Orlando Visitor Sites
Listing of economical area activities to supplement your adventures!
Please remember that times may change according to season and attraction attendance, so please contact vendors for information confirmation.
Remember your Reciprocity to Orlando Science Center
http://www.osc.org/
http://playfulpost.weebly.com/local-annual-memberships--great-explorations.html
Playful Promo Annual Memberships include area, state, regional, national & continent discounts & reciprocity.
A World of Orchids in Kissimmee. The 22,500-square-foot (2,090-square-meter) conservatory has orchids as well as many other species of exotic flora. Walk along the path and admire natural exhibits with flowers from Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, and Central and South America. Closed Sundays. Walk through A World of Orchids, a huge conservatory filled with tropical plants from around the world.
Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens This Winter Park museum and gardens were the retirement home of internationally acclaimed sculptor, Albin Polasek. Exhibits change throughout the year, but you will always find a nice selection of sculpture, photography and art in addition to the beautiful gardens.
Admission to the gardens is free of charge. 633 Osceola Drive in Winter Park.
Tuesday thru Saturday: 10-4, Sunday: 1-4, Sept - June. 407-647-6294
Big Tree Park, and visit Florida's oldest resident, "the Senator." At 118 feet (38 meters) tall and approximately 3,500 years old, it is one of America's oldest bald cypress trees. Amble along the boardwalk or bring along lunch to eat at one of the park's many picnic tables.
Celebration. The town, conceived by Disney, is a blend of historic-themed architecture and modern technology. Admire the seasonally decorated old-fashioned properties and let the kids play in the interactive fountain.
Stop by the farmers market on Sunday mornings or check out the many free events
(snow on main street, horse draw carriages, author readings and signings) offered by
Reading Trout Books. Visitors can even see (fake) snow falling in the winter months.
Chamberlin's Market & Cafe is more than an organic grocery store. Stop by for free classes and guest speakers year-round; if you're visiting in September, check out their Fall Harvest Festival for free samplings of organic food.
Cornell Fine Arts Museum on the Rollins College campus for free (adults $5). Be sure to see Cosimo Rosselli's Madonna and Child Enthroned (c.1475-80) and J. B. Leprince's The Seasons (1763), both on display in their permanent collection.
Disney's Boardwalk, a re-creation of a 1930s-style Atlantic coastal village.
The 45-acre (18-hectare) waterfront district is known for its nightclubs and entertainment hot spots,
but all visitors can enjoy the many street musicians, magicians, and performers for free.
Disney's Downtown Marketplace for an array of boutiques and eateries for every budget. Check out their Festival of the Masters (November), an arts-and-crafts event where kids can create their own chalk masterpieces. Watch glassblowers at Arribas Brothers; visit the 4,400-square-foot (409-square-meter) Lego Imagination Center to compete in a "beat-the-clock" building contest, or see a 12-foot (3.6-meter) T. rex and 30-foot (9-meter) sea serpent, both made of thousands of pieces of one of America's favorite toys.
Don't forget to dig for fossils in the sand pit at TRex or explore RainForest Cafe & Planet Hollywood!
Disney's Magic Kingdom Fireworks can be seen from other areas. Leave your car in the main parking lot and take the free tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) for the best up-close views of the nightly fireworks. If you are staying in a Disney-operated resort, hop on the monorail for free and get off at the Magic Kingdom entrance to watch the show.
Disney's Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake (including Disney's Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, or Contemporary Resort),
you can see the nightly Electrical Water Pageant. Watch King Triton and other sea-themed floats glitter past in an array of sparkling lights. The show starts at 9 p.m. near the Polynesian Resort and ends near the Contemporary Resort about an hour later.
Festival Bay has everything from Outlet Mall & Bass Pro Shop... Sheplers Western, Cinemark & Ron Jon
to Van's Skate Park & Monkey Joe's bounce house... Putting Edge glow in the dark & Sharky's Bungee!
Everyone in your entire group is sure to find something fun to do... Especially great for indoor days!
Fleaworld and Funworld have more than 1,700 vendors selling bargain-priced items. The venues showcase acrobatic shows, circus and magic acts, and exotic animals. Fleaworld is open Friday-Sunday;
Funworld is open on weekends only. Both have free admission.
Fun Spot
is a fun place to wrap up a day with all ages! Think of a permanent carnival and realize the FUN!
