Situated in the scenic seaside Orange County Florida sits one of the busiest places on Earth. It is probably much more difficult to find things not to do in Orlando, Florida than it is otherwise. There is absolutely no way that any family could become bored and in most cases it will take more than one visit to be able to see and do it all. Orlando offers a family atmosphere and a play land of opportunities for adults and children alike to explore.
The obvious unbeatable attractions are Disney World, Sea World, Epcot Center, Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space Center, Nickelodeon Studios and Discovery Cove. All of these are major resorts encompassing hundreds of acres of power packed fun from crazy rides to fantastic shows. The action is never ending at these parks and the hours go deep into the night. One thing you can expect from all of these major theme parks is that they will be costly, crowded and crazy! Before booking trips to any of these resorts check out whether or not you will be visiting during a Spring Break period. If you do, you are liable to run into a lot of ‘hurry up and wait’ scenarios.
Probably the best thing about the major theme parks is that they have a knack for pleasing everyone. Mom and Dad can find just as many things that interest them as the kids can. Few people want to miss out on the opportunity to shake hands with Mickey Mouse himself, watch the launch of a space shuttle or miss a chance to swim with a beluga whale or playful dolphin. There is so much to do at these theme parks alone that you will never find the time to explore the other options. As soon as you approach Kissimmee Saint Cloud the blue skies, white sand and hysteria begins.
Lately more concerted travelers have decided to forego the $10 Coca Cola products and find more adventurous and meaningful things to do in Orlando. The smaller attractions can obviously not compete with the advertising campaigns of Walt Disney or SpongeBob however they do offer peaceful, serene and unusual adventures for those families looking for a little more than the nostalgic American experience.
For some not so run of the mill activities you can check out the cosmos from the world’s biggest refractor telescope at the Orlando Science Center. All at once the Earth and sky seem to become one. If you are interested in eco-tourism Orlando can provide plenty of that as well. With a plethora of warm springs littered throughout Orange County and beyond you can take a dip in the clearest water on Earth. Wekiwa Springs offer nice beaches and relaxed entertainment surrounded by pristine waters. Similarly if your idea of water fun does not involve a water park you can choose one of the thousands of renowned Atlantic or inland water fishing charters, rent paddle boats at the serene and quiet Lake Eola or genuinely explore the headwaters of the Florida Everglades by taking an airboat adventure. The lakes around Orlando are also infamous for bird watching and blue herons and bald eagles are easily visible year round. Winter Park offers boat tours that will take you through the canals and water pathways that lead to the most luxurious homes in the world.
The water in and around Orlando is plentiful and before you leave you must take a glass bottom boat tour. You never know if you will see a manatee gliding underneath your boat and most offer the opportunity to dip in and swim with them. If you are really interested in Marine wildlife travel west from Orlando to the nature coast and see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Scuba diving, snorkeling and boat tours offer the closest glimpse most people will ever get to swimming with all the amazing sea critters. Just be careful of black alligators which sit perched on most of the shore lines. Orlando offers one of the only venues on Earth where you can learn to water ski, surf or ride watercraft without having to brave the real Ocean waves.
Children will be just as excited about visiting the largest McDonalds play place in the world as they will be about riding a roller coaster. The Orlando McDonalds has definitely out done itself in providing the theme park feel to a fast food mainstay. Speaking of eating and drinking – there is plenty of that to do to as well. Orange County is wine country and scattered across the county is vast assortment of famous wineries. The Lake Ridge winery is a great place to start. Winter Park offers thousands of samplers available to interested and weary travelers through an Enomatic dispensing machine. The perfect companion to your new wine is a rustic cigar made at the Corona factory where you can witness the process from beginning to end and sample some of the 1.5 million products. In the mood for a special breakfast – just a short hop from Orlando is Delon Springs where one of the oldest real sugar mills is still in operation. A visit there includes breakfast where you get to grill your own pancakes and make your own drizzling sugared syrup.
For sports enthusiast there are even more things to do in Orlando; none of which involve a beloved cartoon character. To test your BMX skills a visit to the BMX Park will definitely give you a thrill. If that’s enough the NASCAR test track lets you get behind the wheels of a real racecar and experience the excitement first hand. Baseball fans can visit the Atlanta Braves spring training camp and watch a real practice rubbing elbows with some of the world’s best baseball players. If its football you love, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers call Orlando their home away from home. And basketball fans can shoot hoops at the impressive NBA attraction learning tips and hints from the pros. Speaking of pros there are liable to be plenty of golfers in the vicinity since Orlando is home to over 23 of the highest ranked golf courses in the world. The Tiger Woods experience will have you shanking balls from a sandpit in no time.
For the Orlando visitor who wishes to get closer to their spiritual side a simple day trip to the WordSpring Discovery Center will provide an illuminating show that brings the Bible to life. Afterwards the “Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits” gospel lunch available at the famous House of Blues will have you singing the hymns in perfect harmony.
There are millions of things to do in Orlando. While you are there it is wise to take the opportunity to gamble on International Waters by booking a trip on the Sterling Casino or SanCruz Casino cruise lines. They serve impeccable food with a high class atmosphere that will give you a much needed break from the bright city lights and hoopla that surrounds the massive theme parks. No matter what you choose to do, you will never have the opportunity to become bored. Chances are your wallet will empty long before you have done or seen it all. Orlando is blessed with beautiful weather year round and plenty of things to do indoors if it happens to rain. It is definitely a city that attracts visitors from around the world and offers enough entertainment and choices to please them all. Before you leave beautiful Orlando, stock up on a few cans of the delicious, mysterious and rare Moon Soup available only at Chalet Suzanne.
