Apopka is a city nestled in the Orlando metropolitan area known for its lakes, natural springs, and countless outdoor recreation.
What makes this small city more interesting is its closeness to nature and accessibility to the modern world.
It’s one of the best weekend destinations that offer the best of both worlds.
One of the best ways to enjoy Apopka is to explore Lake Apopka, where you can either fish, kayak, canoe, or hike along its vast shores that span across other nearby towns.
Aside from this massive lake, Apopka is known throughout Florida’s Orange County as a vibrant suburban community that offers visitors a laid-back atmosphere within metropolitan Orlando.
One of the main reasons Apopka is a nice place to visit for a short excursion or perhaps a weekend getaway is that it is just a short drive to some of the world’s most famous theme parks.
You’re half an hour to reach most of these attractions that draw millions of tourists each year.
However, before you think of these theme parks, you need to check out Apopka first.
This small city is packed with beautiful natural attractions and exciting activities.
You will find more than 40 trails and a dozen lakes in Apopka, each with its own unique beauty and set of activities to do.
When it comes to leisure, Apopka is no short of that.
This city also has its own set of shops, restaurants, and entertainment establishments for the family.
So, what awaits you in this Floridian jewel?
Read this post and find out the 15 best things to do in Apopka, FL.
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The Wekiwa Springs State Park is easily accessible through Interstate 4 and is less than a 30-minute drive from Orlando.
It’s one of the best places to start your Apopka travel adventure for its exciting outdoor activities.
It’s a nice destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who want to escape the city stress and take a bit of a detour from the usual theme parks in Orlando.
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The park is nestled on the Wekiva headwaters, perfect for kayaking, fishing, and nature photography.
They also have guided tours available for a more convenient way to explore the Wekiwa Springs State Park.
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Apopka is abundant with natural attractions, making this small city an excellent place to immerse yourself in nature.
After Wekiva Springs, head to the Rock Springs Run State Preserve, which offers equal outdoor fun and excitement.
If you’re planning to proceed here for more outdoor activities, then you made the right choice.
This natural attraction is known for its nature trails covered with sand pine scrubs, flat woods, and marshes teeming with wildlife.
It’s known throughout Apopka and Orlando as a popular hiking and horseback riding destination through its 17 miles of untamed wilderness.
In addition, Rock Springs Run State Preserve has camping grounds to spend the night or even a few days.
Aside from outdoor activities, the Florida black bear, sandhill crane, Florida scrub-jay, gopher tortoise, and indigo snake are frequently seen in the reserve’s 14,000-acre area.
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The Museum of the Apopkans is currently managed by the Apopka Historical Society, which aims to preserve the community’s rich history.
The museum offers visitors galleries and exhibits that tell the story of the Acuera people that inhabited Apopka back in the day.
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It also showcases how Apopka progressed from a small lakeside town to today’s thriving suburban city.
Visiting the Museum of the Apopkans is a surefire way to learn the history of this city through guided tours from the members of the Apopka Historical Society.
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If you’re looking for a restaurant in Apopka that serves top-notch steaks, dine at The Back Room Steakhouse.
Instead of driving to Orlando to find mouthwatering steaks, you can check out this locally-owned restaurant’s house specialties.
Like any excellent restaurant, The Back Room Steakhouse uses fresh and top-quality ingredients to prepare delicious meals.
The Back Room Steakhouse also has a nice collection of fine wines, signature cocktails, and craft beer that goes great with their steaks.
They boast delicious ribeye, tomahawk, New York strips, lamb chops, filet mignon, and porterhouse as their house specialty using aged Black Angus beef.
They also serve pasta dishes, fresh seafood, and delectable desserts.
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Northwest Recreation Area’s 180-acre lot is filled with sports facilities, games, and practice fields, making it the center of sports in Apopka’s community.
Check out the Northwest Recreation Complex if you’re looking for a suitable venue to sweat out and play your favorite sport.
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It has basketball courts, volleyball courts, sand volleyball court, youth baseball field, regulation-sized baseball field, T-ball field, etc.
Most of Apopka’s locals play sports here instead of driving into traffic to get to Orlando.
So, if you want to display your hoops skills or want to make a home run, just head to Northwest Recreation Complex.
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The Apopka Farmers Market features the best local produce from local farmers in Orange County and neighboring towns.
It’s where to buy fresh produce, meat, handmade items, bread, pastry, and dairy products at affordable prices.
The Apopka Farmers Market is located at Kit Land Nelson Park, and it’s available every Thursday afternoon to evening.
Aside from buying fresh vegetables, fruits, and food, it’s also a great way to get to know Apopka’s locals.
Like most excellent farmers’ markets, this one in Apopka guarantees you a satisfying experience.
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Lake Apopka is the third most extensive lake in Florida.
Its size crossed over into Lake County, while its water levels are maintained through natural springs surrounding the area and torrential rains every year.
Lake Apopka has an inspiring story, making it an interesting natural attraction to visit.
This natural attraction was heavily polluted back in the day due to the waste coming from nearby farms in Orange County.
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In addition, the lake suffered overfishing and poor maintenance that cost its natural beauty.
However, through the efforts of locals and the government, they managed to save Lake Apopka from pollution and brought back its natural beauty several years back.
