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3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post): 3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post):

If you don’t have enough time to spend days in Hakone visiting Mt. Fuji it’s easy to take a day trip here from Tokyo. It’s only about 90 minutes by car and we spent the day exploring the area. There is a swing at the top for an additional fee where you literally swing into Mt. Fuji and they have a souvenir shop and small food vendor to purchase snacks.

Location 1: Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway which cost 900 for adults and 450 for children for a roundtrip ride on the cable car. They do sell one way cable car tickets if you want to hike down the mountain.

Location 2: Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, there is a small fee of 100 per person but children are free. This place is really only for pictures besides the view there isn’t anything else to do. They have it set up with a line to capture photos in front of the tori gate and each group has 3 minutes to take pictures, yes they actually time you, to make sure the line keeps moving.

Location 3: Arakurayama Sengen Park where you’ll need to climb 398 stairs or take the curved paved path to the top for views of the mountain and Chuerito Pagoda. The stairs are a straight shot but the path makes it accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

We were truly blessed to be able to see Mt. Fuji as it’s often not visible. When I visited in 2015 we made the trip here and it was gloomy and cloudy and we couldn’t see anything. We did go to the base of the mountain on that trip and do the ice cave exploration so all wasn’t lost but I am so happy Jordyn and I got to see the full mountain with our own two eyes on this trip!

There are lots of other places you can view Mt. Fuji but with only one day we couldn’t visit them all. The other 7 best places to see Mt. Fuji are on a boat tour on any of the 5 lakes that surround the mountain (Kawaguchi, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko, or Motosuko), Koyo-Dai Lookout Platform, Sanko-Dai Lookout Platform, Oshino Hakkai Springs, Fuji Q Highland Amusement Park, Rooftop of Fujisan Station, Shin-Fuji Station Platform and in Hakone.

Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji’s beauty? Would you add this to your Japan itinerary if you haven’t?

#mtfuji #lakekawaguchiko
How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this post):

1. Start your day at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We arrived here at 7:30am and there were quite a few people here already. We didn’t visit but in Arshiyama you can also visit the Monkey Park to see the Japanese Macaques (snow monkeys).

2. Head to Kinkaku-ji to see this stunning Temple of the Golden Pavilion. They open at 9am and we arrived at 8:45am and by time the opened the door at 9am the line was extremely long.

3. Walk through the gorgeous Tori Gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Before or after your visit be sure to walk through the street vendors for some amazing food. We tried noodles, mochi and just enjoyed learning more about the local foods. We visited here around 11am and even though it was so crowded if you want photos without people wait until you’re walking through the gates to exit and there are often moments where the area is empty, just be a little patient. 

4. Book a session at @kyoto_samurai_experience to learn about the history of the Samurai, watch a demonstration and get to try your hand at using the samurai sword yourself.

5. Eat your way through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. You will be able to walk through these narrow streets (with some hills) and try ice cream flavors such a matcha, green tea, white peach, Sakura (if in season), Black sesame, caramel and more and yes, we tried them all! There’s also tons of mochi and other treats. You’ll find the Starbucks with a traditional Japanese home interior here as well as Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, be sure to visit.

6. Walk around Gion and catch a Kabuki show at Minamiza Theatre.

7. Visit Daigo-ji temple, it’s not frequented by a lot of tourists so it’s rarely crowded and you can have a moment on zen here!

While we didn’t have time this visit as the weather altered some of our plans on my last visit to Kyoto in 2015 I also visited Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion), Nijo Castle which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ryoanji Temple and highly recommend going. 

Some other things we were interested in but just didn’t have time for were a calligraphy class and if you are into manga you can visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum.
This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It wa This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It was an honor to be dressed by Japanese women & taught about the Kimono. Here’s everything you need to know about renting a kimono & a tiny history lesson on them(save + share this post):

1. Originally kimono was the Japanese word for clothing but is now used to refer specifically to traditional Japanese clothing. Kimono’s date back to the Heian period of 794-1185 and were every day wear until western culture was brought to Japan.

