# Non-major theme park stuff I have to see in the Orlando area. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 27, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474 "2011-05-27T19:30:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/1 "2011-05-27T19:30:17Z")
We’re planning a trip to Orlando, and yes, some of the major parts/attractions are on the to-do list. But I want to do more than see Disney or Seaworld. What other stuff is worth planning a couple of hours or more to see? Let’s say within 75 miles of Orlando. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/2 "2011-05-27T19:39:09Z")
Going east toward the coast you could easily do an airboat ride, Kennedy Space Center, and Ron Jon’s Surf Shop (Coco Beach) in a day. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/3 "2011-05-27T19:54:11Z")
Go West and see the [Dali Museum](http://thedali.org/welcome/from_the_director.html). ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/4 "2011-05-28T01:02:37Z")
Gatorland, a small park with gators and other animals. We went there in '02, and it was a fun, less-than-a-full-day thing. I’d love to hear from locals about its reputation, one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/5 "2011-05-28T04:40:50Z")
I think a Ripley Museum is still there. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/6 "2011-05-28T13:24:28Z")
Taking a boat tour on Lake Maitland was surprisingly pleasant. Cruising into other lakes via canals was quite charming too. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/7 "2011-05-28T13:38:00Z")
In Kissimmee, the Medieval Times Dinner Theater is awesome! The show is great, the food decent, and they have a small medeival villiage set up to tour before the show, complete with a torture chamber. It was my favorite thing I did when I went in 2004. > **[Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament](https://www.medievaltimes.com/)** > > Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament is a fun family dinner theater themed as a royal banquet and tournament of jousting, sword fighting, and games of skill. My other favorite thing there was Amazing Exotics, but their website doesn’t work, so they may not be in business any longer. ☹ It was an exotic animal rescue place where I had the chance to play with & bottle-feed a half grown white tiger. > **[Amazing Exotics - An Animal Encounter Near Orlando, Florida](http://www.theotherorlando.com/contents/chapters/15/amazing.html)** > > Your complete online guide to Amazing Exotics, where you can meet tigers and other exotic wild animals. I will also second Gatorland, some gorgeous scenery there. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/8 "2011-05-29T21:39:44Z")
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is in Winter Park, and has the largest collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the world, including an entire chapel from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. ---
**Author:** ![DHMO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@DHMO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DHMO)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/9 "2011-05-29T22:48:12Z")
If you have time to head out to the Gulf Coast, check out the [Ringling Museum](http://www.ringling.org/ArtMuseum.aspx?ekmensel=c580fa7b_44_196_btnlink), the [Ca’ d’Zan Mansion](http://www.ringling.org/CadMansion.aspx) and the [Circus Museums](http://www.ringling.org/CircusMuseums.aspx) in Sarasota. Definitely worth the time! ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/10 "2011-05-30T00:27:50Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > Gatorland, a small park with gators and other animals. We went there in '02, and it was a fun, less-than-a-full-day thing. I’d love to hear from locals about its reputation, one way or another. When we were living in Kissimmee, we’d semi-regularly visit Gatorland. It’s definitely worth seeing, especially if you’re visiting during mating season-- lots of different species having sex, competing for territory, and having babies/eggs all over the property. If you’re not into reptiles, it won’t be for you, but it’s really neat if you’re okay with looking at reptiles and seeing gators snatch fryer chickens from a clothesline as part of the afternoon show. If you like ghost tours and local history, [Kissimmee has its own local downtown ghost tour](http://kissimmeeghosttours.com/). Friendly folks lead you around and talk about the more gruesome history of Kissimmee. There’s also a place out in St. Cloud off of 192 called Catfish Place-- it is _delicious_ Florida Cracker style home cooking, and includes catfish, turtle, alligator, snapper and other delights like fried pickles. All critters are fresh from a farm in Lake Okeechobee (further south in Palm Beach County, FL), and are delivered daily to the restaurant. Depending upon what’s going on throughout the time you’re visiting, seeing Mount Dora can be fun; it’s an artsy-fartsy Southern town north of Orlando that holds a lot of art and bicycle festivals. It’s a cute little town with wee little hills, an ice cream shop that makes fantastic key lime pie ice soft serve, and a crazy Victorian Gingerbread style Masonic temple. Out in Tampa (an hour’s drive or less depending upon where you start and how fast you drive), there’s [Cigar City Brewing](http://www.cigarcitybrewing.com/Cigar_City_Beer/Welcome_to_Cigar_City_Beer_in_Tampa_Florida.html), which makes some pretty darn tasty beer. If you’re into wine, there’s [Keel and Curley Winery](http://www.keelandcurleywinery.com/) in Dover, which is conveniently located one exit away from an Old Florida Tourist Attraction, [Dinosaur World](http://www.dinosaurworld.com/dinosaur_world_plant_city_florida/). Wine slushies and giant cement dinosaurs can lead to a lot of wonderful silliness. If you want more Old Florida Tourist Attractions, visit the mermaids at [Weeki Wachee Springs](http://www.weekiwachee.com/). If you’re in the Tampa area on a Sunday, check out [Wat Mongkolratanaram Temple](http://www.wattampainenglish.com/) in Tampa-- they have a fabulous Thai Buddhist Brunch event every Sunday that features some really amazingly tasty food. The grounds are beautiful, the volunteers that make the food are super friendly, and it’s a great way to have a relaxing morning. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/11 "2011-06-01T03:46:03Z")
