Orlando, Florida is best known for its famous theme park, Disney World. However, there are a ton of other things to do there as well that aren’t related to Disney. Read on to find out our favorites!
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The 10 Best Things to Do In Orlando Aside From Disney World
More than likely, the second you hear the phrase “Orlando, Florida,” you think “Disney World.” We don’t blame you. The famous theme park occupies 43 square miles of Orlando, or 111 square kilometers). That’s literally almost the size of the entire city of San Francisco! Not only that, but Disney owns many attractions throughout Orlando, such as Disney Springs.
Even though Disney is a huge part of Orlando, there’s tons of other things to do in Orlando as well. If you have more than a couple of days in this Florida city, you probably don’t want to hit Disney World every day. If you and your family are theme park fanatics, there are a ton of other theme parks in Orlando to explore after you’re Disney-ed out. In addition, Orlando boasts lots of great restaurants, museums, and unique attractions. It’s also not too far from some of the best nature destinations in the rest of the state, so you can venture out and explore other nearby parts of Florida.
Please note that Uber and other ride share services are fairly affordable within Orlando. However, if you are planning to explore other parts of Florida, we highly suggest renting a car! Orlando is not a super walkable city, and it also is not easy to navigate via public transportation. For this reason, booking a guided tour is also a great way to explore Orlando.
In addition, please note that Florida is called “The Sunshine State” for a reason. For more than half the year, Florida is hot and humid. We’re talking an average temperature of the high 80s (around 30 Celsius!) Keep this in mind when planning outdoor activities, and always bring lots of water.
Without further ado, we’ve rounded up our favorite Orlando activities that are off the beaten path and not related to Disney World. Read on for the top non-Disney things to do in Orlando, Florida.
1. Visit an Aquarium with an Underwater Tunnel
There’s nothing fishy about the Sea Life Orlando Aquarium! Well, there kinda is, since the aquarium is home to thousands of sea creatures. The best part? It features a 360 degree underwater tunnel where you can watch fish, turtles and other sea creatures swim all around you – while you stay dry!
In addition, Sea Life Orlando features a plethora of themed exhibits and hands-on experiences, including some that include virtual reality. What’s more, the aquarium is located in ICON Park, an entertainment district that includes lots of restaurants, shops, and other things to do. That means that after you’re done visiting the aquarium, there’s plenty of other things to check out within ICON Park. In fact, we’ll tell you about one of them below!
Address: Sea Life Orlando Aquarium
2. Get a Bird’s View from the Orlando Eye
If you want to see stunning views of Orlando, you’ll want to take a ride on the Orlando Eye. Also located in ICON Park, this Ferris wheel gives you a birds-eye view of the city. It’s sure to give you views like nothing else, as it takes you 400 feet (121 meters) off the ground!
If you’ve been on the London Eye in London, England, this is the same concept, but with different scenery, of course. Each cabin on the Orlando Eye is air-conditioned, so you can stay cool while you enjoy the panoramic views around you. A complete ride on the Orlando Eye takes around 20 minutes.
We recommend going at sunset for extra epic views. Also, because the Orlando Eye and the Sea Life Orlando Aquarium are both located in ICON Park, we suggest hitting these both in the same day. Perfect for date night.
Address: Orlando Eye
3. Play and Create at Legoland
Whether your kids are LEGO fans, or if you love LEGos because of the nostalgia, your whole group is bound to enjoy Legoland Florida. This theme park is actually located in Winter Haven, Florida, which is a short 45 minute drive from Orlando.
Legoland features rides that are a big more tame than those at other parks, which is great if you’re with kids who don’t love fast rides. There are also plenty of places for kids to run around and play, and of course, build creations with LEGOS.
In addition, there is also a Legoland water park to help you and your group beat the Florida heat. It’s a separate park from the theme park, but they have deals that let you visit both. Of course, the best part of Legoland is all the amazing structures and statues built entirely from LEGOs! You’ll find creative life-size LEGO creations all over the park, making for a unique experience. If you’re traveling with kids, you might want to consider staying at LegoLand Pirate Hotel, which features pirate-themed rooms.
Address: Legoland Florida
4. Try Some of Orlando’s Famous Seafood
Although Orlando isn’t super close to the sea, it’s still close enough to the Atlantic Ocean that it’s known for its fresh seafood. Seafood enthusiasts love Orlando for its crab legs, oysters, lobster bisque, and everything in between. In some restaurants in Orlando, you can even try alligator! Although not actually seafood, “gator bites” are popular throughout Orlando and are served at many local restaurants.
For more traditional seafood, we suggest you try High Tide Harry’s. Known as a place “where the locals go,” this casual spot is uniquely decorated and has fantastic seafood. People love their oysters, and they have a great happy hour as well.
