Orlando vacation

[deduncan]

The wife and I are going to a wedding in July in Orlando, and are curious about "locations of interest". We have Disneyworld and Universal Studios on our list, but will be there a week and are looking for something else that might be of interest. We've heard that Daytona Beach and Kennedy Space Station are good places, but kind of out of the way. Any suggestions from anyone that lives in that area?

 

Thanks!

[tmf6902]

definatly goto the space place over there on the coast. Make sure you hit up international drive....there are some cool shops, and places to go, and eat....there's a ripley's believe it or not musem....it kinda sucks...but it's cool the first time. Make sure you make it to downtown disney, it's got restraunts, and bars.....hit up pleasure island too, if it's you thing....it's all clubs and bars....i've never been, because I can't dance...nor do I attempt too, and bars, just aren't my forte. If your really bored, and you want to make a LOOOONNNNGGGG day out of it, (and you have to drive fast)...take the turnpike down to the keys. I Live in ft.lauderdale, and I've made the trip from here to Orlando on the turnpike in 2 hour and 28 minutes.....Set the cruise to 90 and go.....it should take you if you drive like a normal person, and depending on traffic about 4 hours, to make it from orlando to Key largo, it'll be a long day, but they keys are cool....and don't forget your snorkle

[Animeboy]

What kinda of stuff are you interested in? Typical tourist stuff or something cool for locals to do.

 

Standard Touristy Stuff:

1 Hour Drive: Buesch Gardens, Tampa - If your into Roller Coasters, you need to go here.

45 Minutes: Space Center, as you noted

Sun Cruz Casino

1 1/2 Hour Drive: Weeki Wachie Springs Mermaid Show and Buccaner Bay Water park. It's a kichee kinda place, but neat to see once in a life time. It's typical of the old time roadside amusments, like Rock City, etc. If you do go, make sure you drive 1 mile south to see the old Sinclair/Texaco/Now Shell Giant Dinosaur Gas station.

1 Hour Drive: Daytona or Cocoa Beach. If your into Nascar, there is a racing museum @ the speedway.

2 Hours: St. Augustine (Old European City on NA.) Fort is Cool, I like taking Weekend getaway dates here.

1 Hour Silver Springs (Glass bottom boats, Old tarzan Movies were filmed there. They have Concerts (Charlie Daniels, Micky Gilley, etc.) on the weekends.

 

If your into other stuff to do (Outdoors/Nature type stuff)

Ocala National Forest. 1 Hour drive

Blue Springs State Park. 1 Hour Drive

 

One of my favorite Summer things to do is rent a Canoe and run down Rock Spings State Park. Usually put Canoe in around 9am, get picked up down river around 4-5. Makes for a really nice day. Bring Cooler with lunch and drinks. Put beer in Plastic cups, and can back in cololer. (Not supposed to have Alchol in the park...) Rock Springs is on the North side of Orlando, takes about 35 minutes to get to from disney using the 429 expressway.

 

 

Things I don't recommend in O-town:

Stay away from the Dinner theaters (Midevil Times, Dixie Stampede. Pirates, etc.) The food @ them all is REALLY horrible.

Splendid China... Most boring amusment park ever made.

Anything Dealing with a Timeshare and discount tickets. It's just not worth your time. The 1 hour tours usually take 3-4 before they'll really let you leave. I know, I used to work in the IT dept for one.

 

There's A LOT to do, but if you give me ideas of things that might appeal to you, I can give you more info on where and what.

 

L8r,

Mark

[deduncan]

Awesome, thanks for the information.

 

To answer your questions, yes, "touristy" places are going to be on our agenda. We'll most likely hit up the Kennedy Space Station as it sounds interesting. I would have liked to have been able to go to southern Florida, but as it looks now, I don't think we'll have enough time with all of the wedding activities.

 

Thanks again for your replies!

[silverado man]

While you're at Kennedy you might as well hit up cocoa beach not the best beach in the world but it is just down the way from the space center.

[DMark]

The wife and I are going to a wedding in July in Orlando, and are curious about "locations of interest". We have Disneyworld and Universal Studios on our list, but will be there a week and are looking for something else that might be of interest. We've heard that Daytona Beach and Kennedy Space Station are good places, but kind of out of the way. Any suggestions from anyone that lives in that area?

 

Thanks!

Have you ever been to Orlando/Disney before? Make sure you check out the prime areas of the Disney resort before you head off. Downtown Disney & Pleasure Island is a really great starting point. How many total days will you be down there?

[Sierra04SLE]

Just doown the road is Kissimmee, on a Friday and Saturday night they have a Custom Car Cruise in Old Town, that's pretty good for an warm summer evening.