<p>Will have 2 weekdays in Orlando with 2 twenty-something nieces in August. What is there to do that doesn’t involve theme parks? We’ll be meeting up with family after those days and have plenty of theme park and pool activity plans then. </p>
<p>There are a couple of winery tours in the area. There are also numerous outlet centers. Downtown Disney has shopping, dining and entertainment. Winter Park scenic boat tour. Blue Man Group. Cirque du Soleil. Black Hammock Adventures, (airboats and gators). There are also a couple of Breweries in the area. Starlight Bowling. Maitland art center, (museums, art colony, events, classes). Flea World Flea Market, (one of the largerst), Stroll along Disney Boardwalk. Watch the vintage car parade in Old Town. University of Central Florida Aboretoreum. </p>
<p>My family rented bikes and found a great bike path in Orlando – we went through some small towns, saw lots of orange groves. I’m sure if I dig enough I can find the info on my computer (I probably found it through tripadvisor) – if you want more, send me a PM.</p>
<p>What do you like to do?
Shopping–tons of it. Whatever store you like. And any type you like. And tons of outlet mall shopping. Very fun. Regular and prime outlets.
Antiques/Boutique–head to Winter Park area. Lots of good small eating places to boot.
International Drive–touristy but fun. Go “sky dive” in the comfort of a controlled atmosphere–they have a place where sky divers practice–pricey but cheaper than the actual thing and you get more time in the air.
Rent canoes on the Wekiva–beautiful. My sister does this regularly–her pix are beautiful. </p>
<p>Go towards Gainesville and go tubing on the Ichetucknee–gorgeous springs (cold!! so best when it’s hot!) A favorite of every UF student. And school is out for most students so shouldn’t be too crowded. Look it up–there are a number of companies that will provide you the tubes, drop you off and pick you up at the end of your run. Now I’m jealous I’m not there! Don’t confuse this with a “pool activity”!</p>
<p>If you want theater, museums–Orlando has it.<br>
Just depends on what you and your nieces enjoy.</p>
<p>Orlando is super hot outside in August…limit what you schedule outdoors if you are not used to Florida type summer heat. With the girls, maybe limit yourself mostly to shopping before you hit theme parks and pools your last few visit days…maybe go to one of Disney’s water parks to cool off. Orlando used to be known as the ‘City of Lakes’ before Disney opened. Maybe visit downtown Orlando area and walk around and take a rest on a bench at Lake Eola for a little bit. Winter Park is fun to stroll through…just don’t get confused and go to farm town Winter Garden! Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach are not too bad a drive from Orlando if you want to hit the beach. International Blvd. is ground zero for tourists…if you go there, go in early evening. Too, evening time you could hit the Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club for greyhound racing one evening. Enjoy your visit.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sanfordorlandokc.com/”>http://www.sanfordorlandokc.com/</a></p>
<p>When you do hit the theme parks–plan on being there in the evening for the fireworks and evening festivities. The park cools off, is less crowded and is at its best when lit up.</p>
<p>Tiffany Museum in Winter Park, formally called the Horace Hosmer Morse Museum. My relatives went there while we saw the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom.</p>
<p>Drive to Celebration and have dinner at the Columbia!</p>
<p>Winter park is a fun day trip.</p>
<p>Eat at Emeril’s</p>
<p>Go to the Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach for the afternoon. We day tripped from Tampa easily and years ago would go there from Orlando when H had conventions. The shuttle is awesome and the ride worth it. If they are from far away and not likely to come again spend the other day at one of the Gulf Beaches. The Clearwater Pier -60- is fun. Or further south in the Sarasota area. Now AAA has 3 books for Florida- Panhandle (with Alabama), Central and South. Check on those.</p>
<p>^^What wis said. The Space Center is awesome. </p>
<p>btw- check the weather. Depending on the day’s prevailing winds the beach may be fine in the morning before the showers come, or they could blow through and the afternoon works. A learning curve in moving to this state…</p>
<p>Sorry not to have followed up. We went to CIrque du Soleil and Blue Man Group. Got mani-pedis. Thank you for all your suggestions, we will surely use them the next time, hopefully NOT in August, hot and humid!</p>
<p>Winter is the time to visit Florida!</p>