Orlando Beyond the Theme Parks

What does it mean to be an Orlando resident? Orlando - the name is synonymous with Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and so on. If you ever have that opportunity to visit to visit these places that put us on the map, we urge you to come! We get to call these places our playgrounds. If not because we have passes to visit year round but for a weekend getaway or a much needed staycation. We do realize how lucky we are that visiting these places are even an option while raising our children.

The smallest Central Floridians in the Orlando City Stadium

But beyond the parks that made us renowned, there is a whole other world of wonder here. Yes, they are in fact the reason we're even on the map, thanks to Walt himself. Before Disney came marching in, most of Central Florida was swamp lands and citrus groves, so we owe him a lot of credit to building our estate. But as a local knows, there's so much more than just theme park thrills here at home. The variety of local gems that make Orlando this wonderful melting pot of diversity, interests and activities is plentiful and can delight anyone. ​

Downtown Orlando

Downtown is the heart of this city, and is so much more than the business district.  It is the true central hub and makes getting to any of its four corners easily accessible.  It's also one of our favorite spots, because we love the feel of true Orlando that it shines and the facelift it is continuously receiving  to update with our expanding population. 

• The Orlando History Center will let you uncover some of that history that makes Orlando what it is.  Located in Orlando's original courthouse and with a few floors of relics, it's a great place to spend a rainy afternoon learning about this region and city.  If you're a Bank of America account holder, its also one of the museums in its free first weekend program.  This is a great discovery activity for older kids to adults wanting to learn  something more about The City Beautiful. 
• The Orlando Public Library is right next door and a book lover's dream with four floors of literature and novelty to check out.  And for the littlest of the bunch, they offer classes throughout the week that can easily fill in a morning activity.   Looking for you?  They also have a selection of events and programs for kids, tweens, teens and adults alike. And not just limited to its central location, but in various branches - we just prefer starting here because of its bountiful selection.

• Lake Eola is across the street from the library, and a great walk to get some stunning pictures of Orlando and our iconic fountain.  You can walk the perimeter and even feed some of the local ducks and swans that call its shores home; ride one of the iconic swan boats on the lake; and then stop by the shaded playground to burn any additional energy.  

A swan boat ride on Lake Eola has come of the best views of downtown!

• Worked up an appetite after all that walking?  A short walk over to Thornton Park offers a handful of restaurants to eat in and a few boutiques to shop. Check out Graffiti Junktion or Anthony's for family-friendly eats;  Juice'd for a quick bite or smoothie on the go; or  SoCo for something special (really, the food is amazing here).   You can continue back down Central Boulevard, running parallel to the lake and eventually end up in central downtown, back where you started.  Along the way, we recommend checking out Eola Wine Company or 310 Lakeside for adult eats; or Relax Grill or World of Beer, both right on Lake Eola for a more kid-friendly outdoor escape. 
• Adults looking for some evening fun?  Downtown lights up with a mix of restaurant, bars and entertainment venues -  art, music and comedy clubs to name a few!  The Beachem or The Social, SAKS Comedy Lab, CityArts Factory, to name a only few.
• Hungry?  Check out Shakai Sushi, Artisan's Table, or Kres - to name a few -  a great date night out.  Bringing the kids? They would enjoy Hamburger Mary's, though they may not be seated on some nights because of adult-geared shows.  The list can go one because there are so may great eats in the Church Street district alone!

• Sports lovers unite!  We have three teams that meet at our neighboring downtown venues, including the Orlando Magic,  Orlando Solar Bears, and the Orlando Predators at the Amway Center .  A short walk away you can feel the lions' pride at the Orlando City Soccer stadium.  In town when either are playing? Consider yourself lucky and check out a game to experience the love of these teams and the beautiful venues that they call home.  The Amway Center also hosts traveling performances, concerts and other activities when either team isn't playing. ​

Hanging out with Kingston.

