What's really worth seeing in Orlando?
Discussion
EPCOT it you don't want 'kids' stuff, but you dont need kids to have a good time in the other Disney/Universal parks. And if you like the outdoors, you need to go here
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/C...
and next door is one of these http://www.fuddruckers.com/
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/C...
and next door is one of these http://www.fuddruckers.com/
Edited by SwanJack on Saturday 26th June 20:20
Edited by SwanJack on Saturday 26th June 20:26
Depends what you are looking for. All the theme parks have websites so have a look. If you like animals then bush gardens is a theme park as well as safari and animal encounters, likewise with seaworld, otherwise you can do airboat rides, driving experiences like nascar/indy car, daytona or flight experiences or if the space centre. There really is so much to do, i've been 3 times for a total of 6 weeks and there lots i still wanna do.
Perhaps if you list what sort of things your into, or your ages/restrictions if any, then you'll get some better more appropriate responses.
Perhaps if you list what sort of things your into, or your ages/restrictions if any, then you'll get some better more appropriate responses.
andyjo1982 said:
Perhaps if you list what sort of things your into, or your ages/restrictions if any, then you'll get some better more appropriate responses.
Good point! We're both mid-forties, no kids. Like the sound of those airboat rides, probably want something more grown up than Mickey Mouse so more adult themed entertainment (no not that sort of adult entertainment! 
Kennedy Space Center is a nice day out - and Cocoa beach is close by, so it's practical to do both. If the great outdoors is also your thing Merrit Island Nature Preserve is also on the space coast and is wild and largely unspoiled - take some mozzie rep though.
Of all the parks in the 'attractions' area, I think SeaWorld is the most appealing to adults. There are a couple of spectacular coasters there, but there is also some very cool wildlife exhibits and some of their conservation work is interesting, even if used as an excuse to justify their captive animal exhibits. SeaWorlds more recent waterpark, Aquatica, is also cleaner and more up-market than I-Drive's Wet'n'Wild, which you should probably stay away from.
Assuming that you will be renting a car, there are some nice places to stroll, dine and explore away from the tourists. Mt Dora and Lake Mary, to the north are pretty, arty and pedestrian friendly. Del Frisco's on Lee Road, is one of the finest steakhouses in North America with rarely an English accent to bring down the tone. Not cheap, of course.
Bracket drag racing on Friday evenings at Orlando Speedworld at Bithlo FL is hillbilly but fun - though they don't let you run your rental car anymore.
You can do a grown-ups night out in downtown Orlando (don't bother with week nights) but you need to exercise some caution, as there are some very risky areas adjacent to the downtown area. Safer and nicer is Ybor City, to the north of Tampa - a 40 minute drive west on I-4 from the attractions area. Ybor has a bit of a Bourbon Street feel to it on Friday/Saturday nights. Lots of great bars, clubs and resaurants. all within walking distance of each other in Tampa's old Bario Latino. Likewise, there is a ghetto close by, so keep your wits about you.
Boggy Creek Airboats is a good couple of hours of fun and nature watching on East Lake Toho. You can also rent a boat from Creek Fish Camp. Toho is a trophy bass lake, if fishing appeals to you.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with Gatorland - it is essentially an Alligator processing plant, disguised as a nature attraction.
Old Town Cruise in Kissimmee on Saturday night is also popular with autophiles.
I live in Orlando and could go on and on - so if you're looking for anything specific, PM me and I'll try to give you any detail you might need.
August is very hot/humid and wet in the afternoon, added to which, it is rumored that we are going to have a more active than usual hurricane season this year - and August is right in the middle of it.
Of all the parks in the 'attractions' area, I think SeaWorld is the most appealing to adults. There are a couple of spectacular coasters there, but there is also some very cool wildlife exhibits and some of their conservation work is interesting, even if used as an excuse to justify their captive animal exhibits. SeaWorlds more recent waterpark, Aquatica, is also cleaner and more up-market than I-Drive's Wet'n'Wild, which you should probably stay away from.
Assuming that you will be renting a car, there are some nice places to stroll, dine and explore away from the tourists. Mt Dora and Lake Mary, to the north are pretty, arty and pedestrian friendly. Del Frisco's on Lee Road, is one of the finest steakhouses in North America with rarely an English accent to bring down the tone. Not cheap, of course.
Bracket drag racing on Friday evenings at Orlando Speedworld at Bithlo FL is hillbilly but fun - though they don't let you run your rental car anymore.
You can do a grown-ups night out in downtown Orlando (don't bother with week nights) but you need to exercise some caution, as there are some very risky areas adjacent to the downtown area. Safer and nicer is Ybor City, to the north of Tampa - a 40 minute drive west on I-4 from the attractions area. Ybor has a bit of a Bourbon Street feel to it on Friday/Saturday nights. Lots of great bars, clubs and resaurants. all within walking distance of each other in Tampa's old Bario Latino. Likewise, there is a ghetto close by, so keep your wits about you.
