Lake Nona has got it going on for date night. There are many Lake Nona restaurants that create a marvelous culinary scene. Boxi Park, a shipping container food truck park and entertainment venue hosts fun events on a regular basis. Other date night favorites include Drive Shack, a sprawling golf entertainment venue, and the recently opened Nona Adventure Park, comprised of an inflatable water park, cable water ski/wake board park, and aerial ropes course.
Follow our ideas for a fun morning at Nona Adventure Park followed by hitting some of the dining highlights.
Updated July 2022 by Dani Meyering
All images by Stephanie Patterson, unless otherwise noted
NONA ADVENTURE PARK
Sprawling from land to lake, Nona Adventure Park is one of Lake Nona’s best things to do. The complex, complete with a waterpark, cable park, and aerial ropes course sits on a peaceful manmade lake just outside of the main town center.
Colorful Adirondack chairs line the shore, providing a view of the surrounding landscape and park action. Plus, there's a huge covered lakefront patio which also has a bistro and snack bar selling goodies like oven-baked pizzas, flatbreads, salads, sandwiches, dippin' dots, beer and wine.
Capacity is limited – reserve your spot in advance!
Start your date early with an afternoon visit. Parking is free, and you’ll start by checking in at the pro shop to purchase your pass.
Tickets starts at $25 and go up to $109 for an all day access to every single part of the park. Choose between the aqua park, cable park, climbing tower/ropes course, or an all access pass to the entire park. While you could easily spend the better part of the day here, it’s also great for a few hours of adult playtime.
There are multiple flavors of adventure here. The most buzz-worthy is no doubt the 1000’+ floating aqua park, a bright blue sea of floating obstacles like a Ninja jump, towering waterslides, a tire run and more. After entering the water through the dock access point, you’ll swim out to the course to begin the fun.
All participants must have basic swimming ability. Minimum age: 5 (Children ages 5-8 must be accompanied on the inflatables by a paying adult.)
For adventurous souls, the cable park is an exciting way to test our your wakeboarding and water skiing skills. You’ll be attached to the overhead cables allowing you to zip around the course (and maybe even catch some air!) whether you’re a beginner or seasoned pro. No worries if you fall off, as there’s a floating dock surrounding the cable park allowing you to walk back to the entry point and get back on your board or skis.
On land, conquer your fears and build confidence together on the 60-foot high aerial ropes course. The course features three varying levels of difficulty (denoted by color) plus two 50-foot climbing walls, a free fall, and climbing ropes. Obstacles throughout the course include a wobble bridge and tilting boards. There’s a ground level course for kiddos, too.
Pricing and Details
- Aqua Park: $25 for 50 minutes, or $68 for an all day pass.
- Tower Park: $46 for the ropes course plus climbing walls, free fall and climbing ropes, and $12 for the ground-level kids course (ages 3-8).
- Cable Park: $45 for 2 hours, or $60 for all day (bring your own gear), plus an extra $14-$34 for gear rentals.
Nona Adventure Park
14086 Centerline Drive
Orlando, FL 32827
Monday – Friday 11am-7pm (Aqua Park 2-7pm)
Saturday – Sunday 10am-7pm
nonaadventurepark.com
LAKE NONA FOOD CRAWL
After working up an appetite conquering the obstacles at Nona Adventure Park, refuel with a progressive food crawl visiting some of Lake Nona’s many eateries.
Stop 1: Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen
Kick off your feast at Chroma, a stylish Lake Nona staple with a bright interior, colorful accents, a spacious outdoor patio and tapas-style menu perfect for sharing.
Seasonal cocktails are a must. Try the Bottled Sunshine, a sunny yellow cocktail made with lemon, orange, tangerine, blood orange liqueur and vodka served in a cute bottle. It’s basically Florida in a glass. Other drink specials include $5 call drinks, $4 draft beers, and $3 off 6oz and 9oz pours of wine.
Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen
6967 Lake Nona Blvd
Orlando, FL 32827
Monday – Wednesday 11am – 11pm
Thursday 11am – 12am
Friday – Saturday 11am – 1am
Sunday 11am – 10pm
Happy Hour Weekdays 3:30 – 6:30pm
chromalakenona.com
Stop 2: Park Pizza & Brewing Co.
After whetting your appetite at Canvas, you’ll be mere steps away from your next destination. Casual and fun, Park Pizza & Brewing Co. is your one-stop shop for the ultimate combo: pizza and beer! Part brewery and part pizzeria, this spot excels at both.
The interior is bright and colorful, with multiple murals (hand-painted by Tes One, a Florida artist) spanning the walls and bright decor accents. The bar and brewery is at one end, with the bustling pizzeria facing opposite.
When asked about what sets Park Pizza’s brews apart from other breweries, head brewer Marco Reyna proudly declared that his approach is to make “beer flavored beer.” His passion for crafting classic beers exceptionally well is palpable, and the proof is in the pint glass.
A few personal favorites include the easy-drinking Belgian Whit and the Brown Ale, which will be loved by fans of Cigar City’s Maduro brown ale. If this is your first visit, go with the beer flight, which includes your choice of four 5oz pours.
Moving onto the main course, continue piling on those carbs (you need energy after your adventure park workout!) with a few pizzas to share. If you’re feeling creative, craft your own pie. Or, pick from one of the pizzeria’s signature creations.
If you’re sharing a single pie, you can order a different flavor on each half of your pizza. I loved the Chicken and Goat (garlic cream, goat cheese, chicken and avocado) and classic Margherita (San Marzano tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, sea salt and olive oil).
Looking for a perfect pizza and beer pairing? Here are Marco’s recommended pairings:
- The Margherita paired with the Vienna Lager: this pizza is simple and classic, just like the beer!
- Pesto Fazool paired with the Belgian Wit: the light and fresh flavors and spices are a match made in heaven.
- Awesome Saus! paired with the Brown Ale: this pairing is for you if you’re a fan of bold, dynamic flavors. Bonus: the pizza is topped with housemade sausage!
- Pepperoni Picante paired with the IPA: the dynamic spices of this pizza work well with the IPA’s hoppy and bitter characteristics.
Park Pizza & Brewing Co.
6941 Lake Nona Blvd
Orlando, FL 32827
Sunday – Thursday 11am – 12am
Friday & Saturday 11am – 2am
parkpizzalakenona.com
Stop 3: Sunset dessert and drinks at Canvas
Boasting floor to ceiling windows framing the lake outside and spectacular sunset views, Canvas has been a fixture of the local dining scene since it opened. It’s also a spectacular place to wrap up your evening with dessert while watching the sunset.
Pair your sweets with a cocktail to toast the end of your epic date day that started with Nona Adventure Park. One of my personal favorites is the Strawberry Rhubarb Mule (mint, housemade strawberry rhubarb jam, ginger beer and vodka). If you loved the presentation of the Bottled Sunshine at Chroma, Canvas has their bottled drink called the Nona Sunset, which is made with passion fruit, lemon, pineapple, blood orange liqueur and rum. Seasonal cocktails are $9-$12 each.
After wrapping up your meal, check out the artisan goodies available in the adjoining market, or take a stroll through the outdoor garden.
Check out our Culinary Map of Lake Nona for more restaurant recommendations around town.
Make it a getaway at Lake Nona Wave Hotel
The Lake Nona Wave Hotel is hard to miss if you've ever traveled near Lake Nona. Its modern curvy exterior shines with a purple hue in the evening sky.
This modern, high-tech and high-fashion hotel is truly a destination itself. Slow down and unwind after venturing out to the rest of Lake Nona. The signature dining and mixology-focused lounges cannot be missed. And the hotel itself is full of gorgeous details. You will leave feeling energized and refreshed.
Our review of the Lake Nona Wave Hotel includes a step by step itinerary for the most incredible getaway together.
All photos by Stephanie Patterson unless otherwise noted