2. There are 8 layers in a kimono in addition to the Tabi (white socks) which are specifically made to wear with Jori (traditional Japanese shoes). Even though there are 8 layers it doesn’t take long to be dressed.

3. Today kimonos are mostly worn for special occasions such as NYE, weddings, gradations, tea ceremonies & summer festivals. But geishas, maikos, kabuki actors and a few traditional professions wear them every day.

4. We rented our Kimono’s from this shop https://kyoto-kimonorental.com/kimono/. It’s less than a 5 minute walk from Hokan-ji. We made a reservation in advance but you will find kimono rental shops all over Kyoto. They open at 9 and you have to return the Kimono’s by 5.

5. They offer multiple packages which vary in the type of material the kimono is. The package I got was the ¥4,900 ($37.50) one and Jordyn’s child price was ¥3,900 ($29.87). You can get your hair and makeup done for an additional ¥1,200. The value of the yen is down now so be sure to check exchange rates whenever you make it to Japan for accuracy.

6. This shop offers photo packages directly through them or you can take your own or hire a separate photographer.

7. If you’re worried about renting a kimono and wearing it in Japan being seen as cultural appropriation, don’t be. I obviously can’t speak for every Japanese person but from hearing it first hand from Japanese people in Japan and the large amount of Kimono rental shops all over Japan encouraging visitors to try kimonos, the Japanese are so excited to see foreigners embracing their culture and wearing kimonos respectfully! We received so many compliments from the local community as we explored Kyoto this day.

📍Daigo-ji temple & Hokan-ji
After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. Here’s how to get here and where we stayed (save + share this post):

1. You can take the Shinkansen (bullet) train from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station if you have the JR Pass and it will only take you 15 minutes. If you don’t have a JR Pass the Shinkansen ticket costs about 1,420 yen (right now that’s about $11). 

2. If you don’t have the JR Pass you can take the Hankyu Kyoto Line or Keihan Main Line. These are regular non express trains and will increase your travel time to from 15 minutes to 45-55 minutes but they only cost 400 yen (about $3) so you can save money, especially for a large group.

3. There is also a bus that leaves picks up at Hotel Keihan Universal Tower, Universal Studios Japan and Namba and goes to Kyoto Station. I’m not sure of the costs.

4. If you flew into Osaka you can also take the Haruka Express train from the airport to Kyoto Station. 

In Kyoto we stayed at The Chaper Kyoto which is a Marriott property. The rooms are on the small side but the hotel is clean and modern. There is a bus stop down the block which we could take to get to Gion in 9 minutes. The room was about $240/night since it’s busy season.

The weather this time of year is pretty sporadic. Some days it was hot and sunny and some days cool and gloomy so definitely pack a variety of attire and bring some layers and the weather changes throughout the day. Will be sharing our itinerary soon.

Have you been to Kyoto? If you have other accommodation recommendations please share them below to help others!

📍Fushimi Inari Taisha
Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal St Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan? You need to know this (save + share this post):

1. Just because you have tickets to the park doesn’t mean you’ll get into Super Nintendo World, it requires a timed entry ticket. These do run out so it’s not a guarantee you’ll be able to enter! If you get your park tickets in advance you might be able to grab an advanced booking in the app but if these are all gone by time you get your tickets you’ll need an area timed entry ticket. These are only available the day you’re visiting & you can only attempt to get it once you’re actually in the park! We got to the park when they opened at 8am & there were only two entry times left so arrive early! You can get them on the app (you must grant the app permission to see your location so they know you’re inside) or you can go to one of the ticket kiosks.

2. To really enjoy you’ll need a power band which are sold for about $35. If you don’t have one you can walk around & go on the 2 rides but you can’t play the games & collect coins.

3. The wait times for both rides are usually 1-3 hours! To avoid this you can purchase an Express Pass (most people said this reduces wait times to a mere 15 minutes). Express Passes were sold out the day we went so we only got to ride Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge but not Yoshi’s Adventure. To avoid the 2 hour wait for Mario Kart we actually went through the singles line. We did end up in two different karts but we only waited 20 minutes to ride instead of 2 hours. Yo Shi’a Adventure doesn’t have a singles line or we would have done that too!

