what to do in orlando

What to Do in Orlando

Add some excitement to your vacation by traveling to Orlando, Fla. Pose for a picture between the massive alligator jaws at Gatorland (14501 S. Orange Blossom Tr.), and continue snapping away inside the longtime Orlando favorite. Since 1949, the attraction has provided a way to (safely) view Florida's famous reptiles. A secondary site—a collaboration with Fun Spot America (5700 Fun Spot Way) called Gator Spot—adds more gators to the mix, including a white one!

Ready to travel to an out-of-this-world destination? Set a course for Kennedy Space Center , 11 mi. e. of I-95 on SR 405, for an interstellar daytrip to the Space Coast. Options include tours of launch headquarters, exhibits about space and a simulated space shuttle launch. If reliving Neil Armstrong's historic moon landing isn't enough, then plan to meet a real astronaut.

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Splash around at a thrilling water park to beat the heat. Top picks include Aquatica (5800 Water Play Way), Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park (1500 W. Buena Vista Dr.), Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park (1195 E. Buena Vista Dr.) and Universal's Volcano Bay™ (6000 Universal Blvd.).

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There is no shortage of things for couples to do in the area. Visit postcard-worthy Lake Eola Park (195 N. Rosalind St.). A band shell, amphitheater and lighted fountain punctuate the City Beautiful's 43-acre downtown oasis, a landmark since 1888. Pedal a swan boat across the lake or plop down on a shaded bench to savor the serenity.

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See Florida animals during your trip. Observe alligators, eagles, turtles and other creatures in their native habitat by taking an airboat through wetlands and across the headwaters of the Everglades. Boggy Creek Airboat Rides (2001 E. Southport Rd.) offers a thrilling “wild Florida” encounter in Kissimmee; then head northeast on John Young Pkwy. and I-4 for a charming detour to Winter Park .

Stroll along Winter Park's refined Park Avenue, which features designer boutiques, sidewalk cafés, cozy local restaurants, shops with high-end home décor and a centrally located park. At The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (445 N. Park Ave.), bask in the aura of Louis Comfort Tiffany's stunning stained-glass creations, a renowned collection that has no equal. Lovely lakeside residences and natural tropical scenery are highlights of a narrated cruise on Winter Park's chain of lakes and canals, offered by Scenic Boat Tours (312 E. Morse Blvd.).

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Venture out to the quaint village of Mount Dora , central Florida's antiques and collectibles capital, by driving west on SR 414. This small town overlooking Lake Dora draws quite a crowd on weekends because there are so many fun things to do. Make sure you arrive early to get a good parking spot. Later, take in a play or a musical at the Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse (100 N. Unser St.), where you can see shows like “Bye-Bye Birdie” and “Miracle on 34th Street” performed by local thespians. Mount Dora also holds a plethora of activities throughout the year, such as art and music festivals, a sailboat regatta and craft shows.

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There are many fun things to do with friends, especially if you like adventure and the outdoors. Drive east on I-4 to Blue Spring State Park (2100 W. French Ave.), in Orange City , for the annual winter migration of manatees—mid-November through March—from the cool waters of the St. Johns River to the park's warm spring. Enjoy a picnic lunch and a myriad of water sports during your adventure travel experience, including snorkeling, swimming, canoeing and kayaking. Let St. Johns River Cruises (also at 2100 W. French Ave.) show you more of the state's longest river and its wild residents, including alligators, deer and birds. You’ll never have a lack of things to do while you’re here.