Five exciting places to visit in Orlando that aren’t Theme Parks.

Who says you can’t have a fantastic time in Orlando without visiting a theme park? Aside from the world-famous Disney and Universal theme parks, the Orlando area is home to many beautiful sights such as, interesting museums, great local restaurants and shops, a handful of waterfront attractions, entertaining shows, multiple professional sports franchises, and much more.

All too often Orlando visitors come and go without taking time to explore anything besides the theme parks. This is a shame as there is much more to explore in Orlando. While the theme parks are more than worthy of a visit, you would be missing out by not enjoying some of the other activities found throughout the Orlando metro area.

Look below at a list comprised of 5 non-theme park related attractions & activities in the Orlando metro area.

Orlando Science Center

Celebrity Chef Cooking Demo

The Orlando Science Center, located at 777 Princeton Street, Orlando Fl. 32803 is just minutes from downtown, and easily accessible Via I-4 or US Highway 17-92.

Interactive learning and discovery await within the center’s hundreds of exhibits, programs and labs, and giant screen films. The science center provides educational opportunities both within and outside the center’s walls, including field trips, family science nights at schools and community centers and other outreach.

Interesting facts about the Science Center include:

  • 300-seat Dr. Phillips Cine-Dome featuring giant screen films.
  • 226-seat Digital Adventure Theater for live performances, science demonstrations, and 2D and 3D digital presentations.
  • Crosby Observatory, home to one of the state’s largest refractor telescope (accessible to the public).
  • The Orlando Science Center is designed to meet national, state and local science and math curricula.
  • The Orlando Science Center is based on constructivist learning theory.
  • All exhibits correlate with Florida’s Sunshine State Standards and National Science Standards.

We highly recommend visiting this hidden gem located within our beautiful city.

Mangos Cafe

Mango’s Tropical Café is the largest, most exciting Restaurant, Banquet Facility & Nightlife Destination on Orlando’s International Drive. Located near the Orange County Convention Center and all the I-Drive Hotels & Resorts, you’ll want to entertain your guests in any one of Mango’s lavish, unique dining areas. Accommodating up to 2000 guests, an unforgettable event experience awaits you at Mango’s! The world-famous Mango’s Dancers continue to entertain millions of guests each year and at Mango’s, entertainment is paramount! Our live bands and dance performances are continuous throughout the entire venue.

Inside of Mango’s you will walk upon an amazing terrazzo mural to see each bar as a work of art. Our outdoor covered patio spaces include our Sidewalk Cafe and the 2nd Floor Veranda. The world-famous Mango’s Dancers perform on a fantastic Italian glass mosaic Main Bar stage in front of the VIP seating area. Surrounding that is the copper sculpture Mambo Bar, the mystical Samba Bar, and the incredibly lovely Mermaid Bar. Climb the winding Waterfall Grand Staircase to the warmth and coziness of the mezzanine for more art, dining and lounging choices. There you will find the fabulous Mojito Bar and the “Havana Lounge” area along with dining tables surrounding the balcony overlooking the Main Bar Stage and its exciting, live entertainment. Also, on the mezzanine, you will find The Vodou Room, a heart-pounding DJ Ultra-Lounge. This dazzling, lavish room and its original painted bars are breathtaking works of art.

Mango’s Orlando, which opened in 2015, is a dream venue that “changes the game” on International Drive. Its decadent design across 55,000 square feet creates an epic experience people will always remember.

The Orlando Eye

A visit to Orlando would not be complete without experiencing the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye! Nestled deep in the heart of the International Drive theme park district, this amazing spectacle is a sight to behold. The Orlando Eye is the tallest observation wheel on the east coast of the USA. The gradual rotation in one of the 30 high-tech capsules gives you an ever-changing perspective. Each capsule contains Apple iPad Air tablets which allow you to explore and learn more about the landmarks and surroundings in several languages and effectively see beyond what the eye can see.

A flight on the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye will lift you high enough to see the sights of downtown Orlando’s skyline, nearby theme parks, beautiful lakes, and lush landscapes, with views all the way to Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast.

In addition to the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, guests can also experience the Madame Tussauds, the world’s most famous celebrity wax attraction, and SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, the immersive underwater experience, rounding out three of the top global brands in Merlin Entertainments’ portfolio of exciting attractions.

Oralndo City Soccer

We guarantee once you catch purple and gold fever, you’ll NEVER be able to shake it! Our beloved Orlando City soccer club has a state of the art, brand new stadium, located in the heart of our downtown district, which is easily accessible via I-4. On any given game day, you can join 25,499 other screaming Lions, and help cheer our team to victory. This is guaranteed to be the experience of a lifetime!

Club Information

Full Name Oralndo City Soccer Club
Nickname(s) The Lions
Founded November 19, 2013
Stadium Oralndo City Stadium
Capacity 25,500

Orlando International Premium Outlets

Looking for great bargains, alongside a wide variety of store options, well our next location is guaranteed to satisfy. Welcome to the Orlando International Premium Outlets! Located just off the beaten path at 4951 International Dr. Orlando International Premium Outlets is Florida’s largest and most unique outlet shopping destination. The center is home to more than 180 designer and name-brand outlet stores, including Saks OFF Fifth, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Victoria’s Secret, Kate Spade New York, Nike, Adidas, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour, Steve Madden, Timberland and Salvatore Ferragamo just to name a few. With savings of 25%-65% every day and the mix of designer and exclusive-to-market retail makes for a must-see shopping experience for both international and local shoppers alike.