4. If you want to eat at Kinopio’s Cafe you also need a timed entry ticket so be sure to grab this as soon as you get inside Super Nintendo World. It’s usually a 1-2 hour wait once you get your timed entry ticket.

5. Once you leave you cannot reenter (if timed entry tickets are required at the time) so be sure to do everything you want before leaving.

Universal Studio Japan is extremely popular & tickets do sell out often so buy in advance. The most popular sites to buy them are Klook (where we bought ours) & KKDay.

Hope this helps! Who has Super Nintendo World on their list?
How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this post):

1. Kicked off the day trying soufflé pancakes, you’ll find restaurants all over the city that sell these. We personally had them at Belle-ville Pancakes.

2. Visit the Cup of Noodles Museum where you can make your own Cup of Noodles logo and then customize the flavor and toppings for your noodles. They also offer a ramen making class here in addition to the museum where you can learn the history of the company.

3. If you’re visiting in March check to see if the March Sumo Wrestling Tournament is taking place at Edion Arena Osaka. If so def try to get tickets in advance (they go on sale a month prior) or arrive early to get same day tickets. It’s a fun afternoon.

4. We also did a Tea Ceremony class but photos/videos weren’t allowed.

5. End the first day getting cheesecake at the infamous Rikuro’s for their jiggly Cheesecake.

6. The other day spend at Universal Studios Japan for thrilling rides, shows and to relive your childhood at Super Nintendo World.

Where to stay in Osaka? The W Osaka is gorgeous but a little pricey and the Fairfield by Marriott is more budget friendly with nice, modern clean rooms just less amenities and smaller rooms (will post stories of both so you can see).

How to get to Osaka from Tokyo: We took the Shinkansen bullet train which takes 3 hours but is such an experience as it goes up to 199mph. Be sure to sit of the right side of the train for views of Mt. Fuji. You can also take a quick flight!

Other things to do in Osaka we didn’t travel time for:

1. Visit the Osaka Castle

2. Go to the top of the Umeda Sky Building

3. Go out in the Dotonbori

4. Walk around Kuromon Market

5. Watch a show at the National Bunraku Theater

6. Explore the Sumiyoshi Shrine

Which activity would you most want to do? If you’ve been to Osaka before what other recommendations do you have?

#osakajapan #travellingwithkids #cupofnoodles #universalstudiosjapan
6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAV 6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAVE + SHARE this post):

1. Link your Lyft and Skymiles accounts to earn 1 mile per $1 on US rides and 2miles per $1 on airport rides.

2. When booking Airbnb stays go to delta.com/Airbnb instead and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent on airbnbs.

3. Order groceries online with instacart? Go to instacart.com/delta to link your accounts and earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent. If you’re new to instacart you can also get 3 months free.

4. Link your Starbucks account with your Skymiles account at delta Starbucks.com and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent at Starbucks. Plus on days your flying with Delta, you’ll earn DOUBLE stars at Starbucks.

5. Sign up for SkyMiles dining at  Skymilesdining.com and is link your credit or debit card. Every time you use your card at a participating bar or restaurant, you’ll earn between 1-5 miles per $1 spent.

6. And nope you don’t have to use a Delta credit card to get miles for any of the above, no matter how you pay you’ll earn BUT is you do pay for them with a Delta co-branded credit card (there are several and depending on which one you have) you can earn anywhere from a additional 1-5 miles per dollar spent on purchases, even if they aren’t Delta airline tickets.

The cash price for the flight we took to Tokyo was $2,600pp so it would have cost me over $5,000 for this since it’s peak travel to Japan (never in my life would I pay that, we would have went somewhere else). Instead I only paid $118 total by using all of these ways to earn Delta miles over the past few years which gave me enough miles to redeem even though we don’t get to fly Delta on a regular since they don’t have the strongest presence at MIA airport as it’s American’s hub.

