Orlando – Unusual Attractions & Day Trips

Orlando Off the Beaten Path

Orlando, Florida is not only home to Disney World and other famous amusement parks. There also many museums and nature preserves worth discovering.

The Kennedy Space Center

One of the centers of the American space program, the Kennedy Space center is a quick trip from Orlando. Dozens of exhibits show the history of the space program from the earliest rockets to modern day developments. You can listen to a live presentation by an astronaut, head out to the landing area, touch a moon rock, and see the retired space shuttle.

Nature Parks

Orlando is home to beautiful wildlife. For a firsthand look, head out to the Orlando Wetlands Park. About a forty-minute drive from the center of town, it offers well-marked trails and a chance to see over a hundred species of birds as well as other creatures in the wild like otters, snakes, and even alligators. To see ocean life, travel to Blue Springs State Park, the winter home for manatees. There are many hiking paths to explore throughout the park. If you want to go swimming, visit DeLeon Springs, where you’ll find a natural swimming hole.

Museums

The Barberville Pioneer Village offers a look at the first settlers in the area with many exhibits that showed how colonial people used to live. The Orlando Museum of Art is one of the finest in the south and exhibits work from all over the world. Also, just a short distance away, there’s the Lakeridge Winery, featuring locally grown vintages.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do off the beaten path in Orlando.