Beautiful, Fun and Fascinating Orlando, Florida

Welcome to Orlando, Florida…home to vineyards, water parks, the amazing Orlando Eye and so very much more!  If you’re looking for something to do on your Orlando vacation that DOESN’T include a large mouse, then you’re in the right place! After all, we think there is so much more to Orlando outside of Disney World, so read on for more information about the top activities in Orlando for the non-Disney lover!

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Are you a nature and wildlife lover?  Do you love to hike and swim or snorkel?  If so, you can’t visit Orlando without touring Wekiwa Springs State Park!  View some of Florida’s wildlife while paddling down the Weiwa River, but watch out for alligators and hope to be lucky enough to catch sight of a Florida black bear!  Hike your way along the 13-mile trail to a beautiful picnic spot near crystal clear waters great for snorkeling.  Whatever you choose to do in this beautiful state park, we promise your nature loving heart will beat a little faster at the beauties that await you just a short drive outside of Orlando proper.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium

Ripley’s Odditorium is a 10,000 foot building that appears to be falling into a sinkhole!  It’s not…really…but the exhibits you will find inside are so unique and outrageous, you won’t care if you are sinking or not!  It takes about an hour to tour this bizarre place and you won’t want to forget a camera…Ripley’s encourages picture taking…and your friends back home will enjoy the photographic evidence of the time you spent exploring the freakish side of life!  (The shrunken heads are particularly grotesque and fascinating!)  Location: 8201 International Drive, Orlando.

The Orlando Eye

Vacationing can be a stressful time, filled with too much walking, too much eating, too much activity…just too much overall.  Why not take a 30 minute tour of peace and serenity, at the Orlando Eye?  Described as an observation wheel, not a Ferris wheel, you are able to view pretty much all of Orlando…and if the skies are especially clear…you may even catch a glimpse of Cape Canaveral as you fly above the city in peace and tranquility! Location: 8401 International Drive #100, Orlando.

Gatorland

Ok, you’re in Florida; home to the scary alligator…shouldn’t you stop in Gatorland and discover for yourself what all the fuss is about?  For over 60 years, this wildlife preserve and theme park has been teaching visitors from all over the world everything there is to know about crocodiles and alligators (including their rare collection of “white” alligators) Offering unique animal shows, an alligator breeding marsh, a petting zoo and their famous Screamin’ Gator Zip line (yes…you zip right over crocs and gators…make sure you are wearing closed toe shoes!)  Location: 14501 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando.

Kennedy Space Center

And finally, another institution Florida is famous for is space travel and the Kennedy Space Center; while not located in Orlando; the Kennedy Space Center is close enough to make the drive worth it.  Have lunch with an astronaut, tour the entire center by bus and explore the Rocket Garden which exhibits all rockets from the first unmanned moon missions to the very latest examples of space flight…you will remember anew your childhood desire to visit other worlds when you explore this historic space center.

Want more info? Click here for more information on everything you need for your Orlando trip!