Also, have you been to the kid park in Sanford?
Thanks, Wendy! Technically, Langford and Dickson Azalea are two different parks, but they’re literally right across the street from each other so it’s more bang for your buck! I haven’t been to the kid park in Sanford, but I’d love to know more about it!