Be sure to print the coupon: http://www.funspot.tutengraphics.com/index.php?mypage=Coupon
Grand Bohemian Gallery at no cost. Conveniently located downtown, the gallery has everything from local contemporary art glass and jewelry to European paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Harry P. Leu Gardens has free storytelling for young children 3rd Sundays. Bring children under 18 months at 10 a.m., toddlers at 10:20 a.m., and 3-4 year olds at 10:40 a.m. for storytelling in the park. Admission to the 50-acre (20-hectare) park is free from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, so take your child for a stroll along any of the park's three miles (five kilometers) of paved scenic walkways after story time. Attractions include a butterfly garden, a two-acre (one-hectare) tropical stream garden, bamboo and palm gardens,
and a house museum dating to the 1880s.
Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida One of the oldest Holocaust museums in the country, founded in 1982. Permanent exhibit, traveling exhibits, a 6,000 volume library, a film series, and community programs. Free admission to the museum. Explore the history of the Holocaust with a minimum of graphic images and disturbing representations.
851 N Maitland Ave. in Maitland. 407-628-0555
Howl at the Moon, the "dueling piano sing-along bar" and hot spot for over-21 parties. Booking a Happy Hour Party in advance gets you free admission before 11 p.m., complimentary buffet from 6-8 p.m., half off select drinks before 8 p.m., and your first drink free. The Moon also has other free weekly specials,
like their Tuesday two-for-one olive drinks.
Keila Glassworks Gallery in the historic Dr. Phillips building for handblown glass by Charles Keila; the Pound Gallery for music and art fusion by Jim Faherty and Gene Zimmerman; and the Zulu Exclusive Gallery for 100 years of African sculpture.
Knightly Spirits offers free beer every other Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Stop by their Metro West location in Orlando to test one of their 700 beers at the free beer tastings. Knightly Spirits was rated Best Beer Retailer in 2007 by www.Ratebeer.com.
Lake Jesup Black Hammock Adventures has free live alligator and bird exhibits. Watch trainers feed the 12-foot (3.6-meter), 650-pound (295-kilogram) resident gator Hammy on Sunday afternoons. At the restaurant, listen to free live music every Friday and Saturday night.
Monkey Joe's
Bounce your sillies out! Bring your kids to Monkey Joe's fun-filled inflatable play center!
Wall-to-wall inflatable slides, jumps, and obstacle courses will keep kids active, happy, and healthy.
The play center is suitable for kids 12 years-old and younger.
Mini Monkey Zone is a separate toddler play area that will keep your little ones safe and secure.
Old Town This shopping, dining and entertainment venue located in the heart of the tourist district in Kissimmee has live entertainment nightly with a
Classic Friday & Saturday Nite Cruise - a parade of custom, exotic and special interest vehicles highlighted with music from the 50's & 60's. Throughout the year special weekend family events include: December snow falls, Latin Sundays and even pinewood derby races.
5770 W. U.S. Highway 192 Kissimmee, Florida 34746 407-396-4888
Old Town, a unique amusement park and shopping area.
Over 700 motorcyclists rally through the streets on Thursday nights.
On Saturday nights Old Town comes to life with a vintage-car parade with over 300 cars.
While the park offers live entertainment every night at 7:30 p.m.,
its Saturday night show (7 p.m.) plays exclusively '50s and '60s rock 'n' roll.
Visitors buy tickets for the amusement rides, but admission to Old Town & concerts and car shows are free.
Orlando Public Library's Children's Library for special readings, arts-and-crafts activities,
Third Thursday family movie night, board games, and musical events.
March of the Peabody Ducks at the Peabody Orlando hotel. Watch as the ducks are escorted to the tunes of John Philip Sousa from the hotel (at 11 a.m.) along a red carpet to the Royal Duck Fountain. At 5 p.m., watch as the ducks are escorted back—with a gourmet meal of worms, lettuce, and carrots—to their $100,000 palace. Sometimes kids can be Honorary Duck Master for one of the shows. Parents should call Duck Master David Robinson at The Peabody to nominate their child. Being an Honorary Duck Master is popular, so call as soon as you've booked your tickets to Orlando.
Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando.
The hotel has been recognized as one of the most elaborate themed hotel environments in the United States.
All Orlando visitors can enjoy free nightly Italian music performances.
The Republic Promotion Company offers free beer and music at two Orlando clubs. Join underground music deejays at the electronic music venue Firestone for Club Firestone on Thursdays, which features free admission and free beer before 11 p.m. If electronic music isn't your style, check out Crush at Back Booth for an eclectic mix of indie, rock/pop, and Motown on Monday nights for free beer.
Cover charge is $3 for 18- to 20-year-olds, but free for those 21 and up.
