Beyond the park ideas around Orlando

[Elsa42]

This is our first time with a car so the first time we are able to explore beyond the parks! Does anyone have any interesting things they like to go or go too that’s beyond the parks? Has anyone done the Orlando eye is it worth it? Any water sports? Any ideas welcome

[mick]

We aren't typical Dibbers because we haven't been to the parks since 2010 but you might try these.

Bok Tower, Winter Park for scenic boat ride, Mount Dora for similar, Harry Leu Gardens, St Augustine (just within a day trip), Anna Maria Island (ditto), Lake Louisa park

Mick

[ERICSMUM]

I liked the Eye, and the immediate area is nice for a wander, drink or ice cream. There’s an aquarium too which your 11 y/o might enjoy (I’ve not been).

Gatorland, Boggy Creek swamp boat ride.

[Goosey-Lucy]

Go and explore Celebration, it’s beautiful!

[flipflop75]

Bundles to do in orlando aside the parks.
Top Golf,visit Celebration and hire bikes out,shooting at various places,helicopter or balloon rides,showcase of Citrus,visit Winter park,Altamonte or Mount Dora.swamp rides.
We manage to find new stuff every time as well as finding out about more on here which is just an excuse to go back again!

[cornishfrogboy]

Loads to do.

Rainbow river at Dunellon.

Mount Dora.

Casperson beach, hunting for fossiled sharks teeth (near Venice).

Horse tracking at Lazy H ranch

Airboat rides

Kennedy Space Centre

Valiant Air Command Museum

Daytona Beach

Anna Maria Island

Kermit Weeks Fantasy of Flight

Fort De Soto

[EatandPlay]

Wekiwa Springs, day at the beach, Wild Florida airboat ride, explore I-Drive in full, check out downtown Orlando and perhaps a Magic basketball game, a day in Tampa and a hockey game, just chill at the pool, the list goes on. The eye is subjective. It's a neat ride I suppose but there isn't much to see as there is in London.

[debsym62]

If you like wildlife the Lake Apopka wildlife drive has become a firm favourite of ours. So many birds and alligators to see. Only open Fri-Sun but it is a must do for us now. The various springs that are in the area are also good to visit. We like a drive to the beaches as well, we usually do over 1000 miles on our holidays getting out and about I love it.

[CinemaMan]

Visit to Old Town on a Saturday night for the classic car show, there's old curiosity shops, live music and bars and a large funfair next to it now, can get very busy so arrive early.

[ElTel]

Another vote here for Lake Apopka - awesome to see so many 'gators up close. If you're out there in 'winter' months then Orlando Magic basketball, Tampa Bay Lightning or Orlando Solar Bears for some ice hockey - we also love going to college games, UCF in Orlando or USF Bulls of Tampa. If summer then a day at the baseball is great (Tampa Bay Rays).

We always have to fit in a day at Celebration, including the bike hire - such a lovely place to while away some time and see some smaller gators and other wildlife.

Someone also mentioned TopGolf, which is great even if you can't stand the game!

Take a drive to Clearwater for a day on the beach - catch a boat ride (can recommend Little Toot but lots of options) for some dolphin spotting

We now do more non-park days than park days - love it