A Sunshine State of Mind in Bright Orlando

With excellent weather, beautiful beaches, and a thrilling selection of theme parks, Orlando may be the perfect destination for a family adventure. You’ll be enchanted by the menu of activities available – as well as the obvious draws of SeaWorld and Disney World, there are a number of lesser-known Florida wonders to explore once you’ve booked your flights to Orlando. Here are some exciting alternatives to the big ticket attractions.

For an adrenaline rush

Ditch the roller coasters and try an indoor skydive instead! This attraction promises to simulate a free fall with its state of the art wind tunnel. Children as young as three can experience the adrenaline rush, and you’ll spend just over an hour suspended like a superhero on air currents while one of the friendly instructors guides you.

Albino alligator at Gatorland image by Ricymar Photography, shared under a Creative Commons Licence 

For wild things

Any visit to Florida should include at least one sighting of an alligator, and Gatorland is home to several thousand! The ‘Trainer for a Day’ tour starts with an opportunity to hold a baby alligator, and ends up in close proximity to fully grown reptiles (with a trainer one hand, of course). 

If this sounds a little daunting, the Gator Night Shine tour will really test your limits, with an evening trip into the GatorLand breeding marsh with a flashlight to glimpse the glowing eyes of half-submerged ‘gators. There’s also an observation tower, petting zoo and the newest exhibit, the white ‘gator swamp, housing four albino ‘gators with beady blue eyes.

For little caddies

Tee off amid sparkling waterfalls and swinging rope bridges, in the tropical parkland of Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, one of the most vibrant crazy golf sites in Florida, the land of crazy golf. There’s an 18 hole option for beginners, or 36 hole challenge for truly swashbuckling golf enthusiasts. A few hours in the spirit of gentle competition are well worth the price.

Wekiva River image by dburrati, shared under a Creative Commons Licence

For nature lovers

Rock Springs Run is an area of astounding natural beauty. With a landscape of swamp, scrub and shoreline to be explored, there’s adventure to be discovered here. Hire a bicycle and ride the 15 mile trails, or reserve a tropical cabin in Hammock House and enjoy sunset views over the Wekiva River. There are also basic campsites for those who prefer to roast marshmallows round the fire, and 17 miles of Horse trails which run alongside Rock Springs Run. Wildlife to be seen includes the Florida Black Bear, the indigo snake and gopher tortoise.

There’s so much to see in wonderful Orlando that your family will be spoiled for choice. Make sure you break out of the theme park mentality for a day or two and explore the many other adventures available. You might just discover something amazing after you board your flights to Orlando next year, so go ahead and seek a new American adventure!

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