Address: High Tide Harry’s
5. Stay in a Luxury “Wave Hotel”
The highly-rated Lake Nona Wave Hotel provides a luxury experience through and through. Not only does it this hotel boast a sleek look both inside and outside, but the rooms are decked out with “smart” technology to make your stay extra relaxing. What’s more, guests have reported that the beds are very comfy. This hotel is located in the trendy Lake Nona area, which is less touristy than lots of other places in Orlando. If your Orlando trip isn’t focused much on Disney at all, the Lake Nona area is a great place to stay.
This property also features amazing amenities, such as yoga and fitness classes. Although the Lake Nona Wave Hotel would be a great place for a couples’ getaway, they are family-friendly as well. One of their amenities is a games room that kids can hang out in, and their on-site restaurant, Haven Kitchen, is great for families. They also feature another restaurant, Bacan, which serves Caribbean cuisine. What’s more, Lake Nona Wave Hotel is only a mile from the Orlando International Airport. How convenient is that!
Address: Lake Nona Wave Hotel
6. Take a Day Trip to the Beach
Florida is well-known for its picturesque beaches, and for good reason. Beaches cover around 821 miles, or 1327 kilometers, of the state! However, Orlando is not exactly close to any of those beaches. Driving to the beach from Orlando takes at least an hour, depending on which beach you choose. Despite the distance, we definitely think leaving the city to spend a day at the beach makes for a great day trip from Orlando.
For example, you can drive to Clearwater Beach (pictured here). Driving to the beach takes a little less than two hours depending on traffic. To beat the heat, you can rent cabanas on the beach for the day. The last time we were there, a two-seater cabana cost around $40 total, but the price may vary. When you’re done with your beach day, the nearby town of Clearwater features many restaurants with great ocean views for a nice dinner.
Location: Clearwater Beach
7. See a Rocket Launch from Cocoa Beach
Yep, you read that correctly! Located around an hour away from Orlando by car, Cocoa Beach is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy a scenic beach day. It’s known for its great surfing conditions as well.
In addition, Cocoa Beach is part of Florida’s Space Coast, which is home to the John F. Kennedy Space Center, a NASA rocket launch site. Because of the Space Coast’s proximity to the equator, it’s an ideal place for rocket launches. This is because Earth rotates the fastest at the equator, which helps the rocket’s velocity.
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is around a 30 minute drive from Cocoa Beach. This means that you can get a clear view of the rocket launches from Cocoa Beach itself, as well as from the Cocoa Beach Pier. Witnessing a rocket launch with beach views definitely isn’t something you can do every day! Check out the rocket launch schedule here. In addition, you can take a tour of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to see what NASA’s headquarters look like!
8. Visit the Eclectic Orlando Museum of Art
Although the Orlando Museum of Art is small, it’s packed with lots of different types of art. For example, this eclectic museum features local artwork as well as ancient artifacts. In addition, its exhibits frequently feature pieces by world-renowned artists, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat. Although the Orlando Museum of Art displays many different pieces of art at once, this museum is neat and tidy and easy to navigate.
Great for both families and couples, the Orlando Museum of Art is also home to the annual Festival of Trees. Held every November, this festival kicks off the holiday season in Orlando and is fun for the whole family. The museum also hosts numerous events for kids.
Location: Orlando Museum of Art
9. Go Kayaking – And Maybe Spot Some Manatees!
Orlando is surrounded by beautiful nature, and full of lots of opportunities to explore outside and see beautiful scenery. For example, there’s several spots to go kayaking, just a short drive away from the center of Orlando. One of these is the famous Crystal Springs Preserve, which is located in Zephyrhills, Florida, just over an hour away from Orlando. Once in the preserve, you can take a guided tour with knowledgable docents to learn all about the preserve and the animals that live there.
Not only that, but if you’re visiting Crystal Springs Preserve between November and March, you might even see a manatee! These months are generally considered “manatee season,” meaning you have a higher chance of spotting one of them out in the wild in this time period. Known as “sea cows,” manatees are giant aquatic mammals that are native to Florida! Keep in mind that manatees are an endangered species. Because of this, bothering a manatee in any way is illegal, which includes touching one. Therefore, if you see a manatee while kayaking, make sure you don’t touch it!
Location: Crystal Springs Preserve
10. Get Hands-On At the Orlando Science Center
The award-winning Orlando Science Center features four floors of interactive exhibits and hands-on learning experiences. If you need a break from the Orlando heat, you can easily spend a whole day at this unique museum. The Orlando Science Center features a planetarium, a dinosaur area, and much more.
Of course, the Orlando Science Center isn’t just for families with kids. However, it is a very popular place for families with children, so if you’re looking for a spot for date night without lots of kids running around, this is probably not it. The last time we checked, it costs $7 to park at the center if you’ll have a car with you. There’s also a coffee shop on-site in case you need to perk up during your visit.
Location: Orlando Science Center
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