A Day in Orlando Minus the Theme Parks
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Not surprisingly, there are many unique things to do in Orlando. Being the third largest city in Florida, it comes as no surprise that there are a plethora of attractions in and around the metro region including parks, unique local restaurants, museums, arcades, shows, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and more. Fortunately, many of these attractions are located indoors so you can escape the heat for a bit!
I lived in Tampa for several years and often drove to Orlando for the day to check underrated attractions that. are often overlooked by tourists You can easily visit Orlando for a week and not run out of fun things to do, whether or not you decide to visit one of the Disney or Universal parks.
Below I have listed a sample itinerary of fun things to do on a one day visit to Orlando. This itinerary is great for a fall/winter visit as most activities are outdoors. Enjoy the suggestions and feel free to add a few of your own.
Sample Itinerary – 1 Day in Orlando (Fall/Winter Edition)
8:ooam
Enjoy a leisurely stroll around downtown Winter Park. Winter Park, an affluent suburb of Orlando, resembles a quaint New England town rather than a typical congested Florida suburb. The brick streets and beautiful Spanish moss trees add a lot of character to the area. I love walking around this quaint downtown, especially when I tired of the blah strip mall congestion which unfortunately comprises much of Florida today.
The city is most famous for being home to exclusive Rollins College and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which is home to the largest collection of Tiffany glass. Winter Park is quite different than the hectic area near Disney; it’s quite peaceful with lots of trees, local businesses, and beautiful historic homes. Stop for a quiet cup of coffee, browse the shops, and take a little stroll over to the park.
9:00am
Enjoy a casual breakfast at one of Winter Park’s many fantastic local options. Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, Croissant Gourmet, and Briarpatch are 2 great options. Or simply stop for a fantastic cup of coffee at Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen or CFS. CFS is one of my favorite coffeeshops in Orlando. Not only is the coffee terrific, but they serve the best food. Pictured below is the Sweet Toast – 2 slices of thick toast, topped with sunflower seed butter, blueberries, strawberries, bananahs, shredded coconut, and almonds. So good – worth the splurge!
11:00am
Take a relaxing cruise on the Scenic Boat tour. The Winter Park Chain of Lakes includes 5 beautiful lakes which are interconnected by canals. Going through the canals make you feel as if you are in Italy, rather than Florida. This is a great way to enjoy the natural scenery of the area, and definitely a refreshing break from all the clutter around the Orlando metro area. Being an 80’s kid, I loved seeing Mr. Roger’s house on the tour!
Your tour guide will provide you with a history of the area, including details on many of the wonderful mansions you will see along the way, along with some history on the city. Cruises depart every hour from 10am-4pm. Visit the Scenic Boat Tour website to make your reservation.
12:30pm – Enjoy a great lunch while you are still in Winter Park. There are so many wonderful local options to choose amongst, even for those following specialty diets. Ethos Vegan Kitchen is a wonderful choice for anyone dining gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan. Here you will find a large menu of options for everyone, a great big space (unusual for a vegetarian restaurant), and a lively vibe.
Update: Ethos unfortunately closed in 2024.
Toasted is a great choice for anyone who loves classic comfort food. The menu is very simple: grilled cheese, french fries, tomato soup, and salad. Here you can order from a range of specialty grilled cheese selections: they even have vegan cheese and gluten-free bread available!
2:00pm
Take a break from the heat and enjoy a cup of organic tea at Infusion Tea, located in the College Park section of Orlando. This fantastic tea shop offers a fabulous menu of green, white, black, rooibos, and special tea blends. The atmosphere is very charming for a relaxing tea break or afternoon date. In addition to tea, various sweet treats, sandwiches, and salads are available.
4:00pm
Head over to Lake Eola in downtown Orlando for a refreshing half mile stroll around the lake. From here, you can take in some great views of the Orlando skyline. Paddleboat rentals are available as well. There are lots of cool looking birds to observe along the way. It’s definitely an oasis in the middle of a very crowded city!
5:00pm
Spend the night strolling around Disney Springs. Parking is free and there are enough activities here to justify the drive over. Eat, shop, or just browse around – it’s a fun place with a theme park like atmosphere without being in the parks! There are an abundance of fun themed restaurants to choose amongst, although Raglan Road is by far the best.
Raglan Road is an Irish themed restaurant with authentic decor straight from Ireland, a great menu of Irish favorites (including amazing Fish & Chips and Shepherd’s Pie), and live step dancing performances everyday.
After dinner, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy in the Springs including Splitsville Luxury Lanes (a high end bowling alley), a movie theater, live shows such as Cirque du Soleil, and a wide variety of shops to browse through.
8:00pm
Head over to I-Drive for some late night fun. Most attractions stay open well into the evening hours. Check out Dave & Busters, a great budget friendly entertainment alternative to the parks. This large entertainment complex features a variety of ticket redemption and arcade games, a sports bar, and a restaurant. This arcade features tons of games that are fun for kids and adults of all ages. It can get a bit pricey, however, if you sign up for the email list you will receive special deals.
Other fun tourists attractions to check out on I-Drive
Putting Edge – 18 hole glow in the dark mini golf
Howl at the Moon – World famous dueling piano shows
Ice Bar – Enjoy drinks at an icy bar (includes faux fur coat and gloves)
Museum of Illusions – Mind boggling illusions
Icon Park – Home to one of the largest Ferris Wheels and a wax museum
This is just a brief sampling of non-theme park fun in the Orlando area. There’s so much more!
Tips for a great day out
*Check Groupon for discounts off the Winter Park Boat tour as well as any other restaurant or attraction deals you may be interested in.
*It’s always better to get out there as early as possible in a hot, humid climate like Orlando. The temps get more miserable as the day goes on. Any parks, trails, and major walking around should be done before the heat of the afternoon.
*Make reservations for the Scenic Boat tour in Winter Park as it often sells out in advance. Also be aware that only cash or checks are accepted!
What are some of your favorite things to do in the Orlando area besides the theme parks?
