Best Of 2018

Best Place to Get Away From the Noise
Photo by Monivette Cordeiro

Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area

When Orlando gets too loud, this nearly 1,700-acre jewel of a preserve on the outskirts of Lake Nona is the perfect place to reconnect with yourself and old Florida. Named after a 200-year-old tree on the property that survived being split down the middle (probably by lightning, but no one's sure), Split Oak is home to threatened gopher tortoises, Florida scrub jays, sandhill cranes, gopher frogs, deer, indigo snakes and bald eagles. Enjoy it while it lasts, though – Central Florida transportation officials are proposing to extend a road right through it.

Sports and Recreation: Orlando's best teams, players, springs, theme parks and more

Sports and Recreation
Best Accidental Dick Joke
Photo by Seth Kubersky

Disney's giant Woody

disneyworld.disney.go.com

Back in April, Disney was very excited to open Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios, and in doing so, they announced to everyone that they had erected a giant 20-foot Woody at the entrance of the new land. Though there was no mention of girth, Disney did also tell us the statue had a 7-foot-wide hat and a 4-foot-tall yo-yo. Naturally, the announcement made all stand at attention.

Best Adult Sports League

1. Orlando Roller Derby, orlandorollerderby.com

2. Orlando Sport and Social Club, orlandosportandsocialclub.com

3. Orlando Gay Kickball, gaykickball.com

Best Attraction That's Not a Theme Park

1. Orlando Science Center, osc.org

2. Kennedy Space Center, kennedyspacecenter.com

3. (tie) Topgolf, topgolf.com

3. (tie) Gatorland, gatorland.com

Best Beach

1. New Smyrna Beach, visitnsbfl.com

2. Clearwater Beach, visitclearwaterflorida.com

3. Siesta Key, visitsarasota.com

Best Bowling Alley

1. Splitsville, splitsvillelanes.com

2. Aloma Bowl, alomabowlingcenters.com

3. Kings Dining & Entertainment, kings-de.com

Honorable Mention: Colonial Lanes (RIP), coloniallanes.net

Best Canoeing/Kayaking

1. Wekiwa Springs, floridastateparks.org

2. Wekiva Island, wekivaisland.com

3. Blue Springs, floridastateparks.org

Best City Park

1. Lake Eola Park, cityoforlando.net

2. Central Park, Winter Park, cityofwinterpark.org

3. Dickson Azalea Park, cityoforlando.net

Best Dog Park

1. Lake Baldwin Park, cityofwinterpark.org

2. Dr. Phillips Dog Park, orangecountyfl.net

3. Downey Dog Park, orangecountyfl.net

Best Escape Room

1. Escapology, escapology.com

2. The Great Escape Room, thegreatescaperoom.com

3. The Escape Game Orlando, orlandoescapegame.com