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Toll Free: 877-624-6889
Intl: (407) 917-8432
Posted on October 14, 2022
While Orlando may have made its name by offering some of the best theme parks in the world, the town has many other hidden gems to appreciate besides the big three. So, if you are looking to enjoy Orlando beyond the theme parks during your vacation in Central Florida, there is no shortage of activities both within the greater Orlando region and within a short drive of the area.
The area in and around downtown Orlando has many fun places to take the family during the afternoon. Lake Eola Park sits in downtown Orlando. Its bright green scenery surrounds a small lake and walking paths that curl around the water to benches and an outdoor amphitheater where you can often catch live music and other performances.
Loch Haven Park is another green space and cultural center which you can visit from an Orlando timeshare. From here you can walk to several attractions including the kid-friendly Orlando Science Center, the Mennello Museum of American Art and Sculpture Garden, the Orlando Fire Museum, and the Orlando Repertory Theater.
For more culture and shopping, you'll want to head over to Winter Park, Florida, a community about fifteen minutes from downtown Orlando. Its Park Avenue and Winter Park Village have some of the best luxury shopping in Central Florida, and the town also boasts high-end restaurants, art museums, and galleries.
Orlando also has many local dining, shopping, and entertainment hubs. You can venture out to tour the Harry P. Lou Gardens, a wide acreage of green space near the heart of the city. The best times to tour are in the spring and early summer when the entire grounds turn colorful with freshly scented blooms, but it can provide a soothing atmosphere at any time of year.
International Drive, or I-Drive as locals call it, is sometimes considered the downtown of the tourist corridor and hosts many places to have fun including ICON Park, shops, mini-golf courses, and restaurants.
Other fun things to do in Orlando can be done at no cost, such as hiking or bicycling along the West Orange Trail, which runs from Winter Park to Apopka, and can be a great way to see the natural sights and get a little exercise at the same time. Also, Old Town, in Kissimmee, often has special events such as car shows or concerts, as well as a variety of restaurants, shops, and small businesses.
When evening comes, some of the best things to do in Orlando happen. You can catch a live show of top Broadway and family musicals, plus other live performances at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, which is also the home of the Orlando Ballet.
Disney Springs provides another great option for the night scene in Orlando long after the main Disney theme parks slow down after dark. Its dining, live shows, restaurants, and bars will fill the after-hours crowds with fun and great food beneath the stars. At Universal, the equivalent scene can be found at Universal CityWalk as well as several nighttime bars and restaurants.
In downtown Orlando, the Amway Center is the home of the NBA’s Orlando Magic pro basketball team with home games running from October to April. The Center often hosts shows, concerts and special events in the evenings.
Naturally, Orlando is popular for family vacations at any time of year, mainly because of the fame this city has achieved through its world-famous theme parks. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld have all earned their reputations as great places to take the family for an unforgettable vacation.
However, if you are looking for a break from the main theme parks and would still like to enjoy a full day of rides, carnival games, and play, then ICON Park on I-Drive will have all of the above in its year-round amusement park. This is where you'll find The Wheel, a massive Ferris Wheel with excellent panoramic views of Orlando.
Mini-Golfing is another popular pastime in Orlando. Mini-golf courses are almost everywhere in Orlando and the surrounding communities, in almost any theme and style you can imagine, so for a day of wholesome fun outdoors, you can take your pick of mini-golf courses.
If you want a little sweetness instead of visiting the Orlando theme parks, you can check out the Chocolate Museum, with its large chocolate sculptures sure to delight all ages, and the bonus of chocolate and wine for adults. For young children and blooming artists, there is the Crayola Experience, where kids can learn how crayons are made and play with their favorite crayons.
In addition to these fun places to take the kids, Orlando also has several smaller adventure parks, both indoor and outdoor, where you can race go-karts, play arcade games, and climb rock walls. There is so much to do you'll not miss the major theme parks for long.
During a Florida vacation, if you do not picture spending time at the Orlando theme parks, then time spent at the beach is probably the second thing you'd imagine. Orlando is in central Florida, so a beach trip requires a bit of driving but you can reach either the beaches of the Gulf Coast or the Space Coast within a couple of hours.
