Many travellers never venture beyond the walls of Orlando’s famous theme parks, but those who do will discover an exciting range of experiences in the Florida city that just might surprise them.
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Ride the Wheel at ICON Park
The moment it opened, this gigantic Ferris wheel became an instant Orlando icon. Take a sunset ride on this engineering wonder and marvel at the panoramic views below.
Look for gators
You don’t have to go all the way to the Everglades to see alligators. Just 30 minutes from town, you can take an airboat tour that will let you see gators and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Ride an amphicar
At the Boathouse Restaurant in Disney Springs, a sprawling shopping, dining and entertainment district, you can take a one-of-a-kind tour of the nearby lake in an Amphicar, a 1960s-era amphibious car of which only a few hundred remain in the world.
Enjoy fine dining
Foodies love Orlando’s restaurant scene. It attracts celebrity chefs from around the world and is home to some local chefs who are making names for themselves. Whether you prefer Southern barbecue, Asian fusion or farm-to-fork, just about any type of cuisine you can think of can be found here.
Go up in a hot air balloon
The Wheel at ICON Park is not the only way to get a bird’s eye view of the city of Orlando and the area around it. Visitors can experience a sunrise ride in a hot-air balloon that transports them above the ground at a leisurely pace.
See the fishes
SEA LIFE Aquarium is the perfect place to bring the kids on a rainy day or on those days that it’s so hot that you want to do something inside. This colourful aquarium is a lot of fun and children won’t even notice that it’s educational.
Get close to celebrities
Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum lets you get up close to their celebrity figures and you will be amazed at their resemblance to the real thing and may even be surprised at just how tall (or short) some of them are. Selfies are encouraged!
Peek into the backyards of the rich
For a century, the swanky Orlando neighbourhood of Winter Garden was the winter home to many rich, northern industrialists. Their stately waterfront homes are still favoured by the rich and famous and ordinary folks can get a peek by taking a boat tour that passes by their properties.
Go to a show
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a stunning, state-of-the-art concert venue that hosts live music, Broadway musicals, theatre, comedy and much more. Check their schedule to see what’s playing when you are in town.
Admire some Tiffany glass
The glass masterpieces of Louis Tiffany are preserved at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Garden. It is the most important collections of this Art Nouveau master best known for his colourful lamps.