• If live theater more your style, then the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center is home of the Broadway Across America season.  The venue also offers more intimate concerts, ballets, and other artistic performances, for adults and kids alike. 
  
• And this is just a few of what's happening, that have an actual structure to call it home.  Weekly vendor events, like the Orlando Farmers Market on Sundays or the Parramore Farmers Market on Saturdays, Thornton 2nd Thursday Wine Walk, and yoga at Lake Eola, make an appearance as weather permits. And then annual events pass through; there's about one a month in downtown Orlando, including Downtown Food & Wine Fest, Fiesta in the Park, Bark in the Park, etc! 

Ivanhoe Village

• Want to explore a little further without the drive?  Hop on the SunRail! There are two stops in downtown Orlando - Church Street and Lynx Central Station (the central bus depot). Ride it northbound and the next two stops are full of adventures!  The ride itself is enough to bring joy to any little kid - and kids under six ride free with a paying adult!
• The first stop is at AdventHealth, one of the main hospitals here in Orlando, located in Ivanhoe Village. Leaving the station and heading south on Orange Ave, there's a strip of great restaurants and shops to walk, aptly nicknamed The Antique District for its funky collection of secondhand goods.  Our favorite eats here are White Wolf Cafe for a great family brunch with an eclectic vibe.  Or if you're looking for a date night, stop in at Better than Sex for the most luscious desserts and drinks!  
• A short walk away down Orange and you hit a handful of dives that make a bar crawl through this area a good anytime activity! 

• Then you've reached Lake Ivanhoe, for breathtaking views of the downtown skyline and to get a little playground time for your little ones.   Stop for a bite to eat after at Russell's right on the lake! 

Sunset from Lake Ivanhoe as we burn out energy.

• And all this is just a preview of what this area has to offer - head east and you'll find more great restaurants, including our favorite, Santiago's Bodega!

Mills 50

• If exiting the train stop and heading down Princeton toward the building with the dome on top, you're heading into Loch Haven Park. Here you'll find a collection of great museums including The Orlando Science Center, the flagship venue in this area. It has 4 floors of activities of kids of all ages. You enter into Kidstown, which was redone in the last few years to include various sections to contain and entertain little ones.  Traveling exhibits can be found here as well, along with floors devoted to meteorology, geology, engineering, archaeology (who doesn't like a Dino dig) and ecology (come see real reptiles cared for at the center)!  

The Kidstown upgrade at the Orlando Science Center brings hours of fun!

• Two local theaters, Orlando Shakespeare Theater and Orlando Repertory Theater bring in local performers to put on family centric shows.  We've had many a playdate and field going to see productions here and can assure that they cater to newborns on up!  We're currently on a high from watching the Beat Bugs at the Orlando Rep, and my kids can't get enough - we may have to go back again! And I'll say I don't mind, since it has them singing along to the Beatles even more.
  
• The Orlando Fire Museum is tucked away behind the theaters and the home of the original fire station and antiquities from the past.    
• The Orlando Museum of Art and Menello Museum of American Art are located on opposite ends of the park and great for lovers of painting and sculptures alike.  The Orlando Museum of Art, also affectionately known as OMA, also hosts a score of great events throughout the year - anything from Mommy & Me art walks, summer camps, and our favorite, The Festival of the Trees with Christmas trees on display.  
• Exiting Loch Haven, you've hit another downtown Main Street, Mills 50,  where you can find a good number of mom and pop shops, local eats and street art to admire. As busy as this street is, its definitely worth a walk because there's just so much to be said about stopping to  appreciate its authenticity.  