Uptown Altamonte You may know the this popular spot by it's prior name, Crane's Roost Park. The City of Altamonte Springs has recently added an entire shopping, dining and entertainment complex along the lake. On just about any given evening you will find free entertainment including live music, karaoke, comedians and street performers. Exit I-4 at 436 and head east about 1/4 mile, Uptown Altamonte will be on your left.
Listing of economical area activities to supplement your adventures!
Please remember that times may change according to season and attraction attendance, so please contact vendors for information confirmation.
Remember your Reciprocity to Orlando Science Center
http://www.osc.org/
http://playfulpost.weebly.com/local-annual-memberships--great-explorations.html
Playful Promo Annual Memberships include area, state, regional, national & continent discounts & reciprocity.
A World of Orchids in Kissimmee. The 22,500-square-foot (2,090-square-meter) conservatory has orchids as well as many other species of exotic flora. Walk along the path and admire natural exhibits with flowers from Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, and Central and South America. Closed Sundays. Walk through A World of Orchids, a huge conservatory filled with tropical plants from around the world.
Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens This Winter Park museum and gardens were the retirement home of internationally acclaimed sculptor, Albin Polasek. Exhibits change throughout the year, but you will always find a nice selection of sculpture, photography and art in addition to the beautiful gardens.
Admission to the gardens is free of charge. 633 Osceola Drive in Winter Park.
Tuesday thru Saturday: 10-4, Sunday: 1-4, Sept - June. 407-647-6294
Big Tree Park, and visit Florida's oldest resident, "the Senator." At 118 feet (38 meters) tall and approximately 3,500 years old, it is one of America's oldest bald cypress trees. Amble along the boardwalk or bring along lunch to eat at one of the park's many picnic tables.
Celebration. The town, conceived by Disney, is a blend of historic-themed architecture and modern technology. Admire the seasonally decorated old-fashioned properties and let the kids play in the interactive fountain.
Stop by the farmers market on Sunday mornings or check out the many free events
(snow on main street, horse draw carriages, author readings and signings) offered by
Reading Trout Books. Visitors can even see (fake) snow falling in the winter months.
Chamberlin's Market & Cafe is more than an organic grocery store. Stop by for free classes and guest speakers year-round; if you're visiting in September, check out their Fall Harvest Festival for free samplings of organic food.
Cornell Fine Arts Museum on the Rollins College campus for free (adults $5). Be sure to see Cosimo Rosselli's Madonna and Child Enthroned (c.1475-80) and J. B. Leprince's The Seasons (1763), both on display in their permanent collection.
Disney's Boardwalk, a re-creation of a 1930s-style Atlantic coastal village.
The 45-acre (18-hectare) waterfront district is known for its nightclubs and entertainment hot spots,
but all visitors can enjoy the many street musicians, magicians, and performers for free.
Disney's Downtown Marketplace for an array of boutiques and eateries for every budget. Check out their Festival of the Masters (November), an arts-and-crafts event where kids can create their own chalk masterpieces. Watch glassblowers at Arribas Brothers; visit the 4,400-square-foot (409-square-meter) Lego Imagination Center to compete in a "beat-the-clock" building contest, or see a 12-foot (3.6-meter) T. rex and 30-foot (9-meter) sea serpent, both made of thousands of pieces of one of America's favorite toys.
Don't forget to dig for fossils in the sand pit at TRex or explore RainForest Cafe & Planet Hollywood!
Disney's Magic Kingdom Fireworks can be seen from other areas. Leave your car in the main parking lot and take the free tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) for the best up-close views of the nightly fireworks. If you are staying in a Disney-operated resort, hop on the monorail for free and get off at the Magic Kingdom entrance to watch the show.
Disney's Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake (including Disney's Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, or Contemporary Resort),
you can see the nightly Electrical Water Pageant. Watch King Triton and other sea-themed floats glitter past in an array of sparkling lights. The show starts at 9 p.m. near the Polynesian Resort and ends near the Contemporary Resort about an hour later.
Festival Bay has everything from Outlet Mall & Bass Pro Shop... Sheplers Western, Cinemark & Ron Jon
to Van's Skate Park & Monkey Joe's bounce house... Putting Edge glow in the dark & Sharky's Bungee!
Everyone in your entire group is sure to find something fun to do... Especially great for indoor days!
Fleaworld and Funworld have more than 1,700 vendors selling bargain-priced items. The venues showcase acrobatic shows, circus and magic acts, and exotic animals. Fleaworld is open Friday-Sunday;
Funworld is open on weekends only. Both have free admission.
Fun Spot
is a fun place to wrap up a day with all ages! Think of a permanent carnival and realize the FUN!
