It’s a known fact that Orlando is Florida’s tourist capital and that the top three most visited tourist attractions in Orlando are Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando.
Many first time visitors assume the theme parks are the only worthwhile things to do while visiting the area and they couldn’t be more wrong.
As a recent Orlando transplant I’ve come to discover some fun and interesting places to visit not just in Orlando, but in the Central Florida area in general.
DISNEY SPRINGS
Let’s kick off the list with a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, Disney Springs. This is one of my favorite places to go when I want a dose of Disney magic but outside the parks. You can plan an entire day here and have the best time.
You’ll find lots of entertainment like an AMC movie theater, a bowling alley, an amphibious car ride, a hot air balloon ride and more.
Disney Springs is divided into four neighborhoods: Town Center, The Landing, The Marketplace and West Side. Within these neighborhoods are over 100 retail stores and over 65 dining options. Shopping includes many popular fast fashion brands, athletic wear brands, luxury boutiques, health and beauty brands as well as Disney merch retailers like World of Disney and DisneyStyle.
My favorite neighborhood is Town Center followed by West Side. I especially love Town Center for the gorgeous wall murals located along the bus depot walkway. Speaking of the bus depot, new strict rules have been established recently for riding the Disney resort buses from Disney Springs.
My blog post from July 4th details all the changes you need to be aware of. If you’re not familiar with the new rule, get up to date here.
The food options at Disney Springs are endless, especially for snacks and treats. A classic option is none other than Dole Whip.
Another top choice is Gideons Bakehouse, known for their delicious cakes and cookie of the month options. If you’re a fan of whimsical, dark, Victorian gothic esthetic you’ve got to take a look around inside.
Let’s talk about the aroma inside the shop – WOW! Prepare to be enveloped in the sweet, rich, mouthwatering scent of baked goodness. I’ve heard rumors claiming the aroma is artificially produced but I have no proof, so I’ll just continue enjoying it while assuming it comes from baking everything onsite.
A few highly rated restaurants to consider are Ragland Road, Boathouse, Pizza Ponte and Summerhouse on the Lake.
I-DRIVE
International Drive, more commonly known as I-Drive, is a major road in the heart of Orlando’s tourist district. It spans 11.5 miles but only a two mile or so stretch is where to find relevant places of interest like hotels, motels, restaurants, bars, clubs, arcades, museums and more.
Icon Park is the most popular destination on I-drive. At 200 ft tall you can’t miss Icon Park’s crown jewel, the Orlando Eye, even from a distance. Inside you’ll find a mix of over 50 retailers, restaurants and other attractions including a theater, Madame Toussads Orlando, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium and the Orlando Starflyer.
I have yet to explore Icon Park but from what I’ve seen online and passing through the area I can tell there’s lots of shopping and activities that I would enjoy.
Besides Icon Park, many stand alone attractions along the strip bring in lots of traffic from toursits and locals. Finding something to do that the entire family can enjoy is easy. Just one block South of Icon Park is a beautifully landscaped mini golf course called Pirates Cove.
Some attractions along I-Drive are thrill based including indoor skydiving, go-cart racing and even helicopter tours.
One of my personal favorite shops to visit off I-Drive is Chocolate Kingdom. This is a family owned and operated gourmet chocolatier specializing in the most delicious, high quality chocolate candy and treats I’ve ever tasted. This is a chocolate lover’s dream and honestly this place is so cool that it deserves its own blog post feature. Mental note made ✅ so be on the lookout for one in the near future.
COCOA BEACH PIER
Cocoa Beach Pier is a popular beach destination on Florida’s east coast. It’s an easy 48 mile drive, roughly 45 minutes from the Orlando Int’l Airport. It’s common to incorporate a beach day during a long central Florida vacation and Cocoa Beach Pier is an ideal beach to consider for a few reasons.
Besides being easy to get to, Cocoa Beach Pier has all the conveniences you’d need for the perfect beach day.
Despite being an Orlando local I don’t take my own beach equipment with me. I find it easier to invest $50 to rent beach loungers and umbrellas onsite. For me it’s a small price to pay for convenience and simplicity. Sadly I don’t visit the beach often enough, which is another reason renting works best for me.
THE DINOSAUR STORE & MUSEUM
One of the highlights of my day trip to Cocoa Beach was exploring the Dinosaur Store & Museum. Not only did I get to relax and unwind at the beach, I got to learn so many new and interesting things about dinosaurs, natural minerals and stones and ancient civilizations.
The Dinosaur Store & Museum is a quick five minute drive south of Cocoa Beach Pier. You can easily walk there as well.
You can learn what to expect on a day trip to Cocoa Beach Pier as well as details on visiting the Dinosaur Store and Museum here.
Honorable mention to another related video where I took a day trip to a different nearby beach, Alan Sheppard Park. You can watch that detailed video here.
Destinations like these are a great way to take a much needed break from the theme parks. We all know that long theme park days can be hectic, chaotic, grueling and downright stressful. Alternative vacation activities offer just as much entertainment and excitement as do the theme parks, just in a different way.
Keep in mind these destinations merely scratch the surface of awesome places to visit in central Florida. I’m working on a part two to this post so be sure to follow along for more places to add to your must do list on your next visit to Orlando.
Mo Goes | The Blog 