Known around the world as a theme park haven, Orlando offers much more for visitors to experience. World-class museums, lively neighborhoods, unique gardens, and natural springs provide vacation options beyond the major amusement parks.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Spend a Day at Walt Disney World | Explore various theme parks and attractions. |
| Ride Thrilling Rollercoasters at Universal Studios | Enjoy movie-themed rides and adventures. |
| Dive into Fresh Springs at Wekiwa State Park | Experience natural springs and outdoor activities. |
| Learn at the Orlando Science Center | Discover interactive exhibits and educational fun. |
| Tour the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art | View comprehensive Tiffany glass collections. |
| See a Show at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts | Attend various performances and cultural events. |
| Eat and Shop at Disney Springs | Explore dining and shopping in a themed setting. |
| Discover Art at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum | See global art spanning 6,000 years. |
| Kayak Shingle Creek | Engage in a peaceful kayaking experience. |
| Tour Iconic Winter Park | Explore scenic neighborhoods and art exhibits. |
| Try Local Flavors at East End Market | Sample a variety of culinary delights. |
| Sunset Harbor Cruise | Enjoy a romantic cruise with dinner and city views. |
From outdoor adventures to cultural attractions, Orlando serves up diverse activities to suit any interest. Here are the top 12 things to do in Orlando for first-timers and repeat visitors.
Spend a Day at Walt Disney World
Name and Location: Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida just off Interstate 4.
History and Significance: Opened in 1971, Walt Disney World is the largest and most visited vacation resort in the world, featuring 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and dozens of hotels, restaurants, and shops.
What to Expect: Spend a day immersed in the magical world of Disney enjoying rides, shows, characters, restaurants, and more across its 4 theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Stay late for the nighttime fireworks shows.
Visitor Information: Disney World is open year-round. Purchase tickets in advance online. Plan your visit early and use Disney’s transportation system to navigate between parks.
No trip to Orlando is complete without visiting the Walt Disney World mega-complex. The premier Disney park, Magic Kingdom transports guests into the realm of fantasy with Cinderella’s Castle, spirited rides, and costumed characters.
Epcot Center celebrates innovation and world cultures with pavilions and exhibits. Hollywood Studios features movie-themed rides and shows. Animal Kingdom recreates African safaris and animal encounters. Park hopper passes allow access to all four theme parks, while individual tickets can be purchased if visiting one park per day.
Ride Thrilling Rollercoasters at Universal Studios
Name and Location: Universal Studios Florida theme park is located in Orlando, Florida.
History and Significance: Opened in 1990, Universal Studios brings Hollywood to life with immersive rides, shows, and attractions based on popular films and TV.
What to Expect: Experience thrilling rollercoasters like the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Ride 3D and 4D simulations like Transformers: The Ride-3D. See shows like Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show.
Visitor Information: Universal Studios is open daily. Purchase tickets online in advance. Arrive early and use Universal’s transportation to navigate between parks.
Spanning two theme parks, Universal Orlando Resort promises adrenaline-pumping excitement based on popular films and television shows. Experience heart-stopping drops on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Fight villains alongside Spiderman on his high-tech adventure.
Journey through Hogwarts School and Diagon Alley in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure offer immersive lands and attractions for all ages. Purchase single park tickets or a multi-park pass to visit both in one day.
Dive into Fresh Springs at Wekiwa State Park
Name and Location: Wekiwa Springs State Park is located in Apopka, Florida, just north of Orlando.
History and Significance: Protecting over 7,000 acres, Wekiwa Springs has been a state park since 1969 showcasing Florida’s natural springs and landscapes.
What to Expect: Swim in the refreshing springs, rent a kayak and paddle along the Wekiva River, hike nature trails to spot wildlife, camp overnight, or have a picnic. The park offers beautiful natural scenery.
Visitor Information: The park is open 8am to sundown daily. Entrance fees apply. Exhibits, canoe rentals, and concessions are available seasonally.
