BEYOND THE THEME PARKS: THE OTHER ORLANDO

13th May, 2010 - Posted by Nancy Cohen - 2 Comments

We could spend a weekend every month in Orlando and not just for the theme parks. There’s a lot to do in this vibrant and growing central Florida city. Next time you visit, leave time to explore beyond the usual tourist sites.

Re the Theme Parks:
If you think of Walt Disney World as just the Magic Kingdom, think again. There’s Hollywood Studios with its behind-the-scenes glimpse into movie making and its own version of American Idol. Epcot showcases different countries and their wonderful restaurants along with Spaceship Earth and other fantastic rides. My favorite place is in The Land pavilion where you ride a boat and see the wondrous fruits and veggies growing in their hydroponics labs. The Animal Kingdom is the best, especially in Spring and Fall when the weather is warm with low humidity. It’s a habitat friendly zoo and rainforest mixed together with lush tropical foliage. They do animal conservation projects making this an eco-friendly park. Aside from Disney, Universal Studios has two parks including the brand new Harry Potter attraction. Seaworld and Aquatica and Dolphin Cove invite water-oriented exploration. You can spend a whole week at the theme parks, but then you’re missing the real Orlando. So keep your walking shoes on and venture beyond the theme park gates.
ORLANDO: THINGS TO DO

Copyright 2010 by Nancy J. Cohen

CHINATOWN: Asian markets and Vietnamese restaurants on E. Colonial Drive

COLLEGE PARK & BALDWIN PARK: Village Centers (shopping & dining)

DOWNTOWN DISNEY: (shopping, dining, attractions, movies; free parking.)

FARMER’S MARKETS: Winter Park (Sat.); Lake Eola (Sun.)

FLEA MARKETS: Osceola; International Drive

LAKE EOLA: Sunday Farmers Market, Swan Boats, Lakeside Walking Trail, Amphitheater

MUSEUMS: Morse Museum of American Art, Orlando Science Museum, Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, and more.

NATURE LOVERS: Henry P. Leu Gardens, Mead Garden, Lake Tibet Nature Preserve, Wekiva Springs State Park, Arboretum at UCF. Disney also has a wildlife preserve, and there’s a nature trail out of Winter Garden.

PERFORMING ARTS : Regional Community Theatres, Orlando Ballet, Broadway shows, Cirque du Soleil, Dinner Theaters, and more.

SHOPPING: Prime Outlets, Premier Outlets, Millenia Mall, The Florida Mall, Pointe Orlando, Festival Bay Mall, Winter Garden Village, Park Avenue in Winter Park, Fashion Square Mall.

SPORTS: Orlando Magic, Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Golf, UCF Knights.

THORTON PARK: Downtown restaurants and clubs.

WINTER PARK: Park Avenue shopping & dining, Winter Park Village, Boat Ride, Saturday Farmer’s Market, Mead Garden, Henry P. Leu Gardens, Museums, Movies.

DAY TRIPS OUTSIDE OF ORLANDO
CASSADAGA (certified mediums give psychic readings)
DAYTONA BEACH

DELEON SPRINGS STATE PARK and Old Sugar Mill Pancake House

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER and COCOA BEACH

 

 

LAKERIDGE WINERY in Clermont

MOUNT DORA (quaint village with shops, restaurants, train ride, nature walk, boat tour)

 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH
   
ST. AUGUSTINE : Historical Sites, Museums, Shops, Restaurants and Beaches

*This post originally appeared at http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com

2 Comments

Kristin W.

May 14th, 2010 at 6:00 am    


Check out Blue Springs State Park some time. It’s about 45 minutes north of Orlando. Manatees gather there in the winter for the warmer water. We went in December right after Christmas and there must have been over 100. It used to be a river port and the original house of the operaters is still there (or a recreation of it at least). There’s diving for those who enjoy that too where the spring begins.

We went the Holy Land park once, too. That’s very cool.

Mary Ricksen

May 20th, 2010 at 5:18 pm    


Now I am even more upset I can’t go!
I’d like to go to the place where they have the glass bottomed boats and the crystal clear water! Isn’t that near?
I live near the Port of PB Kristin, we saw them all the time hundreds, by the warm water from the plant in the winter. I am told it is clean. Now since 911, they closed to the public.

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