• Your last local stop if taking the SunRail is Winter Park, origin of the iconic peacocks that have called Central Florida home. With that you can join Penelope Princess of the Peacocks almost every Monday at the Winter Park History Museum for a story time singalong for tots.  On Saturday mornings, this venue becomes home to the Winter Park Farmer's Market and the streets come to life. 
• Window shopping on Park Avenue brings your right back to old Florida, with its brick laid streets and quaint but sophisticated shops.   There are also a handful of great places to eat here, including Briarpatch for the family; or Boca, Prato, Bosphorous, and Cocina 214 for a more adult crowd.  Though anything here can be kid-friendly and pet-friendly,  with bountiful selection of outdoor seating. 
• Bringing the kids?  Let them run around Central Park and watch the trains go by - this is also a stop for the Amtrak line so you'll get double the squeals! This is also home to many annual events including Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter on the Ave, Autumn Art Festival, and so on. 
• Adult only?  Check out Wine Room on Park Avenue to sample wines or The Bear and Peacock Brewery for some in-house beers.
• Walking distance into Hannibal Square you will find a splash pad at the end of it, attached to a pool at the YMCA that is pay per use.  Hungry here?  Check out Dexter's, Armando's, and Chez Vincent. 

Winter Park 

• The Winter Park Scenic Boat Road docks on the opposite side of Park Avenue, and takes you to discover the chain of lakes in that house some of the most majestic homes and buildings in Winter Park.  A perfect day on the water for anyone and definitely entertaining to get to see and learn about this beautiful little town. 

Discover hidden Winter Park on a boat ride.

• Ready to load up the car?  You can head to handful of staple playgrounds in Winter Park, including Martin Luther King Jr Park on Denning Avenue (known for its castle fortress), Azalea Lane Park (iconic for its proximity to see trains go by), and Phelps Park which has structures for both big and little kids, along with tennis courts to use.  Getting to any of the three lets you enjoy a drive through to get to know the quaint sister town north of  Orlando.


• Need more food recommendations here?  There's too many to count!  ​The Glass Knife, The Ravenous Pig, Bulla, Hillstone, The Coop, and ​Shake Shack. And these recommendations don't even touch the variety of other dives, breweries, grocery stores, eats or other things to do in this area!

Audubon Park 

• Around the corner from Mills 50 is the Audubon neighborhood, home of Harry P. Leu Gardens.  The gardens are former private residence that became a pay-per-use city of Orlando venue, and hosts a variety of activities that cater to every age.  We love our first Monday of the month story time sessions put on the Orange County Library System, which allows for playdates in the garden after.  We've had plenty of family nights watching a move in the Gardens, where we pack a picnic and a blanket and watch a second run movie together. And date nights have consisted of Blues & Jazz festival, a tailgate of sorts with various bands, and Valentine's Stroll where we could have a more romantic night listening to live music as well. 

Looking for fairies at Harry P. Leu Gardens.

• East End Market is home to a variety of local eats, and a great place to do a dine around if wanting to sample a little bit over everything.  The area also houses a handful of other great dine ins, many of which frequently participate in annual events like Bite 30, Main Street Restaurant Week, or Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month, if you're lucky enough to be here to try out these coveted dining deals! 
• Adjacent and worth mentioning, is the picturesque neighborhood of Baldwin Park. Walk Lake Baldwin for a engaging night out, stop in the village for some great outdoor eating, or come back to visit & check out an event, like their First Fridays or holiday celebrations.  Our favorite hidden gem is Farris & Foster's Famous Chocolate Factory because they offer weekly chocolate making nights - families on Monday and date nights on Friday! We love this little area because of the activities our kids get to participate here too, including dance, karate, and open gymnastic sessions. Not to mention it was our first home, so it holds a special place in our hearts. 

South Orlando

• Heading a little further south you head towards the tourist district that we're known for.  Starting at Millenia you can find shopping galore at the Mall of Millenia, and right next door is IKEA.  Hidden gem?  They offer kid centric craft activities monthly, as well as a variety of other interactive offers or just sweet deals (even if you're not shopping for some new home goods).
• And we encourage a stop at the Florida Mall for shopping needs as it has the greatest number of distractions for kids. Crayola Experience is the recognizable yellow building you can see from our beeline highway on the way to Disney and is the place to stop while you shop for kids to play.  Let their imagination run wild and express their creativity as they explore this indoor playground - a whole floor of art and play  alike. 
• If you're looking for something a little quieter in the mall, have a tea party at the cafe in the  American Girl Store with your kids and their dolls.  You can also shop the store and look for your next girl (or boy) to take home.