Cool off from the Florida heat at Wekiwa Springs State Park, just north of Orlando. The refreshing spring maintains a constant temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Walk the nature trail around the spring to admire moss-draped cypress trees and lush tropical foliage. Rent a canoe or kayak to paddle along Wekiwa River, keeping an eye out for turtles, herons, and other wildlife. Wekiwa Springs presents a picturesque escape into Florida’s natural beauty.
Learn at the Orlando Science Center
Name and Location: The Orlando Science Center is located in Loch Haven Park in Orlando, FL.
History and Significance: Founded in 1955, the Science Center promotes science learning through hands-on exhibits, educational programs, and giant screen films.
What to Expect: Exploreinteractive exbibits on technology, nature, physics, and the human body. See live programs at the planetarium and nature shows. Watch educational giant screen films at the CineDome.
Visitor Information: The Science Center is open daily. Tickets can be purchased online in advance. Parking is available onsite for a fee.
With interactive exhibits and educational programs, the Orlando Science Center makes learning fun for all ages. See live gators and crocodiles up-close in the Florida wildlife wing. Race model cars down test tracks in the Kinetic Zone. View the giant moon rock on display, one of only three in the entire world.
Take in spectacular space films projected on a 4-story digital screen inside the CineDome. Daily science shows and demos include exploding chemical reactions. Creative kids’ labs allow inventing and tinkering. The Science Center opens up scientific inquiry and principles.
Tour the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Name and Location: The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is located in Winter Park, FL.
History and Significance: The museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
What to Expect: View stunning stained glass windows, lamps, and other decorative art by Tiffany. Learn about Tiffany’s life and work. Stop for a bite at the museum’s cafe.
Visitor Information: The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am-4pm, Friday until 8pm, Sunday 1pm-4pm. Admission is charged. Free parking onsite.
Home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of Tiffany works, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum provides a stunning display of stained glass mastery. Located in downtown Orlando’s Loch Haven Park, the museum showcases over 2,000 Tiffany items.
Admire the chapel interior designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany with its glass mosaic walls and altar. Other galleries feature Tiffany lamps, jewelry, furniture, and pottery. Take a scenic walk around the grounds after your visit. The Morse Museum captures Tiffany’s creative genius.
See a Show at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Name and Location: The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is located in downtown Orlando, FL.
History and Significance: Opened in 2014, the Dr. Phillips Center is Orlando’s premier performing arts center hosting Broadway shows, concerts, and local arts groups.
What to Expect: See spectacular performances in the 2,700 seat Walt Disney Theater or the 300 seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater. Enjoy music, theater, dance and more from renowned touring acts and local performers.
Visitor Information: Show schedules and tickets available online. Parking garages offer paid parking near the venue.
As Central Florida’s premier performing arts center, the Dr. Phillips Center in downtown hosts Broadway touring shows, concerts, ballet, and opera in multiple luxurious theaters. Catch blockbuster hits like Hamilton, Wicked, and Dear Evan Hansen in the opulent main Walt Disney Theater.
Local arts groups like the Florida Symphony perform in the acoustic Steinmetz Hall. The outdoor plaza offers dining and weekly music events. With world-class acoustics and architecture, the Dr. Phillips Center is a cultural jewel for the city.
Eat and Shop at Disney Springs
Name and Location: Disney Springs is located at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.
History and Significance: Opened in 1975 as Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, Disney Springs is an entertainment, dining, and shopping complex at Walt Disney World.
What to Expect: Explore themed areas with shops, restaurants, entertainment, and bars. Catch a movie, go bowling, take a ride in a hot air balloon, enjoy live music, or watch the nightly waterside light show.
Visitor Information: Disney Springs is free and open daily from 10am-midnight. Parking garages offer paid parking.
Located at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Springs offers dining, entertainment, and shopping in an imaginative setting. Themed areas like The Landing and Marketplace cater to different tastes with unique boutiques, live music, art galleries, restaurants and bars.