Do you use travel credit cards and/or points and miles from loyalty programs to offset the cost of travel? If so what are your favorite ones? Let’s all travel for less!

The Traveling Child

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27 FUN FAMILY Things to Do in Orlando Besides DISNEY & Theme Parks

February 6, 2021      Destinations, Florida, North America

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

Living in Miami we frequent Orlando a lot. While we have had our fair share of fun visiting Disney and the Universal theme parks, there is so much more to do in Orlando. 

Nine times out of ten when you tell someone you’re taking the kiddos to Orlando the first thing they ask you is if you are going to Disney or any of the other theme parks. Orlando vacations have become one with the theme park world and it is just assumed that is why you’re going taking a family trip there. 

Because most people only focus on Disney and the like they end up missing out on all the amazing things to do in Orlando with kids that does NOT involve theme parks. Which is such a shame really. But, since you’re reading this right now I am going to assume that you’ve had this epiphany about Orlando as well, what exactly does Orlando have to offer the kids? Lots, actually and I can’t wait to help you discover the hidden gems of family fun that Orland has to offer.  

How to Plan a Family Vacation to Orlando Florida Without Visiting Theme Parks

I am not gonna waste your time and go into the whole “Book a flight, find a hotel or vacation rental, line up transportation spiel”. I am going to assume that you have gone on vacation before and or have a general idea of what you need to do to go on one, and since you most likely have kids no one needs an extra 5 minutes of reading time added. So, just, you know, make sure you do all that stuff. 

Now, what I find a tad bit harder to do is plan out an itinerary for vacation days, especially with kids who always bring the unexpected to a family trip.

Things to Think about when planning your Orlando Family Vacation Itinerary

Before you can really start mapping out all the things you’re going to do in Orlando there are a few logistics you should consider.

  1. Age of the children traveling with you. Unlike planning a Disney Vacation when you pretty much know you’re going to be spending all day at the parks you have a little wiggle room in your itinerary here. Are your kids still taking naps? Do they get bored easily? How often do they need to eat? You are able to carve out time for individual needs and decide how full of a day you’re going to have or if you will be moving at a more leisurely pace.
  2. Make a list of the top 5 or 10 things you want to do while in Orlando. Depending on the length of your vacation you want to make a list, prioritizing what you and your kids would like to do the most. This keeps things a little more relaxed and if there is a blip in your day then the pressure is off.
  3. Find out how long you expect to spend at each attraction/activity. This is a must! Do a little digging and find out if it only takes an hour to run through an amusement or if it’s a 4-5 hour experience. This will help you narrow down your list of things you want to do even more and give you a better idea of what your day is going to look like.

It may feel like a pain in the rear now to plan everything out, just for it to not work out, because, you know.. Kids! But, the benefit of mapping out an Orlando vacation itinerary that most likely won’t get followed is that you know what you can pick and choose from it to best suit your needs on any given vacation day.

You’ll thank me later! Alright, so now, let’s dive into some of the things that I love to do with my girls in Orlando and that I think you will really enjoy doing with your kids too!

The Best Things to Do in Orlando Besides Theme Parks

Hang- Gliding at Wallaby Ranch

Did you know you could go hang-gliding in Orlando? This was something I always thought you needed mountains for but the people at Wallaby Ranch found a solution to the mountain-less terrain in Florida! You are actually brought into the air by your hanglide being attached to a small plane that takes off and brings you high enough until the captain releases your hang-glide. This is an activity almost the whole family can participate in as they’ve taken kids as young as 3. My daughters were 6 and 7 when they did this and my youngest loved it so much she went twice! Talk about a thrill you can’t get at a theme park in Orlando!

Andretti Indoor Karting and Games

Looking for something to do in Orlando when it’s raining or the sun is baking? Andretti Indoor Karting and Games is the perfect thing to do in Orlando besides theme parks. When we visited my daughter wasn’t tall enough to do the go-karts but we still had a ton of fun. She personally loved doing laser tag, singing in the karaoke booth and playing the arcade games. Andretti also has a bowling alley, ropes course, and wine room!