Thanks for the ideas. Gatorland has definitely moved onto the list, as has Cape Canaveral. I’d forgotten about Weeki Wachee Springs. I wonder how a 8 year old would view that today. Said 8 year old will probably preclude museum visits, but I think my SO is now drooling over the idea of Catfish Place. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/12 "2011-06-02T01:15:50Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is in Winter Park, and has the largest collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the world, including an entire chapel from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. I wouldn’t put it high on your list of priorities, but if you want some nice leisure time, a day of shopping and dining on Park Ave in Winter Park can be heavenly. And, if you feel like making your vacation into a hands-on experience, you can help renovate my family’s house 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/13 "2011-06-02T15:24:30Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > And, if you feel like making your vacation into a hands-on experience, you can help renovate my family’s house 😃 Do you charge less than $80/day entrance fee? **Autolycus’s Home Renovation Universe** ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/14 "2011-06-02T22:19:20Z")
**Silver Springs** can be a nice day trip. Flea World in Sanford can also be a nice shopping trip. Frankly the parks are way too crowded on Saturday and Sunday. Visiting Orlando in the summer is brutal. Spring and Fall is way better. A weekday in October or early November would be my choice. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/15 "2011-06-02T22:29:48Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Said 8 year old will probably preclude museum visits, but I think my SO is now drooling over the idea of Catfish Place. Dude…just go. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/16 "2011-06-02T22:42:00Z")
If you can do both, [Kelly Springs and Wekiva Springs](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.732743,-81.474953&spn=0.072704,0.116901&z=13). Kelly Springs is the most amazing, unlike-Florida springs I’ve ever seen, but is small and gets full early. Thankfully, the entrance to Wekiva Springs, which is a large natural park containing a classic Florida spring\*, is not 20 minutes away if you know the back roads, and is also worth seeing if you’re in the area (they’re both a few bucks to enter.) Although it, too can fill up before noon on a hot summer day. \*Not to mention a beautiful stream for canoeing (and you can rent canoes there,) and beautiful is saying something for me, because I generally dislike natural Florida aesthetically. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/17 "2011-06-03T03:35:10Z")
Depending on exactly how close your trip is, they are [del]balls deep[/del] in the middle of Gay Days at Disney. If that sort of thing’s important to you one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/18 "2011-06-03T07:40:11Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Do you charge less than $80/day entrance fee? **Autolycus’s Home Renovation Universe** Heck, do a good enough job and we’ll pay you! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/19 "2011-06-03T12:53:58Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > If you can do both, [Kelly Springs and Wekiva Springs](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.732743,-81.474953&spn=0.072704,0.116901&z=13). Kelly Springs is the most amazing, unlike-Florida springs I’ve ever seen, but is small and gets full early. Thankfully, the entrance to Wekiva Springs, which is a large natural park containing a classic Florida spring\*, is not 20 minutes away if you know the back roads, and is also worth seeing if you’re in the area (they’re both a few bucks to enter.) Although it, too can fill up before noon on a hot summer day. > > \*Not to mention a beautiful stream for canoeing (and you can rent canoes there,) and beautiful is saying something for me, because I generally dislike natural Florida aesthetically. I had completely forgotten about Kelly Springs; we went there a few times for camping, and it was great. Definitely a fun thing to do, but it’s also crowded in the summer. > [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Do you charge less than $80/day entrance fee? **Autolycus’s Home Renovation Universe** I got in for free, but I know the assistant manager. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474/20 "2011-06-04T07:47:55Z")
NASA all the way. You can touch a moon rock and they have a Saturn V on display. It’s big. No, really, you have no idea how big that thing is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-major-theme-park-stuff-i-have-to-see-in-the-orlando-area/583474.md?page=2)