Ever since I was a little kid, Orlando, Florida has been one of my favorite places in the world. It is home to palm trees, sunny skies, and my two amazing aunts. When I was younger, I once told my aunts "You guys live in the summer, and I live in the winter" because I loved the fact that I could be outside year round, not just in May through August.
When most people think of Orlando, they think of Disney. I've been fortunate to be able to visit Magic Kingdom, as well as Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Universal Studios, and my personal favorite, Harry Potter World. While I believe that all those places provide tons of fun and unforgettable experiences, they can be expensive, and Orlando and the surrounding area has so much to offer outside of its theme parks. Here are a few places I've visited and experiences I've had while visiting my aunts over the years:
1. Wet n' Wild
A trip to this Orlando water park is perfect for days when the Florida heat and humidity seem unbearable. Whether it's sliding down a giant water slide in a tube or simply floating down the Lazy River, Wet n' Wild has something to offer everyone. Unfortunately, it will be closing on December 31st, so take advantage of the deals and the fun while they last.
2. All Fired Up
Get your creative juices flowing a this paint your own pottery studio located in Winter Park. At All Fired Up, you can choose to paint your own ceramic piggy bank, picture frame, jewelry box, mug, or other piece. After you paint it, you leave your piece at the studio for them to glaze and fire it so that it can be used over and over again.
3. On the Edge Rock Climbing
I come from a pretty athletic family, and this climbing gym in Melbourne is the perfect fun challenge. With over 10,000 square feet of climbing areas, both inexperienced and seasoned rock climbers can feel safe and at home.
4. Tasty Tuesdays
Every Tuesday evening, a rotation of 12 food trucks are featured in the Milk District of Orlando. Options range from sushi to crepes, Philly Cheesesteaks to Maine Lobster, chicken and waffles to Korean BBQ tacos, and everything in between.
5. Blue Springs Park
Located in High Springs, there are a plethora of aquatic activities offered at Blue Springs. You can rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, tubes, and masks and snorkels for use in the water that stays around 70 degrees year round.
6. Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Sky Zone in Orlando is the world's first indoor trampoline park. Whether you want to have a fun workout or to just have fun in general, spending a few hours in this high energy environment is the perfect way to let off some steam.
7. Wekiwa Springs
Located in Apopka, Wekiwa Springs is a beautiful area tucked away from the city feel of Orlando. The state park has a cool spring to swim in, as well as the Wekiva River for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, and trails for biking, hiking, or horseback riding. You may encounter alligators or even monkeys, which were left in the park after the original Tarzan movie was filmed there.
8. Shopping at the outlet malls
If the outdoors aren't really your type of thing, you can always go shopping at the Orlando International Premium Outlets and score some pretty good deals. They basically have every type of store you could be looking for, including clothing, shoes, sporting goods, toys, games, music, movies, sunglasses and eyewear, and accessories, as well as food stands and restaurants.
9. Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach has been called "the quintessential beach town", and it is the closest beach to Orlando. Surrounding the beach are great places to shop, eat, go sightseeing, or play golf.
10. Orlando City and Orlando Pride
Orlando is home to both a men's and women's professional soccer team, and attending a game at the Citrus Bowl Stadium is an exciting way to spend an afternoon or evening. Orlando City is headlined by Brazilian soccer star Kaká, while the Orlando Pride bosts World Cup champion Alex Morgan.
11. Lakes and parks
Although it can get very hot and humid in the summer months, the beauty of Florida is that you can spend most of your time outside soaking up the sunshine. My aunts' house is close to Lake Davis and Lake Como, which provide shade from the heat and pretty scenery for walking, biking, or running. It is also a short drive from Blue Jacket Park, which is 75 acres of fields, fountains, and picnic areas. It is the perfect place to play soccer, softball, or basketball and enjoy the great weather.
These are just the places I've been to, and it just barely scratches the surface of what this great city has to offer. And if you don't feel up to an adventure on any particular day, you can just lay outside and enjoy the year round summer.
