Things to do around Orlando area OTHER than Disney

[jabres]

Leaving on December 29th, and heading to the Orlando area for 10 days. Traveling with kids, 5 year old and 10 month old. Any "must do" type things within 2 hours of Orlando, OTHER than Disney parks?
We are going to spend a few days at the park, but need other neat things to do because that park drives me nuts going to it every day.
Also, will be traveling from Cincinnati, so any suggestions along the way would be great too. Valdosta area? Northern Florida? Atlanta?
Never been to the south in winter, so this is a bit new for me..
Thanks in advance!!

[atomlinson]

It's a hard drive if you're driving straight through. Break up the trip and stay overnight on the way down. We drove from Northern Kentucky to WDW a couple of years ago and stopped in Georgia and stayed the night. I highly recommend Eagles Roost Campground in Lake Park.

[charming]

Big Katuna wrote:
We went to Dixie Crossroads twice in one visit; first and last time.

It was ok food but really nothing special.

LOL, That was my opinion of Bubba Gump's when we visited in Charleston, except it was also over priced.

[jabres]

thanks guys! all awesome suggestions!!

[Big_Katuna]

We went to Dixie Crossroads twice in one visit; first and last time.

It was ok food but really nothing special.

[charming]

VoodooMedicineMan wrote:
or Dixie Crossroads in Titusville

Haven't been there yet, but friends go there. I also think it is a much better suggestion than Bubba Gumps.

Lots of wonderful suggestions, and I'm making a note of them, I think we will be spending Christmas 2019 in Orlando and the Coral area. The Space Center has areas the 5 y/o should enjoy.

[Addy15]

The beaches in the Tampa/Clearwater area are great. We particularly enjoyed the beach at Honeymoon Island State Park.

And another vote for Kennedy Space Center.

[JoeH]

femailyetti wrote:
Bok Tower gardens in Lake Wales. This has a Bell tower and a mansion decorated for Christmas
https://boktowergardens.org/

then go for some cheap pizza at Big Tonys Piza in Hainse city of Hgway 27, tell them the hippie that drives the old cars sent you lol


Lake Louisa State Park on 27 just south of 50 has a couple of lakes and hiking, also horse trail area.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-louisa-state-park

stay at Colt Creek state park has all new area for camping in polk county.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/colt-creek-state-park

then stop at the Red Top pit stop in for food down the street.
https://www.facebook.com/The-Red-Top-Pit-Stop-359448234123465/

Wekki Wachee for the mermaids north of Tampa, and say hello to the mer people.
https://weekiwachee.com/
red

when in Orlando do Cecils BBQ just south of Michigan and Orange Ave, tell them their alarm guy Theron sent you.
http://www.cecilsbbq.com/

IF YOU ARE VEGAN then the Little Saigon area on 50 and Bumby in Orlando you can do the Luvan Hut, also many tie and Vietnamese restaurants there to try. tell the loving hut guys the alarm guy Theron says hello
https://lovinghut.us/orlando/

on that corner of 50 and Bumby is a grocery store where you can buy live ells, frogs, SOME assorted live fish, and a few other live things

in Orlando visit the Morse gallery for some nice stained glass. and then walk down Park Ave for some upscale shops and dining.
http://www.morsemuseum.org/

fyi- the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee is closed until mid-March for renovations to the performance theatre.

[femailyetti]

Bok Tower gardens in Lake Wales. This has a Bell tower and a mansion decorated for Christmas
https://boktowergardens.org/

then go for some cheap pizza at Big Tonys Piza in Hainse city of Hgway 27, tell them the hippie that drives the old cars sent you lol
https://www.bing.com/maps?&ty=18&q=Big%20Tony%27s%20Pizza%20Haines%20City%20FL&ss=ypid.YN194x19060201&ppois=28.106029510498_-81.6296310424805_Big%20Tony%27s%20Pizza_YN194x19060201~&cp=28.10603~-81.629631&v=2&sV=1


Lake Louisa State Park on 27 just south of 50 has a couple of lakes and hiking, also horse trail area.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-louisa-state-park

stay at Colt Creek state park has all new area for camping in polk county.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/colt-creek-state-park

then stop at the Red Top pit stop in for food down the street.
https://www.facebook.com/The-Red-Top-Pit-Stop-359448234123465/

Wekki Wachee for the mermaids north of Tampa, and say hello to the mer people.
https://weekiwachee.com/

when in Orlando do Cecils BBQ just south of Michigan and Orange Ave, tell them their alarm guy Theron sent you.
http://www.cecilsbbq.com/

IF YOU ARE VEGAN then the Little Saigon area on 50 and Bumby in Orlando you can do the Luvan Hut, also many tie and Vietnamese restaurants there to try. tell the loving hut guys the alarm guy Theron says hello
https://lovinghut.us/orlando/

on that corner of 50 and Bumby is a grocery store where you can buy live ells, frogs, SOME assorted live fish, and a few other live things

in Orlando visit the Morse gallery for some nice stained glass. and then walk down Park Ave for some upscale shops and dining.
http://www.morsemuseum.org/

[jabres]

Thanks for all the awesome responses and advice!! And yes sorry for the last minute! This trip is just being tossed together, so just making it work. Love all the advice on the state parks and such. Wild monkeys seem pretty crazy and fun!
Any more advice on really good restaurants to eat while in the area?
Thanks!!

[AdamBryner2012]

All these are fairly cheap and worth the day trip.

1) Rainbow Springs State Park
2) Homosassa Wildlife Park
3) Silver Springs and Kayak and see the wild monkeys.
4) Kayak the Rainbow River
5) Tampa Zoo

Florida is such a paradise.

[ct1964ups]

jabres wrote:
Leaving on December 29th, and heading to the Orlando area for 10 days. Traveling with kids, 5 year old and 10 month old. Any "must do" type things within 2 hours of Orlando, OTHER than Disney parks?
We are going to spend a few days at the park, but need other neat things to do because that park drives me nuts going to it every day.
Also, will be traveling from Cincinnati, so any suggestions along the way would be great too. Valdosta area? Northern Florida? Atlanta?
Never been to the south in winter, so this is a bit new for me..
Thanks in advance!!

There is Legoland South on rt 27 in Winter Park....45 minutes from Disney
There is Dinosaur Park....maybe 45 minutes to an hour West on I-4 from Disney.....C

[morphrider]

We went down to the Ponce de Leon lighthouse. You can climb to the top and get great views, then right nearby is Daytona Speedway. We took a tour inside there and that was just awesome. There is a museum inside you walk through after the tour. They drive the winners car inside and leave it for a year each year, you can see the battled car as it came off the track.

[All_I_could_aff]

Another vote for the Kennedy Space Center

[RvingMike]

Visit St. Augustine and St. Augustine beach area. Very historic downtown area.