Non-Disney related Florida "stuff to do"

[star72232]

What are the things you like to do?

We'd like to do WDW, but we will probably "only" do 4 days. If we actually do make this trip, it will probably be 2 weeks - DH doesn't like to fly, so we will take a slow drive down and back, seeing some sights along the way.

Here's a tentative plan. We will probably be going late October or early November (the specific days I've chosen for the various Disney parks are based on us going Nov 8-23 and using the suggested parks from UC Tourist - they could change order, etc if we go different days).

Friday - leave home in the late afternoon, drive to Pittsburgh (5 hours)
Saturday - Pittsburgh to Charlotte, NC (7.5 hours) - it's mostly driving through WV - any suggestions on things to see?
Sunday - Charlotte to St. Augustine, FL (6.5 hours) - any must-sees along the way?
Monday - spend in St. Augustine (beach (we're Canadian, it will almost certainly be warm enough for us ), Alligator Farm Zoological Park, lighthouse
Tuesday - Kennedy Space Center (DD and ODS LOVE the space program (thanks, Cmdr. Hadfield!)) - head to my mother's house in Haines City in the evening (we will be staying here for the week)
Wednesday - rest! pool, get some groceries, etc
Thursday - ?
Friday - Magic Kingdom
Saturday - Animal Kingdom
Sunday - rest
Monday - ?
Tuesday - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - Haines City to Charleston, SC (6.5 hours) - go to the waterfront in the late afternoon
Friday - Charleston to Washington? (9 hours) - is there something low key to see here in the evening?
Saturday - Washington to home (8 hours) - I'd say we could maybe spend 3 hours in Washington in the morning?

Although DH doesn't really like rides, he loves water slides, so I'm thinking about Wet'N'Wild. We will probably get 5 day passes to Disney, since they are actually currently cheaper than 4 day passes on Undercover Tourist. If my mother comes down as well, DH and I might take one evening and go to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival for a date night (depending on our dates of course). Any ideas for some more low-key, Florida-y stuff to do? Should we go to the west coast for a day? I'm also debating the trip home. What can we reasonably see in only a few hours in Washington?

 

[SpaceMtMan]

What about BB or TL if you like water. TL has the best wave pool

No DHS? There's a fair amount to do. Attraction-wise that aren't rocking roller coasters and big drops.

 

[star72232]

What about BB or TL if you like water. TL has the best wave pool

No DHS? There's a fair amount to do. Attraction-wise that aren't rocking roller coasters and big drops.

TL will be closed while we are there. With 4 days (DH doesn't think we need that many, I know better) and given our kids ages (1, 3, 6 and 8) I think a 2nd MK day is better for us vs DHS. I think our WDW stuff is good for us for this trip. Is DTD worth doing with little kids?

 

[IowaTater]

DH and I are hitting up the Titanic museum. I'm not sure if that's something your family would enjoy.

There's also Ripley's museum and a science museum.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hello from a fellow Canuck!

Some places that come to mind, taking into consideration the ages of your kiddos:

• Gatorland
• An airboat ride (we loved Wild Willy's)
• SeaWorld (an awesome park!)
• ICE! at Gaylord Palms (and all the other holiday activities at Gaylord Palms.....decorating gingerbread cookies with Gingy, etc.)

We've done them all and each one provides good value for the admission cost, and are tons of fun.

Some things we haven't done yet but might be of interest.....

What about a visit to an orange grove? Showcase of Citrus looks fun (we are trying it ourselves for the first time in August) and your children would probably love the monster truck ride.

Or what about day admission to Coco Key's waterpark? It looks like just the perfect size for the younger set.

You can check out my trip report from Christmas (see the link in my signature) for lots of pics of Gatorland, SeaWorld, the airboat ride, and the holiday activities at ICE! (I just checked, and last year's Christmas festivities at Gaylord Palms started on November 10th, so hopefully your vacation would fall within the right time period!)

While I really enjoyed the Titanic Experience, I don't really think its suited for kids under 10. I would wait for that one until they are older.

 

[bek]

Since your kids have an interest in the Space program, they might enjoy the Air and Space museum in DC.

In St. Augustine, there's a fort that kids enjoy exploring. Also the town has been re-created like it was in the 1500s. I haven't been there in a while, but there used to be a Ripleys Believe it or Not that kids enjoyed.

