A two-day, kid-tested plan that never leaves Lake Nona: free yoga and sculpture, a playground and trailhead, a container food park, lakeside brunch and an aqua park.
A full family weekend fits inside Lake Nona without a theme-park ticket or a drive across Orlando. Saturday covers Lake Nona Town Center, Heroes Community Park and the Orlando Southeast Trail, then dinner at Boxi Park. Sunday covers brunch at Canvas in Laureate Park Village Center and an afternoon at Nona Adventure Park. Most stops are free, including Yoga in the Garden, the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden, Heroes Community Park and Boxi Park admission. Families who want a quieter weekend can swap in Moss Park, Split Oak Forest and Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge on Lake Nona's southern edge.
People move to Orlando and assume weekends mean theme parks. Lake Nona families learn quickly that they do not have to. Between Town Center, the parks and the lakes, a full two days with kids fits inside the community, most of it free and most of it within a few miles of home.
This is the weekend we would plan for a family visiting Lake Nona for the first time, or for one that just moved in and wants to see what the neighborhood is for. Swap pieces in and out to suit your kids' ages and the weather.
Saturday Morning: Lake Nona Town Center
Start Saturday in Lake Nona Town Center with the free Yoga in the Garden class and a walk through the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden.
Yoga in the Garden is a complimentary outdoor class on Saturday mornings in the sculpture garden outside the Lake Nona Wave Hotel. Older kids can join in; younger ones can explore the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden with one parent while the other stretches.
From there, walk the Town Center and find Beacon, the district's best-known sculpture. Lunch is easy within a few blocks; the options are in the Lake Nona restaurants and dining guide.
Saturday Afternoon: Heroes Community Park and the Trails
Spend the afternoon at Heroes Community Park, which has a playground, sports fields and the main trailhead for the Orlando Southeast Trail.
Heroes Community Park at 14028 Centerline Drive is Lake Nona's first City of Orlando park, with age-tiered play structures, four lit multi-use fields, picnic pavilions, restrooms and a paved walking path. It is also the main launch point for the trail.
The family-friendly stretch is the northern segment toward Town Center and Laureate Park: wide, paved and with few road crossings. Ride or walk as far as your kids last. The full network is covered in exploring Lake Nona's trail network.
Saturday Evening: Boxi Park
End Saturday at Boxi Park, Lake Nona's free-admission food park built from shipping containers, with a playground, open lawn, dog park and live music.
Boxi Park at 6877 Tavistock Lakes Boulevard is where Lake Nona families end up on weekend evenings, because it solves the problem of a family that cannot agree on dinner. Each container is a different kitchen or bar, kids play on the lawn and playground within sight of the tables, and the band covers the noise. Parking in the garage across the street is free.
Two tips. Boxi Park is typically open Thursday through Sunday, so this works on a Saturday but not a Monday. And it is cashless, and outside chairs are not allowed, so arrive early on busy nights to get a table.
Sunday Morning: Brunch at Canvas and the Glass House
Sunday starts with brunch at Canvas Restaurant & Market on the lake in Laureate Park Village Center, followed by a look at the Glass House next door.
Canvas serves weekend brunch in a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a patio on the water. If the restaurant is busy, the market side has pastries, espresso and grab-and-go food you can take to the lakefront.
Afterward, let the kids walk into the Glass House, Tom Fruin's stained-glass-style sculpture beside Canvas. The rest of the square is covered in our Laureate Park Village Center guide.
Sunday Afternoon: Nona Adventure Park
For an active Sunday afternoon, Nona Adventure Park has a floating aqua park, cable wakeboarding and a 60-foot climbing tower, plus Tot Town for younger children.
Nona Adventure Park is next door to Heroes Community Park on Centerline Drive. Sessions are capacity-limited, so book online and sign waivers ahead of time. In summer, avoid the middle of the day on the exposed structures.
