What are the best places to go in Orlando, Florida?

Places to go in Orlando, Florida besides Disney World?

• Im a 14 year old girl and me and my family are going to Orlando, Florida for a week this summer. I hate crowded hot theme parks and i rather go camping and play in the woods. Is there any places that i might like close by?

• Answer:

  I know what you mean. My Wife, our kids, and I, are the same way---solitude over crowds, nature's adventure over neatly cut-out venues. After living in Central FL for 13-yrs, one of the last places we'd want to go is to one of the theme parks. However, if you haven't been to WDW, know that it's like no other place you've been to before, even w/the massive crowds and the scorching heat & humidity. There's so much to do other than the parks. I'll assume that you'll be able to set a day aside to do an alternative thing. Also, I suppose you'll want something w/in an hour of Orlando. Here's several options meeting your criteria (BTW, camping, at least primitive camping, isn't something you should do in FL during the summer)... 1) The Cabins @ Fort Wilderness, WDW: OK, so I was supposed to give you ideas outside of the parks, but I just thought of a great idea of combining your wish-list TO the parks. Don't know where you'll be staying at, but if you stay @ FT. Wilderness, you'll be able to do all kinds of outdoorsy stuff (log cabins, fishing, horseback or pony rides, Seg-Way transporters, trails, all kinds of water crafts, biking, archery, tennis, volleyball, swimming, wildlife, etc.). http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/cabins-at-fort-wilderness-resort/ 2) Blue Spring State Park: 1-hr from WDW. Natural spring & river, crystal-clear water, native FL fauna, constant water temp of 73-degrees due to the natural spring (you can actually drink the water near the source), tubing, snorkeling/scuba diving, manatee watching, canoeing, etc. This place will give you a sense of the real FL. http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/photogallery.cfm 3) Jetty Park, Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach: The best FL beaches are 3-hrs away along the Gulf, or many hrs away by the Keys. Not something you can squeeze in unless your vacation revolves around a beach holiday. Your best option w/in an hour is Cocoa. I recommend Jetty Park b/c of it's facilities, concession stand, watching the huge cruise ships (including Disney Cruise Lines) sail by, manatee & dolphin watching, even feeding the feral cats along the rocky jetty. If your timing is lucky & perfect, you might even stand a chance of viewing a rocket launch. Cocoa Beach & Ron Jon's Surf Shop are only several miles away. http://www.jettypark.org/