Catch a circus show under the big top tent at Cirque du Soleil La Nouba. Foodies indulge in creations by celebrity chefs like Rick Bayless and Masaharu Morimoto. With no admission fee, Disney Springs provides a lively atmosphere without theme park tickets.
Discover Art at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum
Name and Location: The Cornell Fine Arts Museum is located on the Rollins College campus in Winter Park, FL.
History and Significance: Founded in 1978, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum houses a collection of paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs and more.
What to Expect: Explore 5 galleries exhibiting American and European works. Go on a guided tour. Browse the museum store. Stop for a coffee at the onsite cafe. Enjoy scenic grounds and architecture.
Visitor Information: The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday noon-5pm. Admission is free. Metered parking is available.
Located on the bucolic Rollins College campus, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum houses an esteemed collection spanning 6,000 years. Global works range from antiquities and Old Master paintings to contemporary pieces. Don’t miss 19th century French impressionists like Renoir and sculpture by Auguste Rodin.
Extensive galleries display ceramic and glass works by top artisans. Admission to the Cornell Museum is free, making this hidden cultural gem a rewarding and affordable outing.
Kayak Shingle Creek
Name and Location: Shingle Creek flows through Kissimmee and Orlando, Florida.
History and Significance: Shingle Creek is central Florida’s northernmost tributary of the Everglades ecosystem. It provides natural habitats and recreation.
What to Expect: Paddle, hike, bike, and explore the Shingle Creek Regional Park. Kayak launches provide access to Shingle Creek for scenic paddling routes.
Visitor Information: The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Fees apply for launch access and facility rental.
For an urban eco-adventure, kayak down Shingle Creek in Kissimmee. Paddling along the tranquil waterway provides opportunities to see native birds and wildlife up-close. Float below dense tree canopies teeming with herons, egrets, woodpeckers, and hawks.
Listen for wild turkeys crooning by the banks. Guided tours and kayak rentals are available from Eco Tours gift shop in Old Town. No prior paddling experience is necessary for a peaceful cruise down Shingle Creek’s scenic waters.
Tour Iconic Winter Park
Name and Location: Historic Winter Park is located just north of downtown Orlando, FL.
History and Significance: Founded in the 1880s as a winter resort, Winter Park retains its vintage charm with brick-lined streets, antique architecture and breezy oak trees.
What to Expect: Stroll Park Avenue and roll down to the scenic waterfront. Visit the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum. Shop and dine at local boutiques and cafes. Tour the grand estates and sample wine.
Visitor Information: Winter Park is easily accessed off I-4. Free parking is available in the downtown area. The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour offers guided cruises.
Known for its lakes, oak trees, and prestigious college, Winter Park acts as a charming small town conveniently connected to Orlando. Explore the scenic boat tour through pristine residential canals. Browse the boutiques and cafes lining Park Avenue.
See world-class art exhibits at the Morse Museum or Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Relax in sun-dappled Central Park. Amtrak services connect Winter Park directly to Orlando’s airport and attractions, making this refined community easy to access.
Try Local Flavors at East End Market
East End Market houses a collection of eateries and artisans all under one roof. Sample empanadas, wood-fired pizza, coffee, gelato, craft brews and more from the market’s variety of vendors. Browse the floral boutique, spice shop and other specialty stores.
Visit on a Saturday to catch the outdoor farmers’ market showcasing hyper-local produce, baked goods, and ready-to-eat fare. This community hub offers a tasty introduction to Orlando’s creative food and beverage scene.
Conclusion
While famous for its theme parks, Orlando also offers natural beauty, cultural institutions, scenic neighborhoods, and interactive museums waiting to be discovered. Lakes, gardens, and nature preserves provide outdoor escapes with recreational activities.
Performing arts, festivals, a burgeoning food scene, and unique boutiques reveal Orlando’s artistic side. Wandering beyond the rollercoasters introduces travelers to new experiences in this diverse city. With theme park thrills plus vibrant local culture, Orlando presents vacation options for every free spirit.