With your kids out of school, you need to prepare them for their favorite time of the year. Summer vacation is the time for kids to get out and enjoy the world around them, but going back to Disney and Universal can get repetitive, not to mention expensive. Here are some activities for the family to enjoy in the Orlando area that’ll keep your little ones as happy as your wallet!
Beat the Summer Heat
The outdoors is a wonderful place to let loose and enjoy what nature offers, so head away from the city and check out Blue Spring State Park. Located in Orange City, Blue Spring offers many aquatic activities, such as fishing, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, tubing, and more! For the more adventurous ones, try birdwatching, hiking, overnight camping, primitive camping, and picnicking.
Besides its beautiful amenities, Blue Spring State Park is very affordable. Rentals and specific experiences will likely cost extra, but admission is just $6 per vehicle, $4 for single-occupant vehicles, or $2 for cyclers, pedestrians, and Annual Individual Entrance Pass members. Better get there early too because they fill up quickly and close at sundown!
Another great option is the Orlando Watersports Complex, just a few miles south of downtown. The Complex is an entertainment hub for children and adults, featuring two full-sized cables, tubing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and kneeboarding, all with individual lessons and gear at an extra fee and plenty more.
If your kids are getting to the point where they want to spend their summers with friends, the Complex also provides a summer camp. The camp includes most previously mentioned activities in addition to water balloon fights and lunch from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Spend a Nice Day Outside
If you want to spend a nice day outdoors but don’t want to exhaust yourself, consider stopping by the Orlando Farmers Market in Lake Eola Park. The Farmers Market at Lake Eola, now in its 35th year of business and 19th year at this location, opens its doors every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
You can check out exotic indoor and outdoor plants, local produce, fresh foods, gourmet meals, arts and crafts, handcrafted artifacts, and even pet-friendly accommodations such as treats, clothing, and accessories.
Also in Lake Eola Park is Movieola, an outdoor movie theater event held on the last Friday of each month between April and August. Since the films are outdoors, you can bring blankets, chairs, snacks, and pets on leashes.
Doors to Movieola open at 6:00 p.m. with movies starting around 8:15 p.m., all family-friendly, so feel free to bring the little ones along, too. And speaking of free, that’s right, entry is completely free.
Stop and Smell the Roses
Whether you want to bring the family or are just looking for a good idea for date night, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards is a beautiful destination in Clermont. Open Mondays – Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., check out a selection of countless wines, including cabernet, chardonnay, pinot grigio, reds, whites, and plenty more at affordable prices.
Lakeridge has been open since the late 1980s and has earned an excellent reputation with more than 150,000 annual visitors. Featuring over 70 acres of vineyards across a 127-acre property, Lakeridge’s native Vitis rotundifolia grapes blooming on a panorama of shrubs make up the former heart of Florida’s grape industry.
If you’d like to walk around and let the atmosphere speak for itself, check out Lake Nona Sculpture Garden, just off Central Florida Greeneway. The public can enter for free, and the location is right next to the Lake Nona Wave Hotel.
The Sculpture Garden features an array of naturally and artificially colored trees, metallic masterpieces, and vibrant facades on a parking garage. With a 50,000 sq. foot outdoor area, you can find several pieces from some of the world’s largest private art collections, including Botero, Phillip Jackson, Plazzlotta, internationally recognized Orlando native JEFRË, and more!
More Information
For more information about original and affordable activities in the Orlando area, visit https://www.visitorlando.com/things-to-do/free-things-to-do/.
For more information about local news and exciting ideas for your summer, visit https://www.centralfloridalifestyle.com/.
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