Orlando recommendations for day trips etc

[philv]

Hi,

I’m off to orlando with 14 year old daughter next week.

We’ve been several times before and ben to all tne parcs, water parcs and tne space center.

We’ll do those again.

But can anyone recommend day trips anywhere?
Are tne east coast and west coast interesting to walk around with a 14 year old?
Anywhere else?

We won’t have a car, so we will use uber or organised day trips.

Thanks for any recs.

[The Moose]

To hang out, the Gulf coast is my preference over the Atlantic. Water will likely be warmer and beaches likely calmer.

It’s pretty warm right now and humid as heck. If you don’t mind that, it’s super pleasant outside especially in the shade...

Edited by The Moose on Thursday 4th July 20:28

[foobies]

Clearwater Beach is a nice run out on the Gulf of Mexico.

Then across to the East you’ve got Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach.

Plenty of beaches to go at!

[Matt Harper]

Not having a car will restrict you somewhat - unless you are happy to pay a lot for Uber/Lyft - some of whom will not want to take on those long drives. Clearwater (Gulf Coast) is 90 miles from Orlando. Cocoa Beach is 60 miles.

If you stick to more local trips and activities:

Boggy Creek Airboats on Lake Toho
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Florida's Natural Citrus Tour - Lake Wales
Bok Tower Gardens - Lake Wales
Cassadega - wierd spiritualist town - full of psychics, palm-readers and associated nut-jobs (all harmless)
Orlando Speedworld - Bithlo - drag racing every weekend
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Paddling Center at Shingle Creek - Canoe/Kayak rental

[DoctorX]

Matt Harper said:

Not having a car will restrict you somewhat - unless you are happy to pay a lot for Uber/Lyft - some of whom will not want to take on those long drives. Clearwater (Gulf Coast) is 90 miles from Orlando. Cocoa Beach is 60 miles.

If you stick to more local trips and activities:

Boggy Creek Airboats on Lake Toho
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Florida's Natural Citrus Tour - Lake Wales
Bok Tower Gardens - Lake Wales
Cassadega - wierd spiritualist town - full of psychics, palm-readers and associated nut-jobs (all harmless)
Orlando Speedworld - Bithlo - drag racing every weekend
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Paddling Center at Shingle Creek - Canoe/Kayak rental

I liked Boggy Creek, didn’t see many gators (think the night trips are best) but a good time was had and a decent BBQ restaurant.

[belleair302]

Busch Gardens for animals and Roller Coasters in Tampa. Go to Mt Dora and see the Speed Museum which isn't bad and then go biking on the epic off road tracks there. How about sailing on Lake Eustis or visit the Lakeland Air Museum. Home of Americas most amazing annual fly in and out display.

[Matt Harper]

belleair302 said:

visit the Lakeland Air Museum. Home of Americas most amazing annual fly in and out display.

That is a great call belleair302 - Kermit Weeks is something of a Central FL icon - but Lakeland from Orlando is a $100 round-trip by Uber.
I was going to mention the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum, up at Ocala - but I figured the cost of a cab ride up there would rule it out.

[98elise]

Clearwater and a trip on the sea screamer dolphin watching

https://youtu.be/ywcjHbnKu78

The west coast is a long way by Uber though.

[anonymous-user]

98elise said:

Clearwater and a trip on the sea screamer dolphin watching

https://youtu.be/ywcjHbnKu78

The west coast is a long way by Uber though.

Yup.

Would it be worth just hiring a car for a couple of days? How are you planning on getting to the space center etc?



Maybe Kennedy lay on some bus or something?

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 5th July 06:59

[EddieSteadyGo]

Worth going to Wild Florida as it isn't far from Orlando.

You can do an airboat ride, and often see alligators nesting in their natural habitat. They also have a collection of crocodiles in an enclosure which you can feed with sausages on a metal pole. Great for teenagers imo.

[Terzo123]

EddieSteadyGo said:

Worth going to Wild Florida as it isn't far from Orlando.

You can do an airboat ride, and often see alligators nesting in their natural habitat. They also have a collection of crocodiles in an enclosure which you can feed with sausages on a metal pole. Great for teenagers imo.

Wild Florida is great.

Wonderworks on international drive is also worth a visit, especially if it's on a wet day.

[bakerstreet]

Clearwater is worth a trip. Been there several times and the beach is quite nice.

AirBoat in the Everglades? Been many years since I went on the AirBoat trip, but I wouldn't bother hiring one. Maybe pay for a tour as you'll get a faster boat and won't have to attempt steering the thing. Incredibly loud!

What is she into? If its cars, then maybe a trip to Daytona. Think there is a museum there.

