There's more to do in Orlando than Disney. When you think of Orlando, does the House of Mouse pop into mind? Orlando theme parks have certainty earned their reputation for family fun. However, there is more for vacationing families to explore. When planning your Orlando family vacation, think about the variety of experiences available to your kids. Here are a few areas to check out in the area that offer experiences for families of all ages: The Orlando Starflyer, the world's tallest swing at a towering 450 feet! Photo: Visit Orlando At the ICON Park entertainment complex, you will find 40 restaurants, bars, attractions, and shops. Attractions include the tallest observational wheel on the East Coast (“The Wheel”), StarFlyer, SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology™, 7D Dark Ride Adventures, Madame Tussauds Orlando, and SEA Life aquarium. All of the attractions are in one place which means less time in the car. ICON Park is located on International Drive. Mango's Tropical Cafe on International Drive On International Drive, you'll find a host of things to do, places to eat, and experiences to have. Attractions include Dave & Busters, WonderWorks, Mango's Tropical Cafe, dinner shows, and Escapeology (an escape room attraction). Photo: celebration.fl.us Developed by Disney in 1996, the town of Celebration, Florida has a mixture of homes styled after Victorian, Classical, and Colonial Revival themes. Celebration Town Center contains shops, restaurants, and other commercial establishments as well as 106 residences. At Lake Evalyn, you can find a multitude of ducks, alligators, and the occasional river otter. Celebration is a fun town to walk through and enjoy the community. Make sure you stop at Kilwin's to pick up some sweets! Photo: The Showcase of Citrus Showcase of Citrus is one of our favorite local experiences. See what happens if you offer your explorers a chance to ride a monster truck through the citrus groves where they can spot a zebra, lion, and kangaroo. Their creamsicles (made from their own oranges!) are out of this world. Their monster truck citrus grove tour educates visitors about local wildlife while providing a unique view of natural Florida. Find a good spot to view Florida sunsets. The City Beautiful holds many adventures and attractions for adventurous families. It also has light pollution. If you want to be convenient to the action without sacrificing the opportunity to experience real Florida nature in its true glory, consider settling down in Clermont. Clermont and Kissimmee are central to Disney theme parks (within 15 minutes), less than 30 minutes from the areas mentioned in this post, and offer opportunities to experience the Sunshine State's natural beauty. Where do you want to watch the Florida sun set after a long day of adventure? It's a question worth thinking about as you plan where to settle and have some well-deserved “me” time. Think simple. Tech-enabled experiences are all the rage at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, but kids are still kids. There's a part of them that yearns for experiences to explore nature and learn about the world around them offline. Gatorland Orlando is an exciting excursion for nature lovers and travelers who want to come home with a story. The theme park and wildlife preserve is known for their gator shows where guests can hold a real alligator. Summer Bay Orlando guests can catch a show and have this experience right at our resort! Every Wednesday at noon, Gatorland Orlando visits us with their reptilian friends to put on a complimentary Gator Adventure Show for guests. Here's our current resort activity schedule for guests staying with us at Summer Bay Orlando. Save on convenience. Splurge on memory makers. Don't let convenience buys get the better of you. Save where you can so you can splurge on the experiences you can't have anywhere else. Save on food. Instead of eating out every night, cook meals together using local ingredients. You can pick up fresh citrus from Showcase of Citrus, less than 15 minutes from Summer Bay Orlando. All of our resort accommodations include kitchens. Publix, a local grocery store, is a walk away. Save on transportation. ICONN Orlando and IDrive attractions are easy to walk to once you are in the area. If you plan to visit the theme parks, look for accommodation that includes a complimentary shuttle bus. Save on shopping trips. Orlando is full of shopping destinations with name brand stores. Retail therapy is always within reach at nearby malls and outlets. Orlando International Premium Outlets allow shoppers to save from 180 outlet stores. Summer Bay Orlando by Exploria Resorts is centrally located to all the thrills that Orlando has to offer. Nestled in Clermont, our resort offers many experiences that bring guests closer to the wonder of real Florida nature while keeping families of all ages busy and engaged.