How much is Andretti Indoor Karting and Games?

Pricing varies at Andretti, it’s more of an “a la carte” style of pricing and if you’re going with a large group it can get expensive. They do have different packages and it is cheaper to go Monday-Friday. Weekend pricing is $2-3 dollars more on every attraction. That may not seem like much, but it adds up. So it’s best to add this to your list of things to do during the week!

Go on A Hot Air Balloon Ride

Even though we’ve been to Orlando a hundred times until a recent trip I had no idea hot air balloon rides were a thing in this area. When I think of hot air balloons I think of Arizona, Cappadocia and Luxor so it was great to find out this could be done here too. There are a few companies in the area that offer the rides, Bob’s Balloon Rides, Maverick Balloon Adventures, and Painted Horizons.

Wall Crawl

If you are a sucker for a good photo opp like I am you will love Wall Crawl. They have lots of backdrop to take photos in front of and you can take your own or upgrade your ticket to include a photo package. The walls change every season so even if you’ve been once, the next time you visit you could have new options. This Orlando attraction only lasts for an hour and is something that teenagers will really like!

WonderWorks

Wonderworks is a mix of so many things. There are exhibits where you can learn facts, test out experiments, and look at optical illusions. You also have the opportunity to complete a ropes course, compete in a game of laser tag and ride an astronaut simulator. Be sure to look on Groupon for discounted rates or get a Go Orlando Card which grants admission to 25 places for 50% off general rates including Wonderworks.

The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show

Inside of WonderWorks is the Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show. It’s geared towards kids so come here to let them laugh the night away. It’s very interactive and kids can volunteer to go on stage and participate. The show includes all you can eat pizza and salad and comes with desert. For adults you can choose wine or beer in addition to soft drinks. My daughter had a great time and so did the adults. This attraction is also included in the Go Orlando Card.

How much do The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show tickets cost?

Ticket prices start at $32 for adults, Kids 4-12 and Seniors over 60 are $21. Children 3 and under are free. Given that you get dinner and a show it’s pretty reasonable. Pricing does vary throughout the week. They have two shows at 6pm and 8pm. You can expect to be there for an hour to an hour and a half.

Take a Trapeze Class at the Orlando Circus School

By far the coolest thing to do in Orlando besides theme parks is taking a trapeze class at the Orlando Circus School. We booked a private class for our two kids for an hour for $150 but they let the four of us participate at no extra cost and whew the thrills. Full disclosure I am terrified of heights but it was so much fun once I relaxed and actually breathed. 

The coaches are so patient and after our girls were done with the trapeze they took them to the trampolines. Here they hooked them to a harness to help them learn how to do backflips. This was an experience like no other and we can’t wait to do it again!

Gatorland Orlando

If you like thrills another fun family activity in Orlando is Gatorland. We originally came solely to zip-line over the gators, yes you read that right, but we discovered there is a lot more to do here. But let’s start with the zip-lining which is rated top ten in the United States. There are only 5 lines here but believe me it’s just enough! Click here for an full-day admission ticket.

After we put our feet back on the ground we walked around the park that has thousands of Gators. A lot of them have been brought here after being taken out of neighborhoods, like the one that kept eating peoples dogs. Besides gators they have crocodiles, snakes, birds and more.

If you’re not into holding alligators or snakes there is also a petting zoo with goats that might be more your speed. For $2 a cone you can get food to feed them. Don’t worry there is a hand washing station here to wash up before exiting.

Icebar Orlando

If you need to cool down during your visit, Icebar Orlando is the perfect place. Coats and gloves are included in admission so no need to worry about that. Enjoy sitting on ice seats and seeing all the amazing ice sculptures. Kids who are at least 8 can visit from 5pm-9pm. 

