Our Top 10 Hidden Orlando Gems

Our Top 10 Hidden Orlando Gems

From Mickey Mouse to Harry Potter, Orlando theme parks offer the very best in family entertainment, while they are also surrounded by an impressive “supporting cast” of smaller-scale offerings.

But there is also an array of other possibilities, the “hidden gems” of Orlando, that are also worth considering, offering a taste of the “real” city beyond the parks and other tourist areas.

Sample any of our 10 alternative attractions and you will have seen something of The City Beautiful, which encompasses a huge area of urban, residential, and suburban profiles, from the downtown high-rises to the county parks that can often be found just a short drive from Disney and the main attractions.

Some of these places have already featured in our regular blog, but they are worth highlighting again in this group of experiences, as a reminder of the kind of attractions on offer as well as for anyone who is new to the blog (if so, what’s been keeping you?!).

With all that in mind, we present our essential listing of Orlando places that will enhance your holiday (along with a few that will also save you some money):

10. Wekiva Island:

This is a place we featured in the blog last year, a beautiful rural retreat only 15 miles from downtown yet light years away in terms of ambiance and style. It’s prime draw is kayaking on the crystal clear Wekiva River, whose waters stay at a constant 70 degrees from the natural springs that bubble up hereabouts. With a super little food truck café and a lively bar, this is total chillout territory in the midst of the great tourist hubbub. See more at https://wekivaisland.com.

9. Tank America:

New in town in 2022, this is a unique opportunity to drive military grade hardware – tanks and armoured personnel carriers – and crush cars with them! It’s fun, intense, and truly a one-off chance to know what it feels like not just to be inside one of these amazing machines, but to drive it through different types of terrain and over various obstacles, including cars. It’s a pricey option, but just watching is amazing, too! See more at www.tankamerica.com.

8. Orange County Regional History Center:

In the heart of downtown Orlando is this wonderful museum that tells the full story of this region, highlighting the key moments in Central Florida history, from the indigenous peoples to the arrival of a certain Mouse and its life-changing effects. It has a great gift shop, too, as well as the unmissable photo opportunity outside of taking a selfie alongside Bunk Baxter, alligator wrestler. See more at www.thehistorycenter.org.

7. SAK Comedy Lab:

For those who remember Disney’s Pleasure Island and enjoyed the fun of the Comedy Warehouse there with its audience-response moments (one of the six nightclubs that made up this surprisingly daring self-contained entertainment district), downtown Orlando boasts a similar set-up of improv comedy and audience involvement. It’s called SAK Comedy Lab, and it appeared at Disney from 1984-91 as the street theatre shows in Epcot. Now they offer live comedy. See more at www.sakcomedylab.com.

6. Leu Gardens:

When you need the peace and quiet of beautiful tropical gardens, downtown features one of the best in Florida. Dating back to the 1930s, this dazzling collection of plants, shrubs and trees in a lovely lakeside setting is the perfect antidote to the hustle-bustle elsewhere, and it is usually quiet on weekdays, so it makes for an ideal day out. See more at www.leugardens.org.

5. Plant Street Market:

To see where the locals go at weekends, head to the pretty city suburb of Winter Garden – just 15 miles north of Disney and another place we’ve also featured in the blog – and discover this wonderful food hall and brewery, boasting a terrific array of different dining outlets, plus fresh produce and a coffee roastery. A Winter Garden must-see since 2015, it also features the award-winning Crooked Can Brewery, which is worth making the journey to sample on its own! See more at https://crookedcan.com/plant-st-market.

4. Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek:

For a spell-binding look at Central Florida’s yesteryear – and how people survived in the region without air-conditioning! – check out this clever re-creation village from the 1880s. It features a variety of original buildings from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, all brought in from different parts of Osceola County, and presents them in best story-telling form. See more at https://osceolahistory.org/pioneer-village/.

3. Paddling Center at Shingle Creek:

Yes, the Kissimmee area boasts TWO great opportunities to enjoy this natural environment, and this one puts you in the headwaters of the Everglades, with a chance to paddle along five miles of pristine cypress forest and marshes. You can hire kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards for a gentle adventure with Mother Nature in a truly tranquil setting close to all the main attractions. See more at www.paddlingcenter.com.

2. Lake Eola Park:

If there is one iconic view of Orlando away from the theme parks, it is picturesque Lake Eola in the heart of downtown. With a one-mile trail around the park, paddle boats and the bonus of great artwork, wildlife, and history to explore – as well as some fab dining opportunities nearby – this is the REAL Orlando that we like our visitors to see and enjoy. See more here.

1. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive:

This is arguably the best-value attraction in town as it is absolutely FREE to enjoy each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lake Apopka is little more than a 25-minute drive from the Disney area and boasts a stunning vista of lakes, marshes, and wildlife, with plentiful birdlife and the virtually guaranteed chance to see alligators in the wild. The 11-mile, one-way drive can take two hours to explore fully, so bring a drink or snack with you. You can also read more about it in our blog from 2021.

Which of our top 10 have you tried or visited? Tell us about them on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages… and don’t forget to interact with us on Pinterest and now TikTok too!