If your kids are under 8, or it is pouring, swap in Terra Play Center, the all-abilities indoor playground behind Lake Nona Plaza.
For a Slower Pace: Moss Park, Split Oak and Back to Nature
Families who want nature over noise can spend a day on Lake Nona's southern edge at Moss Park, Split Oak Forest and Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge.
Moss Park is Orange County's largest park, 1,551 acres on the isthmus between Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane, with playgrounds, boat ramps, fishing and camping. Swimming is not allowed. From there, trails lead into Split Oak Forest.
Nearby, Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge is an hour-long walk past rescued owls, bobcats, tortoises and other animals that cannot return to the wild. It is a good first stop with young children before a short hike. More options are in the Lake Nona parks and recreation guide.
How Far Are Orlando's Big Attractions From Lake Nona?
If you want to add a bigger outing, Downtown Orlando is about 14 miles from Lake Nona, the theme parks are about 18 to 25 miles, and Cocoa Beach is about 50 miles.
| Downtown Orlando | About 14 miles |
|---|---|
| SeaWorld Orlando | About 18 miles |
| Universal Orlando | About 20 miles |
| Walt Disney World | About 25 miles |
| Cocoa Beach | About 50 miles |
Lake Nona sits right by Orlando International Airport, so visiting family can fly in Friday and be at Boxi Park the same evening. More regional outings are on the Explore Orlando hub.
Pros, Cons and Our Take
Pros
- Most stops are free: Yoga in the Garden, the Sculpture Garden, Heroes Community Park and Boxi Park admission
- Short drives between stops, and some of the weekend can be done by bike on the trail
- Works for a wide range of ages, with indoor and quieter swaps for small children
- Easy to plan around visiting family flying into MCO
Cons
- Summer heat makes outdoor afternoons hard from roughly May through September
- Boxi Park keeps a Thursday-to-Sunday schedule, and Nona Adventure Park sessions need booking ahead
- Nona Adventure Park and dining are where the costs add up
- The southern-edge parks need a car; the trail does not yet connect to Moss Park
Our Take
A Lake Nona weekend is not about one big attraction. It works because the pieces are close together and most of them cost nothing, which is the same reason families choose to live here. For newcomers it is also the fastest way to learn the community: by Sunday night you will know Town Center, Laureate Park, the trail and the parks better than most people who have only driven through.
What the Neighbors Know
Lake Nona families will tell you the real advantage is not any single stop but that a full weekend fits within a few miles of home. Residents of Laureate Park and Northlake Park can do much of this itinerary on foot or by bike; families in Eagle Creek and the communities to the south are closer to Moss Park and Back to Nature.
If you are deciding where to live, compare communities on the Lake Nona neighborhoods page, and find more things to do on the Nona Fun attractions and entertainment hub.
Official Sources
Buying or selling in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Lake Nona with kids on a weekend?
A typical Lake Nona family weekend includes Yoga in the Garden and the Sculpture Garden in Town Center, Heroes Community Park and the Orlando Southeast Trail, dinner at Boxi Park, brunch at Canvas in Laureate Park Village Center and an afternoon at Nona Adventure Park.
What is free to do in Lake Nona?
Yoga in the Garden, the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden, the Glass House, Heroes Community Park, the trails and Boxi Park admission are all free. You pay only for food, drinks and activities like Nona Adventure Park.
What can you do in Lake Nona on a rainy or very hot day?
Terra Play Center, an indoor playground behind Lake Nona Plaza, is the main indoor option for children under 8. Lunch or brunch indoors at Canvas or in Town Center is another way to wait out the weather.
How far is Lake Nona from Disney World?
Walt Disney World is about 25 miles from Lake Nona. Universal Orlando is about 20 miles, SeaWorld about 18 miles and Downtown Orlando about 14 miles.
Is Boxi Park open every day?
No. Boxi Park is typically open Thursday through Sunday and closed Monday through Wednesday. Check its website for current hours before you go.
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