So, how are your New Year resolutions coming along? Are you ready to give up anything or start a new fitness regime? How about eating healthier or donating time to a charity? Or what about resolving to see more of Orlando on your next visit?
We can certainly help with the latter, as the word is definitely spreading that our favourite holiday destination has more to offer than ever before, especially if you’d like to actually see the city and its more natural side. It remains a surprising fact that the vast majority of visitors never visit Orlando proper, its districts and communities, and vibrant suburbs like Winter Garden, Lake Nona and Clermont.
The area’s geography is partly to blame. Orlando International Airport is 15 miles south of the city itself (like Heathrow isn’t actually in London), and all the theme parks and other main attractions like International Drive are directly either west or south of the airport. That means most people simply go straight west to Disney or Universal and stay in the theme park “bubble” for the duration of their stay, not even realising they are missing most of the city.
But that is rapidly changing. The Visit Orlando tourism agency is increasingly highlighting the “other” side of this part of Central Florida and the media are starting to get the message. Authoritative travel gurus like Simon Calder have drawn attention to this alternative view of the place, notably with this video that provides a look at the downtown area, with its original style and places like beautiful Lake Eola Park, its signature fountain, artworks and swan paddle-boats.
And we are also here to offer our view of what makes Orlando special, and it definitely isn’t just Mickey and Co (as good as they are). Regular readers will already know we are keen to bang the drum for the area’s attractions outside the “bubble;” we have blogged about it at regular intervals, highlighting things like the natural attractions, the unique annual Magical Dining programme, and even this one about “Disney without the parks.”
It's also worth knowing that AttractionTickets.com feature quite a few of these more offbeat adventures and experiences right here on their main pages, including a trio of Driving Experiences, Airboat Rides, Bass Fishing (which Orlando is world famous for) and even the true all-American evening out of an Orlando Magic basketball game.
But, if you don’t really know what’s on offer in general terms, it might be a bit off-putting to try to figure it out on your own, so we thought we’d provide a quick thumbnail guide to The City Beautiful – which is officially 150 years old this year! – and how to “discover” it.
You can start by taking main motorway I-4 east to junction 83 for South Street, which brings you into the heart of downtown. You’ll find multi-storey car parks on Orange Avenue (the Plaza), W Pine Street (55 West) and E Central Boulevard (Library Garage). Once parked, most of the city is eminently walkable, or you can use the free Lymmo bus service around the area. You should also call into the Discover Downtown visitor centre at 201 Orange Avenue for more info and maps.
You should definitely visit the iconic Lake Eola Park, and try a paddle-boat (!), while also soaking up the unique arts around the lake and the general city vibe. There are also lots of restaurant and café choices nearby, especially along Central Boulevard where you’ll find the likes of Eola Wine Company, Foxtail Coffee and World of Beer. On your walking tour, be sure to look out for CityArts (which also boasts its own café), the excellent Regional History Center and world-class Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Once you have had your fill of downtown, we highly recommend getting back on I-4 east to Winter Park (junction 87, Fairbanks Avenue, turn right) and spending some time investigating the Park Avenue district. Here you’ll discover boutique shopping, a wonderful array of cafes and restaurants, the magnificent Morse Museum of American Art, and delightful Rollins College, with its special tribute to local celebrity Fred Rogers, from the popular Mister Rogers Neighborhood TV show (1968-2001). The other must-see element of Winter Park is the Scenic Boat Tour that runs from 10am-4pm, with one-hour voyages around the lakes and canals of the area, highlighting the wildlife and scenery – and the many multi-million-dollar mansions that line the lakeshore!
If you can take in both downtown and Winter Park, you will have seen a good chunk of the “real” Orlando, but there is plenty more to explore if you’re feeling intrepid. Head north from Winter Park and you’ll reach the pretty town of Sanford (the “former Celery Capital of the World”) on Lake Monroe (junction 101B), with its brick-paved streets, antique shops, cafes, breweries and cute Sanford Museum, as well as the fab St John’s Rivership, with daily lunch and dinner cruises along the historic St John’s River (Wed-Sun).
Once you add in a trip to Winter Garden and its highlight of the Plant Street Market (home to our local fave of the Crooked Can Brewing Company), or Mount Dora and its boat tours and boutique shopping, you can truly say you have “seen” Orlando and its many districts and suburbs. It’s an absolutely fascinating prospect and is definitely worth a day or two of your holiday. There’s more, of course, but we’ll save that for another day!
Have you visited any of Orlando’s other attractions? Give us your thoughts about them on the friendly AttractionTickets.com Community Facebook page, on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram
