ORLANDO AREA - Help re non theme park things to do

Hi everyone
I would like to know if anyone knows of any good things to do in the Orlando area that does not involve a theme park. I have been to them all and need to find other things to do. Been going to Florida since 1980 and stay in Kissimmee. Going 21st May 2013 for 3 weeks, so plenty of time , but I like to plan ahead. Only the wife and I going this time hence not wanting to go to Theme parks. Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks for reading.

David

Hello

Celebration - nice for a wonder.
St Augustine - a bit further out of town up the Atlantic coast but worth a visit.

Have you been down to Cape Canaveral? Or Discovery Cove?

Would you have time (and inclination!) to go down to the Everglades - would highly recommend the twilight kayak tour in the Everglades. You literally do paddle with the 'gators.

Depending on how far you wish to travel - would a trip up to St Augustines be too far? With the lighthouse, the old world charm, it is worth a trip. NB - Just refreshed and noticed Luke12 mentioned this so I do wholeheartedly agree.

Or Daytona Beach? We took a trip around the racetrack which was amazing!

In one of the state parks (I forget which one but can find out!) you can swim with manatees.

Mount Dora is good for a day trip.

An evening out at a Crabby Bills is always good fun.

If you like a little adventure, there is Forever Florida (ziplines and thrills etc), I would recommend this.

Golf/Spa day?

Another thing we do is to go on the discount voucher sites or something like living social - you'll find some fairly random things on there but at the same time, might offer suggestions you wouldn't else thing off.

Plus money saving coupons! |:)

I can Recommend spirit of the swamp airboat rides and Fishing in Clearwater with Above average charters, also enjoyed a trip to a shooting range.

Clearwater Beach for a morning ,calling in the Seminole Hard Rock Casino (Tampa ) on the way back ,then Manny's on the 27 Haines city for en evening meal , or any combination of the above .

Homossassa Springs is where you can see the mannatees and a friendly hippo! I also agree with the others - St Augustine is very pretty and worth a trip. If you are into antiques then Mount Dora is definitely somewhere to go. Also consider going down to St Petersburg for the day - again very pretty with good restaurants and the Dali museum. It is worth going just to have the experience of driving over the massively long bridge to get there!
Hope you enjoy yourself

There's Tarpon Springs too, a little bit of Greece in Florida!

Sarasota is lovely, a nice walk around St Armand's circle looking at all the art shops, bit of lunch then a short drive to Siesta Key - beautiful beach! Worth the drive alone.

[Neil]

There is an awful lot to do in *Florida* without the parks, in the main Orlando area itself, not so much. If you look at most of the suggestions given so far, I don't think any are in the main Orlando/Kissimmee area, so I do wonder if staying in that area is really the best choice given you don't want to do the parks now.

We go to Florida and Orlando a lot, and we stay in the main park type area, but while we certainly don't do the parks every day and spend a lot of time in other parts of Florida also, we still do enjoy going to parks for a few hours some days, so it makes sense to use that area as our base, however if were weren't doing that parks we would choice somewhere down the coast instead as it would make much more sense.

Yes I thought the same as Neil when I read your post, if you don't want any theme parks then why go to Orlando for 3wks because there really is not a great deal around the Orlando area apart from the parks and shopping.

However like you, we've done all the theme parks and are now totally 'parked out'. But MCO is a convenient airport to fly into if you're going to venture northwards. St Augustine is a wonderful place with lots to do and importantly it has a fantastic quiet coastline with several State Parks to explore.

If you going South then head towards the Sarasota & Naples area, endless things to do in that area too.

We've toured North, South, East & West Florida over the past 25+ years and there are still many more places we intend to explore. Plan well & enjoy

Agree with Hev - St Augustine is FABULOUS. We have spent some time there over the past couple of years and have a booking there for a few days next May. Closer to Kissimmee, you could try the Bok Tower Gardens or Harry P Leu (sp?) Gardens or, further afield but still drivable from Kissimmee, Silver Springs near Ocala. We have been travelling to Florida for the past 20 years or so and have never been short of things to do. So much so in fact that, these days, we very rarely 'do' the parks, unless we have any grandchildren in tow. )

head for the west coast....as suggested sarasota/siesta key/ st armands is worth a visit. siesta is voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world.

further south is Boca Grande a quiet island with great dolphin watching and beautiful beaches

Mote marine, Ringling are other attractions to look at

If you want to do some early Xmas shopping or just buy clothes at very good prices visit this place.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17

Spent a lot there on my recent trip but the savings are very good and all the good names are there.

Thanks everyone for some great ideas. I use a 3 week timeshare in kissimmee hence MCO, Can use any weeks of my choice but like it there in May/June.
I will read your ideas and see which ones the wife likes. Have to get her approval as most men know ( sorry ladies but true )
I am willing to visit all over and stay overnight so no problem with your ideas. St Augustine sounds good,will ckeck it out on google
Thanks again everyone

David

If you travel down to the Sarasota area, keep on going and definitely visit the Myakka River Sate Park. It is one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. The "Florida Wild and Scenic Myakka River" flows through 57 square miles of wetlands, prairies and woodlands.

Take a look here:- http://www.myakkariver.org/index.php

Definitely worth a visit, I can recommend the Airboat river tour, the river is teaming with Alligators and the very interesting land train with full running commentary telling the story of settlers, prairies and hammocks

How about following the Man V Food trail we did that this year for a bit of fun. We visited Yoders Amish Restaurant and had a lovely meal. Munchies 4:20 Cafe which is just that, a cafe which opens at 4:20pm and closes at 4:20am, and the other one is The Old Salty Dog a traditional pub with good food. You can google all about those too. y)

There truly is sooo much to do in Florida, but you do need to move around a bit away from the Theme Park areas to see it all

thelaceys

thelaceys