[Closed] Things to do in Florida that don't involve Mickey Mouse

Humidity in the summer means anything like running or biking is unpleasant

Assuming you are near the theme parks;

Kennedy Space Centre (8yr old may find that interesting)
Daytona Beach (never been so might be rubbish)
Golf

If you can take 2-3 days out drive down to the Keys

Whereabouts in Florida are you heading? If it's Orlando, you may well be dissapointed on the MTB front, and I wouldn't personally recommend running either. Sorry, but Orlando is what it is. Having said that, if you're driving whilst there, you're only a couple of hours drive from some fantastic beaches, etc.

Kennedy +1 for you AND kids.
Would also suggest a trip down the florida keys and also the Everglades. Avoid Miami. Crap city IMO.

Kennedy for me. Even better if the family and kids don't like it- "This is how I felt at Disneyland, so shut up and pretend to enjoy it"

Things to do in Florida that don't involve Mickey Mouse

Minnie Mouse while Mickey's at work?

Take an Air boat trip around the Everglades
F'in Wild!

My inlaws live in Florida. There is, in essence, no good mountain biking in Florida. The road biking is OK, if flat and windy, and there are clubs that go out regularly. They used to live in Virginia and while I took a bike out there for the Blue Ridge Mountains I can't be bothered paying BA to cart my bike across the Atlantic for some mediocre biking.

There sadly also isn't a wild amount of stuff to do beyond the theme parks and riding an air boat. I've been twice now and short of eating donuts by the pool and taking the wife for her dentist/doctor/optician appointments I've not done anything particularly touristy. There's a cracking Salvador Dali museum in Tampa though, which is an impressive building with some impressive art if you're into that Surrealist stuff.

KSC is a must-visit. It's incredible.

Don't forget Busch Gardens if you like coasters.

Having done Florida a few times now, the best advice I can give you is to plan a day on, a day off in the parks. Otherwise you're all going to come home needing a holiday.

Yeah, head to KSC and take in the space centre. It is amazing. They even have alligators!

Other things? I know a couple of good shooting ranges in the FtL area and you can shoot python in the everglades if you have the right permit, but I only ever seem to go there for work...

Why would you shoot python?

They are an invasive species that have become unwelcome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_pythons_in_Florida

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I'll be part way through preparing for a marathon, so may check Strava to find some running loops (will need to escape my mum for at least a few hours, for both of our sanity!).
I assume Orlando in August will be a hot and sticky place to be, so I'll have to be up for 5am/6am runs?

Can only echo what Cougar said - theme park day, then day lazing/water park, preferably involving pool.
We went last summer, I went running most days, was fully soaked with sweat at 7am - night time temp can be 26C
Don't expect highbrow culture, and don't expect mountains!

Yep, Orlando in August will be very humid, so yes if you need to run you'll have to get up early. There are loads of resources for running (and cycling) off-road loops, they are called "trails" and are almost always tarmaced ("paved").

For day trips, within a few hours drive are KSC (as said) or the Caribbean coast, which has some lovely white sand beaches. Sanibel is probably horribly developed by now but there are a few state parks with beautiful beaches, shelling and snorkelling, some have rental bikes and kayaks (Cayo Costa, Honeymoon Island). Also you can snorkel with manatee at Crystal River, which is ~2 hours drive from Orlando.

/high5s stoner

@rugby, can I ask that you look into SeaWorld before visiting. They take dolphins from the Japanese city of Taiji where they do the massive cull. The recent movie Blackfish focused on the treatment of their killer whale which the film maker argues contributed to it's behaviour. I visited with my kids 20 years ago before I kew better but I would not go back again.

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cove_(film) ]The Cover (Taiji)[/url]
[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfish_(film) ]Blackfish[/url]

Take in a baseball game?

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=tb#y=2014&m=8&calendar=DEFAULT

Surfing on the Atlantic coast

Golf?

Isn't Florida one big golf course (apart from the Disney bits)?

Got talking to two guys from Florida over the weekend and they were saying how badly cyclists are treated in the event of an accident, poorly insured drivers, lack of concern by police and courts etc., so watch your back if you road cycle. The best day I had whilst in Orlando was when the family got "Themed Out" and I hired a Harley for the day, it was brilliant.

Try a day at Gatorland. (www.gatorland.com)
Steady day out, not far from the Kissimee end of the 192.

Theres a place just off the 192 that hires canoes with an electric outboard - gliding along a small river under the spanish moss spotting birds, frogs, drogonflies and gators is a lot more fun than getting deafened on an air-boat.

Kenedy space centre is a lot better than it used to be, I was astonished last time I was there.

I preferred the gulf coast to the Atlantic coast.

For your exercise, child entertainment and staying cool needs - Pool.

We went up to silver springs when I was a kid - it had a bit of a zoo, boat rides etc. - a bit more chilled out than a theme park.

I want a go in one of those crazy flat boats with the big fans, like on Gentle Ben.