I remember the day my dad told our family we were moving to Orlando. I was in second grade and thought, “Wow, I’m moving to Walt Disney World!” As the decades passed and Father Time ticked away, I grew to call it home, and to know and love “The City Beautiful” and how much it has to offer—way beyond the phenomenal Orlando theme parks and nearby beaches. Of course those are the top and most wondrous reasons tens of thousands of traveling families and cohabitating couples vacation in Central Florida year-round. But not everyone is all about pixie dust and Mickey Mouse. Some travelers in the group want more – something more cultural, outdoorsy or adventurous in more unique ways. They want to find their “magic” and satisfaction in activities beyond the theme parks, and they can. I’ve managed to uncover just about every treasure and activity that Orlando has to offer and say with certainty that Central Florida is truly America’s playground and the ideal vacation for everyone in the family. Better yet, Best Vacations Ever (BVE) can leave you spellbound with the most magical vacation packages ever,at the lowest possible rates and likely with complimentary accommodations that pad your travel budget with more fun money to make more dreams come true. Check out BVE’s Must-Do activities page on bestvacationsever.com’s Destination page for some really fun, highly recommended activities then call a BVE travel represetnative at 800-656-2780 to get the ball rolling.
UNIQUE ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
Once you start digging, you realize the joy archeologists have when they find buried riches. The same goes for Central Florida. Orlando is essentially “suburbia” with many precious outlying cities and a few surprises found off the beaten path. There are many distinct neighborhoods, and a few interesting areas, each unique and with its own personality and riches. Everyone knows the glory of thrilling theme parks like Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando® Resort and SeaWorld®, as well as the nearby pristine beaches, close enough for day trips or custom Best Vacations Ever packages with stays in both in Orlando and Daytona Beach with the luxury of a preferred-partner Alamo® weeklong rental car. Every travel personality can find many activities to whet their whistle, and offer ad amazing and enhanced BVE vacation. When you’ve had your fill of the theme parks or simply want to head out to satisfy some serious high-energy or more laid-back activities with alternative challenges and explorations, here are just a few head-turning activities out of the hundreds waiting for you in Orlando:
- Swim with dolphins, teeming colorful fish, marinelife…and sharks
- Be a marine animal trainer for a day
- Play championship golf year-round in this world-class pro golf destination
- Hit two of the most popular beaches, including Daytona, just an hour away
- Explore the mysteries of Ripley’s Belive It or Not! and head-shaking wonders at WonderWorks
- Dine at the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp located on the St. Johns River about half way between Orlando and Cocoa Beach
- Fly the friendly skies, then take a dive and parachute out of a plane
- Zipline through forestry or over an alligator-filled pond
- Take a hot-air balloon ride over the central Florida regions
- Feel the feeling of freefalling without ever leaving the ground
- Visit historical museums and national registry treasures
- Take an airboat ride through the Everglades
- Take a water-based ecotour by kayak or a glass-bottom boat tour
- Horseback through historic trails
- Join a nighttime bioluminescence kayaking adventure
- Water ski and wakeboard on cableways at Orlando Water Sports Complex
- Rent a boat and cruise the numerous and seemingly endless waterways
- Dine among a tethered string of award-winning gourmet restaurants
- Witness the miraculous winding, in-air spectacular of Cirque De Soleil
- Explore the machinations of the world at the Orlando Science Center
- Watch the history and development of Orlando unfold at cultural museums
- Take the I-Trolley on International Drive and hop comedy clubs and bars
- Splash around at many themed water parks with thrilling shoots and slides
- Catch a chill at the Icebar, dubbed one of the Travel Channel’s “Top 10 Extreme Bar Hopping bars!”
- Hike around several national parks
- Surf indoors…yes, indoors!
- Take a dip in cool natural springs
- Explore numerous entertainment complexes like City Walk, Disney Boardwalk and Pointe Orlando
- Shop casual to trendy stores, as well as some of the best brand–name outlet stores
- Explore charming outlying suburbs like Winter Park and its Park Avenue
- Visit Little Saigon, also called So-ho, an area on the outskirts of downtown filled with many ethnic shops, specialty grocery stores and restaurants
- Take in an Orlando Magic basketball game when in-season
- Watch one of the the best concerts at the brand-new Amway Arena
- Attend numerous performing arts, such as the philharmonic concerts and the Orlando ballet.
- Take in the opera or a Broadway play at Bob Carr Performing Arts Theater
- Take a helicopter charter tour all over Central Florida
- Satisfy your inner pirate at Pirate Dinner theater shows
- Race your buddy at premier go-kart and gaming complexes
- Explore “Titanic: The Experience” exhibit
- Visit he Kennedy Space Center just an hour away at Cape Canaveral
- Experience the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida (family friendly – nothing gruesome)
- Wine-taste and tour The Lakeridge Winery near Clermont, 10 miles west of Orlando, and visit the Citrus Tower an interesting relic built pre-Disney in 1956
- Visit the Downtown Media Arts Center with an adjoining art gallery and frequently show independent movies and lectures, as well as one of the best, and cheapest, cups of coffee in town
- Explore many pockets of serene places for rest and relaxation like Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Albin Polasek Museum
- Travel downtown to see a great collection of residential architecture from 1890s to 1930s and historic districts
- Shop “Antique Row,” a 3-block section of Orange Ave. in the Lake Ivanhoe antique district just north of downtown Orlando
- Visit numerous local arts galleries, many featuring the works of local artists
MAKING ALL YOUR ACTIVITY WISHES COME TRUE
As you can see, I wasn’t kidding about activities in the Orlando area, and I barely scratched the surface. But they are why so many travelers all types flock here every year, and year-round – Orlando is a treasure chest and treasure hunt all in one, perfect for avid travelers. BVE vacation packages are provided by 30-plus-year promotional travel leader Preferred Guest Resorts, which is dedicated to low-cost and enhanced travel, such as possible complimentary Walt Disney World tickets, for the perfect family or cohabitating couple’s vacation – all while saving you hundreds of dollars off retail travel rates and even many discounts –and ALL YEAR LONG! With up to 12 month to travel, Best Vacations Ever packages spellbind you, typically including free nightly accommodations in the heart of the Orlando attraction action — CAAAA…CHING! —and/or incentives like theme-park tickets and preferred-partner Alamo rental cars. Don’t take my word for it, though you travelers should, check out educational, fun and informative Best Vacations Ever videos, along with extensive Destination, Fast Facts and Must-Do Activities information pages on its website at bestvacationever.com. When you see how much money you can save in the most ideal vacation destination for everyone in the family and every travel personality, you’ll want to book your custom promotional vacation right away. Just call one of travel representatives in the BVE U.S-based Reservation Center at 800-656-2780. Then let the pros go to work for you and make the magic and fairytale vacation of your dreams in Orlando come true today! Oh, and don’t forget to ask about BVE’s Daytona-Orlando custom vacations packages for double the fun!
What is your favorite off-the-beaten path activity in Orlando?
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