Non-major theme park stuff I have to see in the Orlando area.

Go to Lee and Rick’s on Old Winter Garden Rd and Kirkman Rd. The best raw oyster bar on the face of the planet. It’s a local favorite, and it’s super cheap.

The absolute best spring in Florida is Juniper Springs, between Daytona and Ocala. They offer a three hour canoe ride down Juniper Run, which is probably one of the most pristine and unspoiled places in the Southeast.

The only beach on the Atlantic worth going to is the Canaveral National Seashore (Playa Linda) and the adjacent Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Now that the space shuttle is done, it will always be open. Take an airboat ride on the St Johns River on your way over. Otherwise, anything between Clearwater and Naples is awesome.

The Orlando Watersports Complex is a cool place to wakeboard or ski. No boat necessary, and they give lessons.

The best kept secret: The Paint E’s House Experience. It’s free!

Have fun!