10 Things to Do Besides Theme Parks in Orlando

Considered the tourist center of Orlando, the mile-long International Drive offers a wide variety of activities. You will find Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Aquarium, America’s Great Escape Game and the ICON Orlando – formerly the Orlando Eye. ICON Orlando is an air-conditioned, 40-story tall Ferris wheel in the center of I-Drive. It provides the best view of the city. Many themed restaurants, bars and stores also line the street. International Drive has often been deemed the ‘Vegas Strip’ of Orlando because of its lively nightlife and colorful appearance.

Both Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group have shows in Orlando, Florida. Cirque du Soleil’s famous La Nouba is located at Disney Springs, just 10 minutes from Magic Kingdom. This famed theatrical production features acrobats, gymnasts and vocal performers. Blue Man Group, on the other hand, is at Universal Orlando’s Citywalk. This show combines the 3 famous blue-faced characters with vibrant instruments, music, video and lighting.

Some of the best shopping in Orlando can be found at The Florida Mall and The Mall at Millenia. The Florida Mall is a large shopping complex with over 270 shops, 2 separate food courts, and various department stores. The Mall at Millenia is considered an upscale shopping mall, featuring many clothes, jewelry and electronic stores. It’s located right off Interstate-4, around 10 minutes from International Drive.

For those who love bargain shopping, the International Premium Outlets and the Vineland Premium Outlet are great choices. Both offer popular clothing stores such as Nike, Levi and Ralph Lauren at heavily discounted rates. The outlet malls are located at opposite ends of International Drive.

The Harry P. Leu Gardens offers over 50 acres of landscaped flower gardens and lakes. Various learning activities and programs take place throughout the day, located mainly in the Leu House Museum. The Garden House Welcome Center is also the permanent home to a variety of artworks and rotating exhibits. Tours of the museum are available with a guide every half hour, while tours of the gardens are self-guided.

Located on scenic Thornton Park, Orlando's Arts District features various museums and galleries as well as unique boutiques and restaurants. It’s also home to the famous Museum of Art and Lake Eola. The farmer’s market takes place on Sundays at Lake Eola. It hosts local merchants selling everything from organic green juices to homemade soy candles. Swan-shaped pedalboats can be rented at Lake Eola for a fun, 30-minute outing.

Spend the day wakeboarding, water skiing or kneeboarding at this professional watersports complex. Orlando Watersports Complex offers both beginner-level and pro-level courses, as well as private lessons with licensed instructors. They use a state-of-the-art cable system, allowing you to learn the movements needed for each sport before trying it on the course. The complex offers a ‘Get Up Guarantee’, ensuring that anyone who isn’t able to stand up on the wakeboard the first day gets a second day at the park for free.

Joining an airboat tour is one of the best ways to see what the Florida Everglades has to offer. Most tours last about 1 hour and cover a vast amount of distance, showcasing various Florida animal species along the way. Many airboat tour companies also stop to feed alligators and watch elusive bird species. Among the many companies available are Boggy Creek Airboat Rides and Captain Jack’s Airboat Tours, both located approximately 10 minutes from Walt Disney World.

The Orlando Science Center is a one-of-a-kind learning facility that features interactive exhibits, exciting science experiments, and the world’s largest Digistar planetarium. The private museum displays interesting exhibits such as Nature Works, which lets you get up-close and personal with various reptiles. Dino Digs is where you step back into the prehistoric age. Located atop the center is the Crosby Observatory, housing Florida’s largest publicly accessible telescope.