Boggy Creek Airboats is a good couple of hours of fun and nature watching on East Lake Toho. You can also rent a boat from Creek Fish Camp. Toho is a trophy bass lake, if fishing appeals to you.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with Gatorland - it is essentially an Alligator processing plant, disguised as a nature attraction.
Old Town Cruise in Kissimmee on Saturday night is also popular with autophiles.
I live in Orlando and could go on and on - so if you're looking for anything specific, PM me and I'll try to give you any detail you might need.
August is very hot/humid and wet in the afternoon, added to which, it is rumored that we are going to have a more active than usual hurricane season this year - and August is right in the middle of it.
Thank you for the suggestions and Matt, there's some great stuff there thanks. we are actually in Orlando for a few days and then heading down to the Keys and back up via Naples and St Petersburg so will probably get to do quite a few of your suggestions. Fingers crossed we avoid the hurricanes!
LuS1fer said:
Every Friday they hold the Old Town Cruise in Kissimmee. There's a little fairgound there and some amazing cars. It's actually better than the theme parks and it's free!
I'm surprised you didn't enjoy the Saturday Cruise more, given that Saturday is pre-1975 cars and rods. Fiday is more of a pimp-fest these days - geared more toward very large rims and lots of strange, glowing, undercarriage lighting and trunk-mounted boom-boxes that make the rear fenders wobble. You need corn-rows, a white tank-top, full mouth-grille and a stolen glock stuffed down the back of your pants to complete the ensemble.Think......

Matt Harper said:
LuS1fer said:
Every Friday they hold the Old Town Cruise in Kissimmee. There's a little fairgound there and some amazing cars. It's actually better than the theme parks and it's free!
I'm surprised you didn't enjoy the Saturday Cruise more, given that Saturday is pre-1975 cars and rods. Fiday is more of a pimp-fest these days - geared more toward very large rims and lots of strange, glowing, undercarriage lighting and trunk-mounted boom-boxes that make the rear fenders wobble. You need corn-rows, a white tank-top, full mouth-grille and a stolen glock stuffed down the back of your pants to complete the ensemble.Think......

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/627465/5
I'd also recommend Discovery Cove - not cheap, but all your meals are included so it's not too bad; you get to swim with a dolphin, there's a stingray pool where you walk in the pool with the rays and can feed them, plus a lazy river and a large snorkelling pool with giant rays and other fish swimming around you plus an adjoining pool containing sharks which is made to appear part of the same pool as you.
Kennedy Space Center is impressive, but for airboat rides I'd recommend Old-Fashioned Airboat Rides on the St.John's River - they have smaller boats (6 pax not the 20-seater barges you'll get at Boggy Creek etc) and altogether more personal and less touristy. Plus the boats are powered by a big-block chevy and the pilot looks like a refugee from ZZ Top - what's not to like?
http://www.airboatrides.com/
Kennedy Space Center is impressive, but for airboat rides I'd recommend Old-Fashioned Airboat Rides on the St.John's River - they have smaller boats (6 pax not the 20-seater barges you'll get at Boggy Creek etc) and altogether more personal and less touristy. Plus the boats are powered by a big-block chevy and the pilot looks like a refugee from ZZ Top - what's not to like?
http://www.airboatrides.com/
Bluebarge said:
I'd also recommend Discovery Cove - not cheap, but all your meals are included so it's not too bad; you get to swim with a dolphin, there's a stingray pool where you walk in the pool with the rays and can feed them, plus a lazy river and a large snorkelling pool with giant rays and other fish swimming around you plus an adjoining pool containing sharks which is made to appear part of the same pool as you.
Kennedy Space Center is impressive, but for airboat rides I'd recommend Old-Fashioned Airboat Rides on the St.John's River - they have smaller boats (6 pax not the 20-seater barges you'll get at Boggy Creek etc) and altogether more personal and less touristy. Plus the boats are powered by a big-block chevy and the pilot looks like a refugee from ZZ Top - what's not to like?
http://www.airboatrides.com/
Plus the bird avery, it is a good day and you need to book asap as there is a limit to the number of people they let in, in one day.Kennedy Space Center is impressive, but for airboat rides I'd recommend Old-Fashioned Airboat Rides on the St.John's River - they have smaller boats (6 pax not the 20-seater barges you'll get at Boggy Creek etc) and altogether more personal and less touristy. Plus the boats are powered by a big-block chevy and the pilot looks like a refugee from ZZ Top - what's not to like?
http://www.airboatrides.com/
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