When people think of Orlando, Florida they think of Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World or any of the other 12 world-famous theme parks. But Orlando has so much more to offer than just the typical family vacation spots!
Central Florida has great weather year-round so any time of the year is a good time to come explore. Do keep in mind that Orlando’s public transportation isn’t always reliable so renting a car might be a better idea. Most of these are a bit of a drive from downtown Orlando (Orlando isn’t the largest inland city in Florida for nothing), but so worth the visit.
Immerse Yourself in Good Old Florida Nature
If you’re like me, you love a trip with plenty of outdoor time. I love camping and my favorite place to do so is Wekiwa Springs State Park. True to its name, Wekiwa Springs is home to a clear-water Florida aquifer that fills an entire swimming area and connects to the Wekiva River. It’s the perfect spot to kayak, paddleboard or simply cool-off during the day. I’ve been camping in Wekiwa for quite a few years now and have had a great trip every time. All (and I do mean all) of my camping gear is from Backcountry.*
If you like hanging out in nature but don’t really want to commit to an overnight trip, Orlando has a ton of great running and bike trails. Cady Way Trail is a really beautiful and well-maintained trail that’s about 7 miles along. I rode my bike over to Park of the Americas the other day, which is also a great spot. Side note: if you’re traveling with a 4-legged friend, Park of the Americas has the best dog park in Orlando.
Grab a Coffee
There’s a few coffee shops in Orlando worth mentioning. Stardust Café is an indy coffee shop featuring old record players, a ton of books and, of course, great coffee. Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar is another great one with great plant-based options. If you’re looking for something a little less popular, opt for Downtown Credo. They’re modern, involved in bettering the community AND let you pay whatever you want. Yes, they’re a 100% donation based coffee shop.
Dip Your Feet in the Atlantic
Orlando is very much land-locked, but no trip to Florida is complete without a trip to the beach. This is where the rental car comes in handy. Orlando’s closest beach is Cocoa Beach - about 40 minutes away. I make the trip out there at least one a week during the summer. You can usually catch me reading a David Sedaris book under the umbrella and sipping some sweet iced tea.
Become a Space Cadet
For those of you wanting a little history out of your Orlando trip, there’s nowhere better to go than NASA. Also known as Kennedy Space Center, this visitor center is home to many famous rockets including Saturn V and Apollo 8. There’s meet and greets with real astronauts and, if you’re there on the right day, you can even witness a rocket launch. NASA is located on Cape Canaveral, right next to Cocoa Beach. I recommend making it a combo-trip by visiting KSC in the morning and catching the sunset at Cocoa later in the day.
Have you ever visited any of these locations? Are you planning to? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
*Sponsored by Backcountry.