Today, Lake Apopka is being managed by the Friends of Lake Apopka, and it has become a trendy natural attraction in Apopka and neighboring towns.
Dozens of outdoor activities are enjoyed in Lake Apopka, including hiking, boating, biking, fishing, and bird watching along its shores.
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The Wekiva Golf Club in Apopka has been serving locals and visitors with its top-notch golf course since 1972.
Wekiva Golf Club’s golf course design made this popular to many golfers across Florida.
It highlights affordable greens fees, well-manicured fairways, challenging traps, and smooth greens.
In addition, the Wekiva Golf Club offers a picturesque view of the surrounding nature and the Wekiva River.
You will likely spend the entire day not just playing but mesmerizing the beautiful sceneries there.
The golf course features a vast 6,600 yards, 18-hole par 72 setup that’s perfect for golfers in all skill levels.
If you’re done with your session, proceed to its club restaurant, which serves delicious food daily.
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Kelly Park is where you’ll find the Rock Springs, which pumps 26,000 gallons of spring water every minute, supplying numerous swimming holes along the park.
It’s an excellent place to bring your family and have a great time swimming or tubing along its crystal clear waters.
Aside from swimming, try kayaking or canoeing through its stream stretching 8.5-miles that will take you to a beautiful subtropical forest.
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Kelly Park spans more than 325-acres where Rock Springs is located.
There are numerous camping grounds in the area if you’re planning to stay for the night.
There’s also a 7-mile hiking trail, picnic area, and a playground for kids.
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The Apopka Amphitheater is a 1,300 seater open-air events venue in the heart of Apopka.
The Apopka Amphitheater is where many of metropolitan Orlando’s musical performances happen, and it’s more incredible because it’s free of charge, except if you want to reserve seats to one of its 1,300 seats for a better view.
Nevertheless, seating on the lawn outside the patron area still provides you with a good view of what’s happening in front.
The venue is usually packed with audiences who want to enjoy concerts, especially huge musical events. such as the Apopka International Jazz Festival held every March and the regular performances of the Orlando Philharmonic during the holiday season.
The Three Odd Guys Brewing is known throughout Apopka for its excellent locally brewed craft beer.
What started as a small business in Apopka eventually turned into a major brewery that now produces excellent craft beer for everyone.
The Three Odd Guys Brewing has a tasting and taproom in Apopka that you can visit.
Don’t miss trying out their specialties, such as the Chief’s Horse Feathers blond ale, Fence Check Brown Ale, Midknight Bikeride malt beer, APK IPA, which have distinct flavors and characteristics.
Their tasting and taproom is also a cozy place to hang out, making it a perfect spot to chug down a pint after a day of outdoor activities in Apopka.
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In Winter Park, a 23-minute drive or seven miles southeast of Apopka is where you’ll find the elegant Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.
This museum in Winter Park houses the world’s most extensive artwork collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
The galleries and exhibits are filled with his collection of paintings, pottery, jewelry, art glass, etc.
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It also includes the chapel interior of his famous World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 and items from Laurelton Hall and Long Island country estate.
You’ll also find numerous late 19th and early 20th-century American artworks from graphics, paintings, pottery, and decorative art.
If you’re a huge fan of both arts and history, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is the perfect place to visit.
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In Astatula, a 17-minute drive or 12.5 miles west of Apopka leads you to the Stanley Pond Adventure Farm.
It is the best place to take your kids and let them play their hearts out at their mini theme park filled with exciting rides and activities.
It’s an exciting place to bring the whole family and enjoy its features without putting a hole in your pocket.
The best features you and your family to check out at the Stanley Pond Adventure Farm are the splash pad, jumping pillows, trike race, and barnyard ball.
Stanley Pond Adventure Farm also hosts birthday parties and weddings.
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Since you’re half an hour drive to Orlando, it would be perfect to proceed and visit the world-famous Universal Studios Orlando.
Well, this attraction doesn’t entirely need a lengthy introduction since it’s on most people’s bucket lists.
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The entire park spans over 500 acres with tons of rides, dining, and exciting activities to do.
Enjoy dozens of thrilling rides, and don’t forget to visit iconic attractions such as Hogwarts, Spider-Man, Transformers, The Simpsons, and Men in Black.
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Over at Lake Mary, which is a 30-minute drive or 17 miles east of Apopka, leads you to the Planet Obstacle.
Planet Obstacle is a must-visit attraction near Apopka, as it is the most extensive indoor obstacle park in Central Florida.
It has a vast obstacle course, zip lines, rock climbing walls, bumper cars, trampolines, bungees, and ninja courses that your family can enjoy.
Owned by world-class acrobats and gymnasts Andrei Roublev and Yuri Maiorov, Planet Obstacle is also a popular venue for birthday parties.
In addition, it has a restaurant called “Sky Cafe,” where you and your family can proceed after enjoying the obstacles.
Apopka is a destination itself that provides you with more than enough activities to do and attractions to visit.
It’s the best alternative destination if you want to avoid long queues and crowded places in Orlando’s huge theme parks.
Apopka is a small-town charm filled with hidden gems within a major city’s reach.
So, which of these places in Apopka you’ll be visiting first?
Don’t forget to revisit this post about the 15 things to do in Apopka for your travel reference.
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