What to do in Central Florida
The majority of tourists who come through Orlando are heading for Disney. However, if you are looking for what to do in Central Florida that does not involve a theme park, you’re in the right place.
Paddle or Kayak
One thing to do in Central Florida is enjoy the water! With so many options, paddle boarding or kayaking is a perfect Florida activity! From lakes, to the intracoastal, to the ocean and the springs! I paddle often in the ocean or intracoastal and occasionally in the lakes and rivers.
For New Smyrna area, I’ve paddled with East Coast Paddle. They will take you through the mangroves of the intracoastal. They also offer lessons and rentals and will drop off at nearby locations, including the beach.
King’s Landing is another great option! The water is clear and the whole paddle is beautiful! You need to pre-reserve your spot whether you are renting or bringing your own. Also if you’re visiting a state park, most will have options to rent kayaks or paddle boards.
Golf or Soccer Golf
I don’t play golf but I do play soccer. It was only recently I learned of Soccer Golf and gave it try! I tried the course in Orlando, yes by Disney and it was great!
At Oak Trail Golf Course, you will need to make a reservation and availability starts after 3PM or 4PM depending on the time of year. It’s nine holes and would be fun even if you weren’t a great kicker.
If you are a golfer, the are plenty of courses in Florida and the weather is especially beautiful for golf during the non-Summer months.
Bioluminescent Tour
If you are visiting Florida in July or August I recommend taking a Bioluminescent Tour! I had heard rumors for a while that we had this phenomenon in the area, but when I tried a tour years ago, I was unimpressed. I had done a tour in Puerto Rico which was amazing, and the tour I had tried here was a let down.
I gave it a second chance last year and I’m so glad I did. It was magical! Like a scene out of avatar! My friends and I went with Inner Compass Eco Adventures and LOVED the experience. We paddled around an island on the intracoastal and quickly saw the water glow blue as our paddles moved through the water. Eventually we would paddle over schools of fish and see the blue streaks in the water as the fish swam about. We paddled to a small beach on the other end of the island and watched the water light up as the waves crashed.
The experience will vary based on several factors. First, you will want to ensure it has been hot for a while. That’s why I recommend July and August. June might could work, but it also could be underwhelming. Second, you will want to consider the moon. The more light from the moon, the more it will impact you seeing the bioluminescence well. Choose as dark of a night as possible.
There are a lot of tours in Titusville, but Inner Compass uses a different area for their tour, which made it more private. Also, if you are a local with your own SUP or kayak, you can take it on go on the tour for free!
Visit a Lighthouse
I’ve visited the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse only once or twice, even though this is my preferred beach. I’ve also visited the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Both have tons of stairs with great views to reward your efforts! There are some restaurants close by on the intracoastal if you wanted to make more of a day of it for the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. The jetty was closed the last I knew from hurricane damage. If not, it’s a nice stroll.
Explore a Small Town
There are quite a few small towns you can explore. Winter Garden or Winter Park are closer to Orlando and the Disney area and have great restaurants and cute shops. Further North, you will find Mount Dora or DeLand which are genuinely small towns with historic downtowns.
Rent a Boat
A great thing to do in Central Florida is to rent a boat. Whether you are looking at the intracoastal or lakes, there are plenty of places that will show up online. At Hontoon Landing, you can rent a pontoon boat for the day. The St. Johns River runs North, all the way to Jacksonville, so there’s plenty of water to explore at this location. I have yet to rent a Pontoon boat, but I’m familiar with this area. You can enjoy some time on Lake Beresford or take the river North or South.
Gators or Manatees
When it comes to Florida wildlife, the two most famous animals would have to be the alligator or the manatee. I have seen both many times over the years and seeing both in the wild are possible. Of course, if you wanted to get real close to an alligator, please go the zoo route.
During winter months, Manatees tend to migrate to various springs since the water tends to be around 72 degrees Fahrenheit year round. Blue Springs State Park will become very busy as a result so you will want to ensure you arrive early to whichever park you choose. There are plenty of options where you can see manatees, but I’m most familiar with Blue Springs.
Alligators exist in any freshwater in Florida, including springs, lake and rivers. Even some man made retention ponds could have a gator. The easiest and safest way to see an alligator in the wild, is to book an airboat or boat tour. You could also just rent a kayak or paddle board and yes, I’ve seen many alligators from my paddle board. The below photo is from my paddle at Silver Springs. My friends and I paddled by numerous gators that day, but we don’t paddle towards them. Hence my very distant photo of one. The gator is in the center of the image and it’s resting in the middle of the lily pads and grassy area. If being on the water doesn’t entice you, Gatorland is a great option!
Can you spot the gator?
Nature Walks
The All Trails app is great for looking for places to walk and explore. I recommend the Winter months for this so ticks and mosquitos are less a concern and overall the weather is more enjoyable!
Beach Day
My favorite thing to do in Central Florida is time at the beach. It’s how I spend most Summer Saturdays! I recommend going in the morning as thunderstorms are more likely in the afternoon. Though do check the weather before you go! Stop at Publix for a Pub Sub before heading to the beach. Depending on the beach you choose, you can drive onto the beach if the tide is low enough. Parking rates also vary depending on where you go, but parking is another reason to go early if you are not planning on driving onto the beach.
Cocoa Beach is the closest for Orlando, but I don’t frequent that beach. If you want to drive onto the beach, you can do that in New Smyrna and Daytona. There are parking lots along the coast as well and some will have bathrooms and outside showers to rinse off. In New Smyrna parking at these parks will typically cost money, but it was reasonable the last I knew. Of the parks I’ve been in South Daytona, parking was free.