You May Be Interested in Reading: Travel Safety Tips You Don’t Want to Skip

Clear Kayak at Rock Springs

After using a clear kayak on out trip to Aruba I’ve been hooked. I was very excited to find out you could do this about 30 minutes North of Orlando at Rock Springs. We took a 2.5 hour tour with Get Up and Go Kayaking and it was amazing. The water is crystal clear and we even saw three otters swimming through the springs, lots of turtles and pretty birds. There is an opportunity to get out and swim during the tour.

Island H2O Live Waterpark

Who doesn’t love a good water park? While most of the water parks in Orlando are associated with theme parks, Island H2O Live is not. Located onsite the Margaritaville Resort Orlando it’s free of Disney characters and the mayhem that comes with that. It’s open to the public so you don’t have to be staying at the resort to visit. It’s also significantly cheaper than the other water parks in the area.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

The name says it all but Ripley’s Believe it or Not will stun you with the crazy things that are true in this world. From shrunken heads to the tallest person on earth, Ripley’s is filled with bizarre and mysterious truths. It’s located on iDrive near tons of restaurants and other things to do in Orlando. You can expect to spend about 2 hours in the museum. This would be a good morning attraction followed by lunch! This pass gives you up to 50% off local experiences, including Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

Medieval Times Dinner Show

One of my kids favorite things to do in Orlando besides theme parks in the Medieval Times Dinner show. They even made us go again on our trip to Myrtle Beach when they found out there was one there. This 90 minute show includes knights competing against each other in a tournament with jousting and more. It includes a feast that must be eaten with your hands as they don’t provide utensils. The meal is a starter of tomato soup and garlic bread followed by chicken, potatoes and corn on the cob. For dessert it’s normally ice cream and a brownie or cake and they do provide a vegetarian option.

Blue Springs

If you want to see wildlife in their natural habitat Blue Springs is the place to go. It’s a designated Manatee Refuge in the winter  and there are over 400+ manatees in the area. You can do a ton of water activities here like tubing, swimming or canoeing down the river. This 3 hour kayaking tour  takes you through Blue Springs State Park where you will see a wide variety of native wildlife including one of Florida’s largest manatee populations.

Kennedy Space Center

If you’re child loves space and/or astronauts you have to visit Kennedy Space Center while in Orlando. It’s a 45 minute drive from the airport but worth every second. You’ll be able to see tons of rocket ships, a reenactment of the moon landing, what it’s like to be in zero gravity and meet astronauts that have been to space. Plan to spend the whole day here because there is tons to do. Admission is also included in the Go Orlando Card and with normal tickets costing $57 it’s a no brainer to purchase the card especially if you plan to visit both here and LEGOLAND. Click here for other options to consider when visiting Kennedy Space Center.

The Kennedy Space Center is my daughters favorite thing to do in Orlando besides theme parks.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

While they do sell astronaut costumes at Kennedy Space Center I recommend buying in advance. You’ll save a lot of money buying it online on Amazon, about 50% savings. My daughters came with a helmet as well but she prefers to “show her face”. You will definitely see this outfit again come Halloween!

Electric Ocean at Sea World

Ok so while Electric Ocean is in the theme park Sea World it is a completely different event. It’s a huge dance party with special lights and a lot of fun for kids. Watch the promo video here for a better idea. It goes on from 5:30-9:30pm. You can get SeaWorld park admission tickets here.

The Escape Game

We did our first escape room on our trip to Fort Myers and Sanibel Island and we had so much fun we had to do it again in Orlando. It’s especially great on a rainy day, which happen quite often in the summer time. Since we have younger kids we did the playground themed room but we all had a great time. We even escaped with 8 minutes to spare!!

Weikiva Island

If you’re looking for things to do in Orlando besides theme parks that get you one with nature check out Weikiva Island. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and swim on the island.

The Crayola Experience

While I do think Disney is great for toddlers if you’re looking for things to do in Orlando besides theme parks because you’re traveling with younger kids The Crayola Experience is perfect. I took my daughter when she was two and she loved it. There are two play areas along with crayon experiences. You can create your own crayon labels, make your own coloring book pages from pictures you take, make your own crayons in different shapes, and more. Be sure to check Groupon as they usually offer discounted tickets. Get Your Guide also offers tickets that allow you to skip the line. 


