Places to hint in and around Orlando Florida?????????

[mikey78]

Hello, i am a relatively new MD'er that lives in Orlando. I have a Minelab Explorer 1 detector. I have used it a few times, but have only found new coins and soda cans. The thing has been sitting in the garage for the last year. I di go out to the beaches after the hurricanes, but found nothing. I cannot seem to find anywhere dect to find old coins. Nearly all of the parks here are newer and there is nothing old that is not paved or concreted over. I know the beach is nearby, but i really prefer to hunt on the mainland. Does anyone know of any nice places to hunt around?

 

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[nedigger]

Hey Mickey78,

Welcome to the most fascinating and sometimes most frustrating hobby you will ever enjoy! How long have you lived in Orlando? I was there from Jan. 2003 until April 2004 so I will try to lead you in the right direction. I made a handful of decent finds while there, some of which where found in parks in and around Orlando while others where found at beaches along the east coast of Florida but mostly Cocoa Beach. I also had some pretty good luck at elementary schools in the area also. The biggest problem with the schools is finding ones that aren't fenced in and getting to them before anyone else (easier said than done). As a matter of fact that goes for the beaches as well. I don't know what the stats are, but Florida must have the highest per capita of metal detectorists of any state. That doesn't include the many tourists that bring detectors with them on vacation. With all that said, the state has a very long and rich history with much that has yet to be found. I think one of the biggest mistakes many people make is to look at a park or property and see only what is there without realizing what may have been there previously. Research is your best friend and it doesn't hurt to know someone who has lived and hunted in the area for a number of years. I made a habit of stopping and talking to anyone I seen detecting and picked up some good tips that way. Also watch the news for any events taking place in the parks especially the 4th of July. There is usually a concert at Cocoa Beach sometime around the beginning of Feb. that may be of interest as well as surfing contests there as well as at a couple of other beaches near there (I think Lori Wilson Park has one). I spent a lot of time around the pier at Cocoa Beach where I found silver rings, a couple of gold rings, a heavy silver figaro chain bracelet, clad coins, etc. If you are more interested in old money that is a little more difficult. The older coins I found were just luck of the draw, usually found while searching for whatever I could find. A couple of places I found silver coins are Magnolia Park by Lake Apopka (a couple of silver dimes, a silver quarter and a few wheaties), Ivanhoe Park by Lake Ivanhoe (a silver dime and a few wheaties), Lorna Doone Park next to the lake ( silver dime and a few wheaties), Spring Lake Park next to the lake by OBT (2 silver dimes, a buffalo nickel, silver and turquoise ring, rusted pocket knife and some wheaties), Festival Park (3 or 4 silver dimes, wheaties, a silver ring over by the volley ball courts and a men's 14kt white gold band near the west side of the park), Central Winds Park in Winter Springs next to Lake Jessup (a silver bracelet, 1 or 2 silver rings, an older toy pistol, a pewter masonic kilt pin, a thimble a 1942 merc and an 1842 seated liberty dime as well as a bunch of clad) and across the street from Langford Park in Orlando is a small park (the name of which escapes me at this time) I found about 1" down on the foot trail an 1876 seated liberty dime. There are 2 parks for certain in Orlando that you cannot detect in and they are Lake Eola Park and Langford Park. They are patrolled by park rangers one of whom was a detecting buddy while I was down there. Anyway,that should help you get started. Good luck and HH.

 

[nedigger]

The park across the street from Langford Park is Dickson Azalea Park. HH.

 

[Radioactive]

University of Central Florida a place to hunt in and around Orlando Florida!

Well when I attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando,I saw a guy with a metal detector. I asked him what he found? He was from UCF and looking for the irrigation pipes. Then he said he also found over $20 in coins! I never tried to do it myself as I was very busy with classes. I would think that would be a great place to try. I imagine 30,000 students must drop some coin around campus. Remember to check in with the UCF Police and get permission first. Good luck and remember the other colleges around Orlando and even the Citrus Bowl!
Robert

 

[Bob B.]

My wife and I lived just south of Kissimmee from 99-01 I liked the marina there at Big Toho a lot of festivals and large bass tournaments always large crowds for those things if you want to drive down there, never saw anyone else md'ing there. HH Bob.B