Orlando is the theme-park capital of the world — but the locals’ Orlando is springs, manatees, airboats and gardens. This guide gathers both: the shows and attractions everyone comes for, plus the wild Florida that surrounds the city, with the tours and places our readers love most.
Manatees and crystal springs
Florida’s gentle giants are Orlando’s most magical encounter. Paddle the Silver Springs clear kayak tour over glassy water with manatees and monkeys, join the small-group manatee discovery kayak at Blue Spring, or swim beside them on the manatee snorkeling adventure in Crystal River. Prefer your own pace? Kayak or paddleboard in Silver Springs by rental. → All manatee & springs tours
Airboats and wild Florida
Skim the wetlands on the one-hour airboat ride through Florida’s wild side, take the Everglades wildlife tour or the classic Florida Everglades airboat tour, and drive among zebras and bison at the Wild Florida drive-thru safari and gator park. → All airboat tours
Kennedy Space Center
An hour east, rockets: the Kennedy Space Center tour puts you under the space shuttle Atlantis and Saturn V, and the Kennedy day trip from Orlando makes it effortless from your hotel. → All space coast tours
Shows, food and attractions
The upside-down WonderWorks turns science into a family adventure; dinner comes with jousting at Medieval Times, fire dancing at the Polynesian Fire Luau and pure Disney-Cirque magic at Drawn to Life. Board the ship of dreams at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, graze the creative Milk District Eats food tour, or bundle it all with the Orlando Explorer Pass (25+ attractions, including the Orlando Eye). → All shows & attractions
Adventure and thrills
Free-fall without jumping at iFLY indoor skydiving, paddle glowing water on the bioluminescent kayak adventure, ride jet skis at Lake Buena Vista, gallop the Lake Louisa horseback trail, get muddy on the dune buggy tour or see it all from a helicopter tour over Orlando. → Adventure tours
Lakes, gardens and springs parks
Downtown’s icon is Lake Eola Park with its swan boats and fountain; the Harry P. Leu Gardens hide 50 acres of botanical calm, and Wekiwa Springs pours out crystal-clear 72° water year-round. Winter Park charms with the Kraft Azalea Garden and Mead Botanical Garden. → All Orlando places
Wildlife drives and family days
The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a free safari through wetlands, the Orlando Wetlands Park a birding haven, and Big Tree Park guards a 2,000-year-old cypress. Families picnic at Bill Frederick Park or Kissimmee Lakefront Park. → Family-friendly Orlando
Where to stay and what’s on
Base yourself near the parks or in a lakeside neighborhood — compare areas in Where to Stay, check what’s on this week and our concerts, and plan your days with the 1-to-5-day itineraries.
Keep exploring: get the best of Orlando every week — new attractions, tours and openings — in the Happy City News newsletter.