Fun Spot America

Even though you may be looking for things to do in Orlando besides theme parks it doesn’t mean you don’t want to go on rides. So if you want some thrills without the theme park crowds spend a day or afternoon at Fun Spot America. They have a location in Orlando and Kissimmee and you can pay per ride or purchase an all day pass. If you buy the Go Orlando Card you’ll get four rides included.

Boggy Creek Airboat Tour

Living in Miami we’ve visited the Everglades there and done an airboat tour and my daughters loved it. You can do the same in Orlando at Boggy Creek Airboat Tour. It’s such a different activity than what most people come up with when thinking of things to do in Orlando. Admission is also included in the Go Orlando Card. 

Pirate Adventure Dinner

If your kids are as obsessed with pirates and mermaids as mine are they will love the Pirate Adventure Dinner. They have a 6pm and 8pm show filled with crowd participation and aerial acrobats. While their website has tickets for $63 we found this on Groupon for $25 for kids and $29 for adults which includes your meal. The Groupon did come with a surprise tax add-on when we called to make our reservation, $15 total for our 4 tickets. Still we enjoyed the evening and the kids had so much fun.

iFly Indoor Skydiving

If you’re not ready for the real thing iFly Indoor Skydiving is a great way to prepare yourself or just have some fun without jumping out of a plane. Kids as young as 3 years old can participate and my daughter had the time of her life. She did two 1-minute flights and wanted to do more.

Chocolate Kingdom

If you like chocolate you’ll enjoy the tour at Chocolate Kingdom. It’s an interactive tour that not only give you a history of chocolate but gives you a taste in various states and forms. If you have kids they will love the part of the tour where they get to catapult marshmallows into a dragons mouth. At the end of the tour you can customize your own chocolate bar for an additional fee. Before the tour I thought we would get to mix our own ingredients and chocolate together but they do it for you. For the extra $7 it costs for the bar we could have skipped it and just bought some pre-made chocolate, still we enjoyed the tour.

Kayaking at Shingle Creek

While the water isn’t as gorgeous as at Rock Springs this kayaking at Shingle Creek is a closer option for things to do in Orlando besides theme parks. Here you can go on a guided tour or just rent the kayaks on your own and explore the creek. You honestly don’t feel like you’re in Orlando at all which is insane because you’re just a few minutes from International Drive!

Farris and Fosters Chocolate Factory

Yes, there is more than one chocolate experience in Orlando. The one at Farris and Fosters is much more hands on as you make you entire chocolate bar on your own. You also have the ability to make other chocolate goodies like strawberry, pretzel, and marshmallows covered in chocolate. There are also various molds to make chocolate lollipops. There isn’t any educational background on chocolate like Chocolate Kingdom but you can make a lot more things here. Monday’s are family night and up to four people can join for one low price.

Take a Day Trip to Tampa

Tampa is only an hour drive from Tampa and also has a ton for kids to do. Pack your bathing suits because they have beautiful white sand beaches at Clearwater. If your kids are into mermaids they can even become one during a Be a Mermaid Experience. Read more on that and other things to do in Tampa with kids in my guide here.

Take a Day Trip to Ocala

Just one hour from Orlando Ocala is the perfect day trip. Now if only spending a day you’ll have to decide between visiting the gorgeous springs, horseback riding, or exploring Ocala National Forest. Either way you’ll enjoy this adventure from Orlando. Check out my guide to Ocala here to see what to spend your day doing.

Staying in Florida for an extended time? Here are our itineraries from some of our other favorite Florida cities: Key West, Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, Naples, Key West, and Panama City Beach.

There are so many things to do in Orlando besides theme parks. Even hanging out at your resort can be fun. Our favorites are the Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake, Hyatt Regency Cypress Creek and Margaritaville Orlando Resort.  Did you find this helpful? Please share it!

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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