[AshVX220]

As you don't have a car you'll be fairly limited.

At the Kissimee Fair Ground area (can't remember the exact name) they have a huge classic car cruise every Saturday afternoon/evening.

Also, the Orlando wetlands, near Christmas, where you can just take a stroll around the lakes enjoying the wildlife and counting 'gators. We used to go there a lot for a nice stroll on a Sunday morning.

Just a short way further down highway 50 from Christmas is Midway airboats, which is where we went a few times. From now on the water level will be quite high and you won't see as many 'gators, it's better earlier in the year.

Someone mentioned Wakiwa springs, this is great, hire a canoe and paddle down the river until you get to the "party island", stop there for lunch/drinks and paddle back. Also in a similar vain is Blue Springs, a few Manatees here and they have a little boat ride that you can do too.

I lived there for a couple of years (got back last October), feel free to PM me if you want any other tips.

[BevR]

Matt Harper said:

Not having a car will restrict you somewhat - unless you are happy to pay a lot for Uber/Lyft - some of whom will not want to take on those long drives. Clearwater (Gulf Coast) is 90 miles from Orlando. Cocoa Beach is 60 miles.

If you stick to more local trips and activities:

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Paddling Center at Shingle Creek - Canoe/Kayak rental

I really enjoyed Shingle Creek, its so really easy to get to. - Trip Advisor

Wekiwa Springs State Park Is a little further away but worth hiring a car for.

Edited by BevR on Friday 5th July 12:36

[philv]

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful.

The cayaking/canoeing sound interesting.
I think we will definitely give that a go.

I don’t drive anymore so clearwater probably a little far.
Maybe the other coast .

[philv]

Is winter park interesting to walk around as well?
Nice places to get a little bit to eat etc.

[98elise]

AshVX220 said:

As you don't have a car you'll be fairly limited.

At the Kissimee Fair Ground area (can't remember the exact name) they have a huge classic car cruise every Saturday afternoon/evening.

Also, the Orlando wetlands, near Christmas, where you can just take a stroll around the lakes enjoying the wildlife and counting 'gators. We used to go there a lot for a nice stroll on a Sunday morning.

Just a short way further down highway 50 from Christmas is Midway airboats, which is where we went a few times. From now on the water level will be quite high and you won't see as many 'gators, it's better earlier in the year.

Someone mentioned Wakiwa springs, this is great, hire a canoe and paddle down the river until you get to the "party island", stop there for lunch/drinks and paddle back. Also in a similar vain is Blue Springs, a few Manatees here and they have a little boat ride that you can do too.

I lived there for a couple of years (got back last October), feel free to PM me if you want any other tips.

You're thinking of the Kissimmee Old Town cruise. It's one thing we go to every time we're out here. Nice atmosphere and I like the old town area, even if its getting a bit more commercial these days.

We're in Orlando at the moment and went last week.

[Matt Harper]

philv said:

Is winter park interesting to walk around as well?
Nice places to get a little bit to eat etc.

Winter Park is a relatively affluent northern suburb of the Orlando metro. Weekends will be best for tourists, as the farmers market is in full swing. It's easily walkable, totally safe and has some extremely nice bars, cafes and restaurants, all within a tight geography.

The Scenic Lake Tour might sound a little shonky, but I recommend it wholeheartedly. Winter Park has a chain of lakes that are all inter-connected by canals, dug by the loggers who first settled the area. As a result, you could spend hours exploring them all. There are some spectacular lakefront properties and a lot of (recent) historical buildings relating to Rollins College and the academia attached to that institute.

In summary - yes, Winter Park is definitely worth a day out.

I've lived in this area for the thick end of 20 years, so feel free to get into specific Q&A - always happy to help if I can.

[PistonBroker]

98elise said:

You're thinking of the Kissimmee Old Town cruise. It's one thing we go to every time we're out here.

We're out there for our first time in August. Well, Mrs PB went in 1985 but I doubt anything's the same now.

Spotted this and definitely hoping to fit it in.

[98elise]

philv said:

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful.

The cayaking/canoeing sound interesting.
I think we will definitely give that a go.

I don’t drive anymore so clearwater probably a little far.
Maybe the other coast .

That's a shame, however the west coast is far superior to the east (IMO) even if it's cost more to get there.

Unfortunately the car is king in the USA. It's easier to drive to the hotel/restaurant next door than walk....and I'm not kidding!

One thing not mentioned yet is Downtown Disney and Universal City Walk. Both are shops bars restaurant area's. Disney is separate to their parks, but City Walk is effectively the entrance area to the Universal theme parks.

I would do Downtown Disney during the day, then head up to City Walk early evening

Edited by 98elise on Friday 5th July 16:44