Be sure to print the coupon: http://www.funspot.tutengraphics.com/index.php?mypage=Coupon
Grand Bohemian Gallery at no cost. Conveniently located downtown, the gallery has everything from local contemporary art glass and jewelry to European paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Harry P. Leu Gardens has free storytelling for young children 3rd Sundays. Bring children under 18 months at 10 a.m., toddlers at 10:20 a.m., and 3-4 year olds at 10:40 a.m. for storytelling in the park. Admission to the 50-acre (20-hectare) park is free from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, so take your child for a stroll along any of the park's three miles (five kilometers) of paved scenic walkways after story time. Attractions include a butterfly garden, a two-acre (one-hectare) tropical stream garden, bamboo and palm gardens,
and a house museum dating to the 1880s.
Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida One of the oldest Holocaust museums in the country, founded in 1982. Permanent exhibit, traveling exhibits, a 6,000 volume library, a film series, and community programs. Free admission to the museum. Explore the history of the Holocaust with a minimum of graphic images and disturbing representations.
851 N Maitland Ave. in Maitland. 407-628-0555
Howl at the Moon, the "dueling piano sing-along bar" and hot spot for over-21 parties. Booking a Happy Hour Party in advance gets you free admission before 11 p.m., complimentary buffet from 6-8 p.m., half off select drinks before 8 p.m., and your first drink free. The Moon also has other free weekly specials,
like their Tuesday two-for-one olive drinks.
Keila Glassworks Gallery in the historic Dr. Phillips building for handblown glass by Charles Keila; the Pound Gallery for music and art fusion by Jim Faherty and Gene Zimmerman; and the Zulu Exclusive Gallery for 100 years of African sculpture.
Knightly Spirits offers free beer every other Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Stop by their Metro West location in Orlando to test one of their 700 beers at the free beer tastings. Knightly Spirits was rated Best Beer Retailer in 2007 by www.Ratebeer.com.
Lake Jesup Black Hammock Adventures has free live alligator and bird exhibits. Watch trainers feed the 12-foot (3.6-meter), 650-pound (295-kilogram) resident gator Hammy on Sunday afternoons. At the restaurant, listen to free live music every Friday and Saturday night.
Monkey Joe's
Bounce your sillies out! Bring your kids to Monkey Joe's fun-filled inflatable play center!
Wall-to-wall inflatable slides, jumps, and obstacle courses will keep kids active, happy, and healthy.
The play center is suitable for kids 12 years-old and younger.
Mini Monkey Zone is a separate toddler play area that will keep your little ones safe and secure.
Old Town This shopping, dining and entertainment venue located in the heart of the tourist district in Kissimmee has live entertainment nightly with a
Classic Friday & Saturday Nite Cruise - a parade of custom, exotic and special interest vehicles highlighted with music from the 50's & 60's. Throughout the year special weekend family events include: December snow falls, Latin Sundays and even pinewood derby races.
5770 W. U.S. Highway 192 Kissimmee, Florida 34746 407-396-4888
Old Town, a unique amusement park and shopping area.
Over 700 motorcyclists rally through the streets on Thursday nights.
On Saturday nights Old Town comes to life with a vintage-car parade with over 300 cars.
While the park offers live entertainment every night at 7:30 p.m.,
its Saturday night show (7 p.m.) plays exclusively '50s and '60s rock 'n' roll.
Visitors buy tickets for the amusement rides, but admission to Old Town & concerts and car shows are free.
Orlando Public Library's Children's Library for special readings, arts-and-crafts activities,
Third Thursday family movie night, board games, and musical events.
March of the Peabody Ducks at the Peabody Orlando hotel. Watch as the ducks are escorted to the tunes of John Philip Sousa from the hotel (at 11 a.m.) along a red carpet to the Royal Duck Fountain. At 5 p.m., watch as the ducks are escorted back—with a gourmet meal of worms, lettuce, and carrots—to their $100,000 palace. Sometimes kids can be Honorary Duck Master for one of the shows. Parents should call Duck Master David Robinson at The Peabody to nominate their child. Being an Honorary Duck Master is popular, so call as soon as you've booked your tickets to Orlando.
Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando.
The hotel has been recognized as one of the most elaborate themed hotel environments in the United States.
All Orlando visitors can enjoy free nightly Italian music performances.
The Republic Promotion Company offers free beer and music at two Orlando clubs. Join underground music deejays at the electronic music venue Firestone for Club Firestone on Thursdays, which features free admission and free beer before 11 p.m. If electronic music isn't your style, check out Crush at Back Booth for an eclectic mix of indie, rock/pop, and Motown on Monday nights for free beer.
Cover charge is $3 for 18- to 20-year-olds, but free for those 21 and up.
