Orange Park offers a range of experiences for a stay: activities on Doctors Lake, a nature-focused waterfront conservation area, and historic sites from several eras. There are also tours, arts and crafts, and easy access to I-295.

Doctors Lake and Waterfront Conservation

Orange Park offers easy access to Doctors Lake for boating, fishing and kayaking. Rob Bradley Conservation Park at Nelson Point encompasses 10 acres of natural waterfront conservation land on Doctors Lake and is intended to remain largely in its natural state permanently. The focus differs: the lake is centered on the water activities mentioned, while the park focuses on the long-term preservation of a natural waterfront area. Travelers who factor nature into their plans can distinguish between activities on the water and conservation.

Local History Through the Eras

Orange Park was founded in 1877 by the Florida Winter Home and Improvement Company. Some gravestones in Magnolia Cemetery date to 1845, 32 years before the town was founded. Magnolia Cemetery is also the traditional site of the annual Memorial Day observance. The Clarke House was originally built by William Clarke in the early 20th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The T.C. Miller Community Center and Recreation Park was built in 1938.

Plan a Historic Tour

A tour of historic buildings in Orange Park visits 23 buildings. The Orange Park History Tour lasts one hour and covers a 1-mile route in the heart of Orange Park. One hour and one mile provide two concrete planning details: the time required and the route length. Reservations are required for Orange Park History Tours; tours can be scheduled any day of the week with advance contact. Confirm the date and availability before your trip, and check the details of the historic buildings tour in advance.

Art, Markets and Public Access

The Gallery & Club at the Thrasher-Horne Center is free and open to the public during the ticket office’s regular hours. Since hours may change, check them before your visit. The Orange Park Farmers' & Arts Market gives local residents and the wider community access to fresh, locally sourced produce and arts and crafts by local artisans. The Orange Park Fall Festival is an arts and crafts festival. The market and festival have different focuses: the market features locally sourced produce as well as crafts, while the festival centers on arts and crafts.

Road access is also a practical consideration for getting there: Orange Park offers easy access to I-295.

Discover more destinations: Lakeside, Frostproof, Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, Middleburg, Fleming Island

Return to the regional travel overview: Clay.