The Space Coast is named for its star attraction, Cape Canaveral, and the Kennedy Space Center, which is just over an hour’s drive from International Drive. The Space Center is fun for anyone at any age with an interest in NASA and the history of space exploration, and you may even see a rocket launch during your visit.
Nearby Cocoa Beach has an excellent beach with the Cocoa Beach Pier jutting into the Atlantic. Daytona Beach, which is one of Florida's top beaches, is just north and within a two-hour drive of Orlando.
A drive two-hours west of Orlando will take you to the Tampa Bay region. Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and the Tampa area are renowned for clear-white sands and excellent swimming beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
Head north from Orlando and you'll come across some of the hidden gems of natural Florida near the St. Johns River, including Hontoon Island State Park and the watery Blue Spring State Park, where you will see hundreds of manatees keeping warm in the shallow water every winter. For another Florida animal favorite, you can take a trip south to the Wild Florida Airboats & Gator Park, which has airboat tours, a petting zoo, and many wild birds.
In the end, there are a lot of things to do in Orlando besides heading to Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. You can enjoy the many terrific golf courses in the region, shop at the outlet malls, catch a show downtown, and even take a trip to the beach on either the east coast or the west coast of Florida. If you need to inject a little novelty into your Orlando timeshare vacation, it will be easy to find.
While numerous vacationers look to stay as close to the theme parks as possible, there are definite advantages to putting a little distance between you and the theme park crowds. The Orlando timeshare resorts shown below are not on theme park property but give you good access to the parks while providing the space you need for relaxation.
These resorts are shown in order of popularity according to feedback from online visitors exploring our platform, with the most popular shown first.
Tucked away off a stretch of S. Apopka Vineland Rd. across from Lake Bryan, this is consistently one of the most popular timeshare resorts in the area. Just around the corner is World Center Drive and easy access to the Disney Parks, with I-4 and the Central Florida Greenway offering access to anywhere in the area.
Located on the southern end of International Drive, this popular resort is along a type of timeshare alley with several major brands represented in this more relaxed stretch of the famed I-Drive. Just down the road from SeaWorld and close to the great deals at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets.
Now part of Hilton Vacation Club, this expansive resort complex has it all, just south of Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway and minutes from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The onsite par 72 golf course designed by NBC Golf Analyst Gary Koch is excellent, and your location gives easy access to Disney as well as I-4.
One of the grande dames of Orlando timeshares, this 164 acre resort complex has everything you need for a terrific vacation, yet is secluded along the southern stretch of International Drive. Close to SeaWorld and only six miles from Universal but, almost as important, just minutes from the Chocolate Museum.
One of the flagship timeshare resorts in Orlando, this icon sits off Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway near Disney Animal Kingdom but close to the Western Beltway and access to anywhere in central Florida. Onsite golf courses are just the start, with World Drive access to Disney just down the street.
One of Club Wyndham’s top Orlando locations, the resort sits near Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway east of I-4 and with easy access to the Central Florida Greenway. The rides and rollercoasters of the Fun Spot America amusement park are about a mile away and the nearby W. Osceola Parkway takes you straight onto Disney property.
Nestled near Lake Cecile just off Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, you’re east of I-4 and right around the corner from the Medieval Times Dinner Show as well as Kissimmee Go-Karts. Fishing and kayaking are just a couple of the great outdoor activities, with Disney about 10 minutes away.
Quite possibly the most popular of the 43 Bluegreen Vacation Club resorts, The Fountains is near Lake Eve off the southern section of International Drive. Close to the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, you’re down the street from the private escape games of Escapology. Head up I-Drive to check out the Orlando Eye at ICON Park.
While these are some of the best timeshare options in Orlando beyond the theme parks, there are numerous resorts throughout the Orlando area to cater to every travel need. Let our licensed brokers help you find the right one by calling us on 877-624-6889 or leaving us a message by clicking here and we’ll be glad to answer your questions.
Steve manages the public relations and content creation efforts of the company. Previously the Chief Operating Officer for Perspective Magazine, he provided oversight and contributed articles for the five regional vacation ownership trade magazines under the Perspective Magazine banner.
A contributor for industry publications such as Resort Trades and Developments Magazine, Steve Luba has 36 years of experience in various roles in radio and television, sales and marketing, public relations, media and government liaison initiatives.
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