North of Orlando, there are lots of springs which are hidden treasures. Rainbow Springs isn't a long drive from Orlando and is very popular.

In Orlando there is a science museum and an art museum.

Also Legoland opened up last year.

 

[spiceycat]

st augustine
http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/

http://staugustine.com/visitors-guide

what do you like to do?

here is orlando and about 50 miles plus
http://www.visitorlando.com/things-to-do/

 

[Kogo Shuko]

st augustine
http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/

http://staugustine.com/visitors-guide

what do you like to do?

here is orlando and about 50 miles plus
http://www.visitorlando.com/things-to-do/

I There are a lot of things to do in St Augustine, including the lighthouse, the old jail, the fort, shopping. I believe there is also a Ripley's museum here as well.

If you're looking for budget-friendly, I found a list of free things to do around Orlando.

http://www.visitorlando.com/things-to-do/free-things-to-do/

Not sure if those going like horses, but Ocala isn't too much of a drive from Orlando (my friend lives near Ocala, and we usually drive to the parks from her place). Ocala is known to be great horse country, and there are a few horseback riding places there. I went with Cactus Jack last time I was there.
As well, there is a Gypsy Vanner breeding farm in Ocala, and they give tours. Gypsy Vanners are gorgeous, and I personally would love to see them this year.

How about Old Town? It has midway rides, shops, restaurants, and old car shows and motorcycle shows on select evenings.

http://myoldtownusa.com/

 

[Upatnoon]

If you like water parks, I would suggest adding the water park fun and more option to your ticket. If you get a 5 day ticket, that would give you 5 entries to the Disney water park, or Disney Quest, mini golf, etc.

 

[kymom79]

Have you thought about Leu Gardens near downtown Orlando? That would be a beautiful way to spend the day -- or just a morning, and then see the Louis Comfort Tiffany collection at the Morse Museum in Winter Park. Those are two of my favorite Orlando spots. Although ONLY if you are really in the mood for something as un-Disney as possible.

If you don't mind spending significantly more money, SeaWorld would be great. Being local, we had annual passes there last year and absolutely loved it. There are rarely long lines (the only time we encountered bad lines was once during spring break and once during a special event). You have a good mix of shows, wonderful animal viewing opportunities, and 2 AMAZING roller coasters.

 

[jeff968]

If you like cars and old-style carnival atmosphere check out old-town of 192. A little cheesy but we always stop there on Saturday night for the cruise night, best of all, it is free. Outlet mall shopping. Wet and Wild and Aquatica are great water parks and not a mouse to be seen.

 

[coastgirl]

I would suggest, take thyself to a beach. It will be cold, maybe even too cold for us Canucks (though I've been in the ocean when the locals are wearing long pants and zipped jackets), but there's a lot to see. You can take yourself to a part of the protected seashore near Kennedy, or drive out to the St Pete's area on the other coast. I recall a number of wildlife rescue organizations in that area, great to visit with the kids. We balanced a Disney cruise a few years ago (total activity and commercialism) iwth a few days on Sanibel Island, which is as laid back as Fl gets, and has some fabulous wildlife viewing opportunities (we were there in Dec and the weather was fine for us). The beach at Pensacola in the Panhandle is also really neat.

Oh, I see you have St Augustine on your list...cool. (Never been there, but it's a beach!)

We spent a couple of weeks in NC/TN a few years ago, and spent time in Charlotte--I believe there's a good kid-friendly museum. We loved the Natural History Museum in Raleigh/Durham, not sure if that's on your route. Find some BBQ on your drive through NC. I just reminded myself of the "cafeterias" they have there, the one I recall was K&W cafeteria, a smallish chain I believe, but there are more versions of this. Very family friendly, kind of like the cafeteria at a school or something, iwth better food--servers that call you "sweetie" and "dear". Real comfort food kind of places.

We talk all the time about driving down (we are in NS) but it would just take too much of our vacation. Have fun!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I would highly recommend going to see Cirque Du Soleil and Blue Man Group. Both amazing shows. Both evening shows.

On your two days where you have a question mark you could go to Universal and Island of Adventure.

You could go to Discovery Cove and swim with the Dolphins.

You can easily spend 2 days at Sea World. We spent one whole day at SW just seeing all the shows they have. They have a lot of very good shows.

If you buy a day at Discovery Cove that ticket includes 14 days of Sea World and Aquatica entries.