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We've got 11 days in Florida coming up (sun!! woo hoo!) courtesy of my inlaws. We've got two children (5 and 7) and a 7 day pass for Disneyworld, so that is the obvious main reason for going. We're also planning a trip to the Space Centre for atleast 1 day.
What else should we do? All I want is a decent, heart attack inducing burger and to see a wild alligator.
Any good places off the beaten track? Something we wouldn't think of? I want the kids to see something of America beyond Disney...any ideas?
Cheers.
So, it it really the cultural vacuum that I assumed it was? 😉
(bump!)
The area around Orlando is very much built on the theme parks. Sorry I can't recommend anywhere in that particular area.
But if you want to see a wild alligator you will need to find somewhere with swampy freshwater habitat, like a big golf course, or go towards the coast. The Everglades are a bit far! You could drive to the Crystal River / Homosassa area and snorkel with manatees and have a look if there are other wildlife tours available. And on the east coast there are some beautiful coral (white sand) "keys" or islands with mangrove bayou on the landward side. Though not cheap to stay over at, they are absolutely lovely.
Also I would expect there to be loads of watersports available on the many lakes. And the US are big on fishing.
You have to take the boat trip in to Disney with kids that age so you get the full wow of seeing the castle and everything, they will love all the parades and stay til the end to see the fireworks. You will see wild alligators if you take a trip to Kennedy Space centre, there are dozens of them along the side of the road as you approach Kennedy, a good day out for kids that age too.
Cirque du soleil at downtown Disney is amazing . A bit pricey but well worth it
Early morning balloon ride was pretty spectacular. From memory it was a 5 am start from a pretty central location. Once in the air we saw the sun rise over Disney and then flew low over the swamps and saw a couple of gators. My lad (6 at the time, now 18) still talks about it!
Winterpark, (a town, not a theme park) , very close to Orlando, is worth a visit, very pretty, good restaurants, nice shops, lots of parks, a very nice college, decent museums, bike friendly. Most un-Florida like, and a great antidote to the theme parks.
Thanks folks. Looking forward to it now!
5 guys burgers up the top of I drive...epic burgers and a metric shedload of chips.
For boatrides theres a fab place we went to last year about 45 mins drive from orlando...well worth the treck.
This time we skipped disney and did universal and busch gardens...but our kids are older.
Oh...and you must do cheasecake factory
Biggest tip i can give is get up early and hit the parks before the coaches arrive. Then chill out at lunch and go back in the evening.
Oh...and take a camera. Pics will be with you for a lifetime!
When the family got "themed out" I took the opportunity to hire a Harley Sportster for an afternoon and it was brilliant, nearly as good as Universal Studios