Walt Disney World is definitely the biggest attraction that draws crowds to Orlando, Florida every single year. But there is more to the city of Orlando than just Walt Disney World. If you’re planning to go on vacation to Orlando, make sure you add variety to your holiday by checking out other top Orlando attractions beside Disney World. We’ve listed here these top Orlando attractions.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Located in Winter Park just north of Orlando is the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. It boasts of the largest collection of art and glassworks created by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the first design director of the renowned Tiffany & Co. The collection includes artwork and architectural objects saved from when Tiffany’s Laurelton Estate burned down. The Museum also recreated the famous Tiffany Chapel built for the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. Aside from the Tiffany collection, the Morse Museum also houses works by American artists such as Frank Lloyd Wright, John Singer Sargent, and Thomas Crawford.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
The Harry P. Leu Gardens stand on the 50-acre estate that once belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Harry P. Leu. They are a turn-of-the-century Orlando couple who traveled all over the world and brought exotic plants home with them, and later donated their property to the city. The centerpiece of the Gardens is the Leus’ collection of camellias, of which there are more than 200 cultivars. The Leu House Museum also counts among the Gardens’ jewels, meticulously preserved to provide guests a glance of Florida living at the turn of the 1900s.
Lake Eola Park
Right at the heart of Downtown Florida is Lake Eola Park, providing respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Park is formed around Lake Eola, which is actually a sinkhole 23 feet deep and measuring 23 acres across. Lake Eola Park is particularly famous for its dancing fountain and its Chinese pagoda. The locals often use the Park for various activities such as biking, yoga, and tai-chi.
Legoland Florida
If you consider yourself a child at heart or you’re traveling with kids, you need to take them to Legoland Florida. The Legoland Florida theme park and water park has more than 50 rides and attractions that will keep you and your kids having fun. Not to miss here is the Miniland USA area, where you can find famous landmarks and cities recreated using millions of Lego blocks. Nestled within Legoland is Cypress Gardens, Orlando’s oldest theme park.
Orlando Science Center
Orlando Science Center is where you can take your kids to learn more about scientific concepts and how they apply to the world around them without boring them to death. The exhibits at OSC are mostly hands-on and interactive, designed to tickle your kids’ imagination and encourage them to explore their world more. These exhibits include a “Jurassic Ridge” pit where your kids can dig up real dinosaur eggs, an engineering area where they can come up with their own prototype machines, and an observatory where they do some stargazing.
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando makes learning about marine life loads more fun. At SeaWorld, you get to get on marine-themed rides, including trains and roller coasters, that will get you through many of the park’s animal exhibits. These exhibits include a penguin colony; a section that mimics an Arctic research station featuring seals, walruses, and beluga whales; and aquariums holding sharks and manta rays. Of course, a day at SeaWorld won’t be complete without watching live performances with dolphins and sea lions.
Shingle Creek Regional Park
There is more to Orlando than theme parks, water parks, and museums. If you’re craving for some time in the great outdoors, you only need to head to Shingle Creek Regional Park. Shingle Creek Regional Park is located at the headlands of the Florida Everglades. You can kayak your way to the Everglades through Kissimmee’s chain of lakes if you’re up to it. If kayaking is not your thing, you can enjoy the quiet by hiking the Shingle Creek Regional Trail or simply settle down at a spot and watch birds and wildlife.
Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando is the second-largest theme park in Orlando, next to Walt Disney World. The resort features theme parks that allow you to experience being at the movies more intimately. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you must spend a day or two at Universal Orlando to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed island in the resort’s Islands of Adventure theme park. Universal Orlando is also set to open a new water park named Volcano Bay, inspired by the islands of Polynesia.
There is more to Orlando, Florida than just Walt Disney World. If you’re going on vacation to Orlando, make sure you include these top Orlando attractions in your itinerary for a more complete Orlando holiday.
