50 Unique Things To Do Around Orlando, Florida
View the World’s Best Bioluminescence
Did you know that you can see bioluminescence just outside of Orlando? Go on a Bioluminescence kayaking tour and watch as the water lights up with blue and green bioluminescent organisms. For the most spectacular view, try to get on a Clear Kayak Tour – they sell out in summer, so book early!
Ride On ‘The Wheel’ – The Orlando Eye
Go on this giant ferris wheel to view Orlando from up high. You can see sights such as Disney and Universal from up here. Enjoy a drink while relaxing 400 feet in the sky. Check out The Wheel at ICON Park.
Visit Lake Eola and Take Out a Swan Boat For a Ride
Lake Eola is a place where you can take a leisurely stroll, go to a festival, go shopping or eat, or spend some time on the water itself on their swan-shaped boats. Enjoy a nice time paddling around the lake and looking at the real swans that call this lake their home.
Go to a Video Game Bar
Located in the heart of Orlando, Player 1 Video Game Bar offers a night of drinking and games. Play either some classic arcade games or newer video games. You do need to be over 21 to visit, and they are open daily from 4pm to 2am.
Swim with Dolphins and Marine Life at Discovery Cove
Discovery Cove is a lesser known ‘theme park’, but it’s still full of magic. Swim with dolphins and snorkel through a coral reef habitat. You also get unlimited food and drink at the park – what’s not to love?
For Reals?! Try Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Fun for children and adults, walk through exhibits full of the strange and unusual. If you’re looking for something truly unique, you’ll want to check this out!
Golf Around Gators
At Lost Caverns Adventure Golf, the whole family can enjoy some mini-golfing. As a unique bonus, they also have gators that you can feed after you’re done playing!
Visit the Central Florida Zoo
Spend some time on the wild side by spending the day with the animals at Central Florida Zoo. They also have botanical gardens, a splash pad, and offer aerial adventures.
Spend a Day On The Titanic
Go back in time and visit the Titanic with artifacts from the real ship. The exhibit has over 200 items that were recovered from the wreckage. Take a tour through the exhibit as if you were an original passenger and even leave with your own boarding pass.
Visit Wonderworks – It’s Upside Down!
If you’ve driven through Orlando before, you’ve probably seen this iconic upside down building. The inside of this building is full of endless fun with six different wonder zones that they say combine education and entertainment.
Take a Private Airboat Ride
With Spirit of The Swamp Airboat Rides, speed through Florida’s swamps on a private airboat while viewing the beautiful scenery, including the alligators and other wildlife that call it home.
Kayak Along with Dolphins & Manatees
Kayaking is a staple Florida recreational activity, and for good reason. There’s always something to see when kayaking on our waters. Take a Dolphin & Manatee tour with BK Adventure and get the opportunity to see pods of hunting dolphins and lazy, relaxing manatees, as well as a variety of birds.
Spend An Evening at the ICEBAR
Selling a variety of alcoholic drinks, this novelty bar is kept at below freezing temperatures. Don’t worry – once you walk in you will be handed parkas and gloves, and they have a fire lounge for when you’re done with the cold. Make sure to check out the many ice sculptures they have displayed. Check out ICEBAR!
Learn the Flying Trapeze at Circus School
Take a flying trapeze or aerial skills class at the Orlando Circus School to see if you have what it takes to be in the circus! They also offer several childrens classes.
Throw a Hatchet at the Hatchet House
Visit Stumpy’s Hatchet House and get your workout in by doing some axe throwing. They also have Giant Jenga to play! Guests do need to be 18 or older to participate.
Tour the ‘Chocolate Kingdom’
Take a tour at the Chocolate Kingdom and learn just how chocolate is made! Plus, you have the opportunity to make your own custom chocolate bar, and of course sample the goods!
Visit the Bok Tower Gardens
The Bok Tower Gardens are a hidden gem to get away from the bustling energy of Orlando and enjoy some relaxing time strolling through the gardens. The highlight of this visit is the tall Bok Tower.
Take a Balloon Ride
Cross this offer your bucket list while viewing the city from up high! See all the sights Orlando has to offer, including seeing Disney World from sky view.
Have the Ultimate Adventure with Revolution Adventures
At Revolution Adventures, there’s things for everyone: ride an ATV, practice your archery or shooting, go bass fishing, and more. Located on 230 acres, there’s plenty to do here.
Do the ‘Crayola Experience’
Perfect for younger children, the Crayola Experience has an activity studio, adventure lab, playground, and more. While here, kids are able to let their creativity shine through!
Go Indoor Skydiving
At iFLY Orlando, experience the feeling of skydiving indoors! The best part is they allow children as young as 3 years old and have no upper age limit, so it’s perfect for the whole family.
Go On the World’s Tallest Swing Ride
The Orlando Starflyer is the world’s tallest swing ride at a height of 450 feet. Feel the thrill of being high above everyone while going up to 45mph!
Visit the World’s Largest McDonald’s
This is a fun, quick pit stop for the family to enjoy their extended menu, including pasta and Belgian waffles, as well as play in their large arcade that holds over 100 games.
Enter if You Dare! The Escape Room
Orlando has several escape rooms, such as The Escape Game Orlando .Try your hand at solving the puzzle and escaping one of these rooms, including a room about doing a heist and a prison break mission!