Uptown Altamonte You may know the this popular spot by it's prior name, Crane's Roost Park. The City of Altamonte Springs has recently added an entire shopping, dining and entertainment complex along the lake. On just about any given evening you will find free entertainment including live music, karaoke, comedians and street performers. Exit I-4 at 436 and head east about 1/4 mile, Uptown Altamonte will be on your left.
Orlando Outdoors
Twenty minutes east of Orlando in Titusville is Fort Christmas Historical Park, a full-size replica of Fort Christmas, originally built for the Second Seminole Indian War (1835-1842). The Fort has several historical structures and many pioneer demonstrations (like musket and cannon firings) and craft fairs throughout the year. Closed Mondays and holidays.
Take a dip in the free-flowing natural spring at Kelly Park, Rock Springs. The 245-acre (100-hectare) park has camping, wildlife, hiking trails, and an abundance of recreational activities, both wet and dry. Check out their website or call +1 407 889 4179 for special events. Children under five get into the park for free. All others pay $1 admission.
Take a breather from downtown Orlando and visit the 43-acre (17-hectare) Lake Eola Park, located in the heart of the city. The lake is actually an 80-foot (24-meter) sinkhole. Enjoy a concert or play in the amphitheatre, check out the view of the Orlando skyline, or, on Sundays, stop by the farmers market.
See some 600 plant species at the 80-acre (32-hectare) University of Central Florida Arboretum. The Arboretum, opened in 1983, has at least eight natural ecosystems. Visitors can admire the Swamp Habitat, walk or bike along the 9-acre (3.6-hectare) lake, or play a game of disc golf.
Each September, 6,900-acre (2,792-hectare) Wekiwa Springs State Park honors International Literacy Day by offering free admission to those who bring their library card, donate a book, or show a checked-out library book. Enjoy hiking, nature trails, fishing, swimming, campfires, and a nature museum and interpretive exhibit in the park's Nature Center. (Regular admission to the park is $5 per vehicle.)
Whether you want to take a rejuvenating walk or play an intense game of volleyball, Winter Park has something for everyone. Take the kids to one of many playgrounds, browse for goodies at the Saturday Farmers Market, enjoy the blooms at the Kraft Azalea Garden, or learn about the park's history at the Winter Park Historical Museum.
Take a dip in the free-flowing natural spring at Kelly Park, Rock Springs. The 245-acre (100-hectare) park has camping, wildlife, hiking trails, and an abundance of recreational activities, both wet and dry. Check out their website or call +1 407 889 4179 for special events. Children under five get into the park for free. All others pay $1 admission.
Take a breather from downtown Orlando and visit the 43-acre (17-hectare) Lake Eola Park, located in the heart of the city. The lake is actually an 80-foot (24-meter) sinkhole. Enjoy a concert or play in the amphitheatre, check out the view of the Orlando skyline, or, on Sundays, stop by the farmers market.
See some 600 plant species at the 80-acre (32-hectare) University of Central Florida Arboretum. The Arboretum, opened in 1983, has at least eight natural ecosystems. Visitors can admire the Swamp Habitat, walk or bike along the 9-acre (3.6-hectare) lake, or play a game of disc golf.
Each September, 6,900-acre (2,792-hectare) Wekiwa Springs State Park honors International Literacy Day by offering free admission to those who bring their library card, donate a book, or show a checked-out library book. Enjoy hiking, nature trails, fishing, swimming, campfires, and a nature museum and interpretive exhibit in the park's Nature Center. (Regular admission to the park is $5 per vehicle.)
Whether you want to take a rejuvenating walk or play an intense game of volleyball, Winter Park has something for everyone. Take the kids to one of many playgrounds, browse for goodies at the Saturday Farmers Market, enjoy the blooms at the Kraft Azalea Garden, or learn about the park's history at the Winter Park Historical Museum.
Orlando Clicks
http://orlando.about.com/od/placestogo/qt/freeactivities.htm
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/city-guides/free-orlando-traveler/
Orlando Travel and Visitors Bureau
City of Orlando
Orlando City Guide
Interactive Map of Orlando
Orlando Attractions
Calendar of Events
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/city-guides/free-orlando-traveler/
Orlando Travel and Visitors Bureau
City of Orlando
Orlando City Guide
Interactive Map of Orlando
Orlando Attractions
Calendar of Events
Sarasota Notes
Fun things to do in Sarasota and around the Suncoast for free or inexpensively! http://www.escape-to-sarasota.com/sarasota-calendar-of-events.html
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Pinellas Current Event Links Pinellas County Visitor Sites
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Topic of the Month Current Events Ongoing Activites Dining Archives Resources