Locals need advice

DisneyDad64

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 5, 2008
Messages
186
We will be there for 2 weeks starting this coming Monday. We are in the process of buying a home. We don’t have park reservations. What are some local things to do? What about favorite restaurants outside of the parks?
 
Things to do:
Winter Garden has a nice farmers market on Saturdays if you are into that sort of thing.
Lake Louisa in Clermont has a nice state park but this time of year you'll get pretty warm.
Disney Springs / universal city walk
Outlet malls and/or Mall at millenia
Wonderworks/Ripleys/Dave and Busters over by pointe orlando (convention center area)
NASA Kennedy
Various Museums
Swim (if you are staying at a hotel/rental property with an accessible pool)

Restaurants will really vary based off of what type of food you like, how much you want it to be a "vacation destination" experience (like Disney springs), or even geographic location. Sometimes it's just not worth fighting with the traffic, but since you're already planning a move you're probably well aware of what that means. Note that the majority of these are on the South/Western side of the Disney area as that's my preferred stomping grounds. A couple of outside of the parks and disney springs, non national chain suggestions that come to mind.

Sunset Walk in Margaritaville on 192. Various decent restaurants - Ford's garage, Rock N Brew, and Estefan Kitchen are our three favorites but Yeoman's and Capone's are decent too.
Manny's Chophouse on 192. Pretty touristy but decent steaks. We usually choose to go here for a steak instead of most of the more national chains (longhorn/outback/etc).
Taverna Opa by pointe orlando. Greek food. Fairly touristy. Usually we just go to "Little Greek fresh grill" as it's closer, faster, and cheaper to get our greek fix instead but Taverna Opa is more of an "experience".
Bosphorous (small local chain) - Couple of different locations. Turkish cuisine.
Edit: For breakfast's Keke's breakfast cafe is by far our favorite in the area. There are a few locations around.
 
We will be there for 2 weeks starting this coming Monday. We are in the process of buying a home. We don’t have park reservations. What are some local things to do? What about favorite restaurants outside of the parks?
Having just relocated in August 2020. There is lots to do around besides the theme parks. You can always visit Disney Springs or City Walk. Winter Park and Baldwin Park have some restaurants that we like to eat at. Rocco's Taco's in Dr. Phillips is also really good and yummy. I'd definitely explore the area you are buying a house in (not sure what area it is) but we are in Seminole County and we like to walk on the trail. I'd also take some time and drive to one of the beaches for a little getaway.
 
Awesome thanks for the advice. What about the bike trails - any good recommendations for bike rental place?
 















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