• Head a little further south and you've reached International Drive, the start of all you know about Orlando's tourist district.  You can head to Icon Orlando and ride the Orlando Eye, or visit Madame Tussaud's or SeaLife Aquarium.  You can play mini-golf or visit one of the wacky museums we have lining the major drive, like WonderWorks or Ripley's Believe It or Not!  

A ride on the Eye can get you views as far out as the space coast on a clear day!

• Want to eat and play?  Dave and Busters is the place for your - or even King's Bowl for your hand at bowling. Or you can take in the action while you eat at places like Pirate's Dinner Adventure or Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Show (you can find more shows like Capone's Dinner and Show or Medieval Times heading into Kissimmee). 
• Looking for grown up fun?  Try Whirly Dome, Andretti's Racing, or ​Top Golf for your hand at something you may not have the courage to do otherwise. 

And there's even more ... 

• Head east and visit one of the largest universities in the country, the University of Central Florida, also our alma mater.  Come during football season and get a chance to watch a game, a great family activity with plenty of family friendly establishments in the area.  
• The city of Apopka is home of Wekiwa Springs, a great local place for outdoor adventures, including canoeing, walking the state park, swimming in the springs. 
• Winter Garden is a quaint city full of little city delights. Visit Plant Street, enjoy the farmer's market, grab a beer at a local brewery, or if biking if your thing, ride the West Orange Trail.  ​ 

• Neighboring cities, like Clermont, have many other low key options, including a variety of fruit picking.  We always anxiously await each respective season to get our hands on picking strawberries, blueberries and other options. 

Blueberry picking at Southern Hills.

• Prefer grapes? Head to Lakeridge Winery and you can tour the winery, enjoy a festival, and at times, grape stomp yourself!

And ALL this is a just a preview of this vast area and how much more there is to do.  ​

• There's a park in every neighborhood which is enough to visit for a quiet afternoon, including Wadeview, Delaney and Warren as some of our favorites
• Splash pads galore to cool down on hot days - the Dr. Phillips Community Park and Oviedo Splash Zone are sure to delight in all there is to do in either!
• Indoor places are found all around, so if wanting to let your kids play while you work, you can sit with them and watch for a small fee - and they're all over town including Millie Moo's, My Little Town, Princesses and Princes, Amaya Papaya and Monkey Joe's. 
• Want to cook?  We've checked out places like King's Pizza for pizza making and Gourmet Popcorn Club in Kissimmee to learn to make flavored popcorn!  Both of which allowed our littles to take home what they made.  
• Want something more active?  Check out some of our arcades (Hukoo's Family Fun), bowling alleys (Firkin Kegler's) , or trampoline parks (​Planet Obstacle), all over greater Orlando. 
• ​Into breweries?  There's so many now that its hard to keep track.  Orlando Brewing, Ocean Sun, Deadly Sins, Ten10, Crooked Can, Dead Lizard, Sea Dog, and so on.  There's always a new one popping up! 
• Sweet tooth?  Check out Wondermade for gourmet marshmallows or Wonderland Cookie Dough Co. for EDIBLE cookie dough.  Yes, we said cookie dough to eat! 
• We have a variety of weekend and evening activities, including festivals, traveling performances or restaurant specials that can make everyday special.  
• If this isn't enough, we're only an hour MAX from the coast for some much needed vitamin sea. 

​... & we KNOW we missed so much more there that makes this place absolutely amazing.  It truly lives up to its notorious hashtag of #orlandodoesntsuck, because really, it doesn't.  Spend some time with a local outside the theme parks and really see how wonderful it is to call this place home!