Off the Beaten Path....

[Evans Family]

I'm headed down to Orlando for Spring Break with the kids and another Mom with her kids. We mainly want some nice warm weather, a pool to swim in an to relax. We are not planning on "doing" Disney since it will be SO crowded and we have a big trip planned in May for 7 nights at the BCV.

I need some ideas of things off the beaten path do to...mainly not any of the parks since they will be really, really crowded.

Can't shop...kids hate that. What are some fun things to do, go and places to eat? Are any of the dinner shows really worth the money they charge?

Anyone been to Gatorland?

 

[isla bonita]

We just came back from staying in our pool home and try new things all the time. We picked our own fruit here
http://www.showcaseofcitrus.com/
Wish we would have done it the first day there so we had the fruit from day one. We also went on a conservation trail. It was cut short for us we did not do both hikes do to my sons unexpected nose bleed. Yuck!!! Here is the site.
http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art5523.html
We also did a lot of swimming. At the home you are staying they might have a football, frisbee, and so on that we all made use of. We walked the boardwalk and my daughter got her face painted and my sons had desert in ESPN. We walked in DTD. Picked up the latest potato head peices for my daughter. Close to the conservation area are airboat rentals. We did not do this because it was just me and the kids and my daughter is not a very brave soul. We will try next time for sure.

 

[spiceycat]

what are the kids interested in?

how about you?

Orlando has just about everything - so say anything and everything that comes to mind.

(I am try of typing the hundred things....sorry)

you can also try

www.orlandoinfo.com and
www.floridakiss.com

 

[Evans Family]

Thanks for the ideas...the orange picking sounds like fun as does some of the Monster truck tours.

Anyone else have any other ideas?

Anyone been to Old Town? Is it worth it or too touristy?

 

[isla bonita]

My son went for car night and loved it.

 

[sammi]

We were at Old Town a couple of Sunday's ago and really didn't think it was much to see. Maybe the car cruise nights would be better but we just didn't think too much of the place.

 

[Evans Family]

anybody have any other ideas? We leave in 1-1/2 weeks.

Thanks!

 

[isla bonita]

This sounds like fun I have not done it but a fellow diser gave the info out and choc. is worth checking into.

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/
family choc night I think. Checkout the thread

 

[Snoopymom]

Ds is 5 and we had a blast at Gatorland, and since you're going with a couple of kids, I should warn you that there are lots of opportunities to purchase pictures which can add up, but it is a small, nice and easy 4 or 5 hour kind of place.

We haven't done them yet, but I've heard those airboat rides are fun, and you could drive over to a beach for a day. You could make an afternoon out of gooney golf and pizza. You could go over to the Polynesian or the Wilderness lodge and watch the boat parade one evening. There's that restaurant with the Monster Truck in front of it, can't remember the name of it, that has arcade games. There is also a Science Center, a Titanic museum and a train museum on my list to do, not sure if the kids would like them though.

Have fun planning!

 

[Mo-Yo]

Google Wekiwa Springs in Apopka.
Years ago when my husband and I lived in Orlando. we went canoeing here for the day. We had a blast. There was a little cafe on the side of the water where we could grab lunch and a beer before we paddled onward.

I don't know how old your kids are, but this could be great fun.

 

[Rhonda922]

I'm glad this thread was started -- I was about to start one myself. DH and I are leaving on April 2nd and we don't want to go to the parks either (did I just say that??) We've been so many times and while we absolutely love them all, I know it's going to be very crowded. We will still have a hard time staying away from them. We have no other ideas besides Cocoa Beach and maybe going out on one of the gambling cruises. I just want to go to get some warm weather and see other areas of the state. We love it there!

11 more days...

 

[sammielynn]

You will not be to far from the beach and Kennedy Space Center. The space center is fun lots to do. About orange picking, I thought they were only in season in December???

 

[isla bonita]

Nope we picked in Feb. There is a chart for picking. We personally picked oranges not sure the types, lemons, limes and grapefruits. Again not sure the types.

 

[Evans Family]

I talked to the UPick lady today. There is not much left on the trees right now. They do have already picked fruit for sale. I'm not sure we are going to go. We leave in 1-1/2 wks.

 

[kilee]

Look into some of the dinner shows. Like Dixie Stampede or Medieval Times. Also there is the Outta Control Magic Show which is at Wonderworks- you can do the show and Wonderworks.

Did you think of possibly doing the water parks? Even if you don't do the Disney one's there is always Wet n Wild and that smaller one on 192 near Old Town that never looks too busy. You didn't mention the ages of the kids-- but jet skiing is a favorite of ours in the area. We've gone to Lake Buena Vista Watersports.

Also, a daytrip to the Beach and over near Tampa there will be boat tours and such you could take.

We did a helicopter ride over Disney in 2002 that was really interesting. There is also a skateboarding park in the area, if your kids are of age and into that.

 

[Evans Family]

thanks for all of your tips! The kids are 5,7,8,9 - all boys.

I did book us the Magic show and I think we are going to visit the Chocolate store for some fun. We also have Gatorland on our list.

Thanks for all the great tips! How far are the beaches? Isn't it about 2 hours to Clearwater? and about one hour to Cocoa Beach? Can anyone confirm?

How about some fun restaurants to try other than those at Disney? Any ideas?

Does anyone know of any "kids eat free" nights?

 

[tinaluis]

Kids eat free on Tuesday nights at Lone Star Steakhouse.

You may also want to visit the Orlando Science Center near Downtown Orlando. My kids moaned about taking a day away from the parks to visit, and LOVED it. It's become a must see on every trip since then. We have a museum membership here in Chicago that gets us in there for free. I don't know what admission prices would be otherwise. Also, if you visit on a Friday or Saturday, they have a rooftop observation deck with some high powered telescopes focused on the night sky. Very nice.

Have a great trip!

 

[Janet Hill]

Maybe Cypress Gardens for the day. This is something we've thought of doing, but haven't.

 

[kilee]

I know you are not looking to go to the parks. However, did you think of maybe looking into the Fort Wilderness campfire and movie w/ s'mores.

 

[Chris and Pooh]

You have got to try Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, http://www.bcairboats.com/

Its great for children and adults, there is an old fashioned eatery that serves up catfish etc, the ride is exhilerating, a twelve seater takes you out on the lake for about half an hour and gives you a chance to see some of the natural wildlife, better still go at night when all you can see is the alligator eyes in the guides torch light