Spend an Afternoon in Old Town
A hidden gem, Old Town is full of small, local shops and restauraunts and fun rides including a carousel and ferris wheel. They also often host events, such as farmers markets and car shows.
Take a Drive to the Kennedy Space Center
For those visiting Central Florida, the Kennedy Space Center is a must do! Get an up close view of everything that goes into sending a rocket to space.
Feed a Giraffe at Giraffe Ranch
At Giraffe Ranch, you’ll not only find giraffes, but otters, lemurs, rhinos, and more! Tour the ranch by vehicle, segway, or if you’re feeling adventurous, by camel!
Live the NBA Experience
Located in Disney Springs, the NBA Experience is perfect for any basketball fan. Experience what it’s like to be a professional basketball player, from doing drills to being in a championship.
Visit the Orlando Science Center
If your children love science, or you’re hoping to inspire a love for science in them, visit the Orlando Science Center. Learn about space, nature (including Florida’s ecosystems), dinosaurs, and more!
Solve a Mystery At a Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show
Play amateur detective for a night at Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show. This show will keep you laughing as well while you try to figure out who the criminal is!
Visit Legoland
Legoland is a great theme park option with plenty to do. Go on the more than fifty
rides, spend some time at the water park, and of course, admire all the Lego
sculptures!
Go to the Orlando Museum of Art
If you’re an art enthusiast, the Orlando Museum of Art is a great pick. They have both permanent collections as well as continuously changing temporary exhibits, so there’s always something new. They also offer interactive programs for children and adults.
Enjoy the Wekiwa Springs State Park
Swim at the Wekiwa Springs, where the clear water is at 72 degrees all year round. You can also go kayaking, hiking, camping, and more at this beautiful state park.
Get Back to Nature Harry P. Leu Gardens
Visit these beautiful botanical gardens that is 50 acres large. They also often host ehxibits and events, such as movie nights and concerts.
See a Show at The Dr. Phillip’s Performing Arts Center
There is always something going on at Dr. Phillip’s. Here, you can see a ballet, watch a concert, attend a broadway musical, and more.
Eat Up On a Food Tour
If you want to try out all the different foods the city has to offer, check out Orlando Food Tours. Have Orlando locals show you the best places to eat, starting as low as $40 for six stops.
Get Spooked at Spook Hill
Spook Hill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a fun optical illusion to visit. This hill is called a gravity hill, and makes it appear as though your car is defying gravity while going up hill by itself. Make sure to check out the signs explaining how this area is believed to be haunted.
Meet the Cutest Faces at The Cat Cafe
If you’re a cat lover, the Orlando Cat Cafe is for you. This cafe has adoptable cats from the SPCA for you to love, and you can of course grab a coffee and a snack from the cafe.
Experience ‘The Holy Land’
The Holy Land Experience offers live shows and experiences that aim to recreate stories from the bible and bring it to life. They also offer an interactive play area for children.
Shop at The Florida Mall
Be prepared to shop ’til you drop at The Florida Mall. With nearly 300 stores and restaurants, there’s something here for every shopper. The mall also features the Florida Hotel for those needing a multi-day shopping experience, and for kids – The Crayola Experience!
Visit the Jack Kerouac House
Kerouac called Orlando his home for a short period in the 1950s. This home is now controlled by The Kerouac Project of Orlando, who works to support writers, local and nonlocal. Visit the Kerouac house to get inspired and maybe stop by during a reading event.
Stroll Through Universal’s CityWalk
Whether or not you visit the theme parks, CityWalk is an enjoyable way to spend an evening. They have plenty of shops, restaurants, and even entertainment such as golfing and a movie theater.
Take a Boat Ride Through Winter Park
With Scenic Boat Tours, you can take a boat ride through Winter Park, including through it’s canals. After your tour, make sure to spend some time exploring the beautiful area of Winter Park.
Visit The Orange County Regional History Center
If you’re interested in learning more about Central Florida’s history, this is perfect for you. This center is associated with the Smithsonian and offers many exhibits in partnership with them. The museum also explores 12,000 years of Florida’s past.
See a Drive-In Movie
Silver Moon Drive-In has been running for the past 70 years! They are often playing both old and current movies, including new releases.They are open seven nights a week.
Visit The Disney Wilderness Preserve
With over 11,000 acres, there is plenty to see here. Over 1,000 species of plants and animals call this preserve their home! Spend some time hiking and wildlife searching. Find out more about the wildlife preserve here.
See Snakes at the Reptile World Serpentarium
See snakes, reptiles, and even birds at the Reptile World Sepentarium. They even have venom shows for their venomous snakes!
Go to the Aquarium
The Sea Life Orlando Aquarium has a 360 degree ocean tunnel that allows you to see sharks, stingrays, and more. You can also feed fish, touch a sea star, meet a rescued sea turtle, and more.
Take a Helicopter Tour
Orlando Heli-Tours offers various options to see different areas of Orlando, including flying over the theme parks. They have 5 stars on TripAdvisor with plenty of good reviews about the fun rides!
Visit Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds, touted as the World’s Greatest Wax Museum, is plenty of fun. Take pictures with replicas of some of your favorite stars and characters!
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