Orlando - Off the Path: Discovering Central Florida without visiting the theme parks

One of my favorite places is the man in Florida because he is an avid golfer and off like the cold Canadian winter for his birthday in early December.

For some time we visit Orlando had expected, but none of us are in theme parks. Then there was the challenge for me would be able to visit Orlando Studios, without setting foot into Disney or Universal? For someone as curious as me this was a proper challenge, and I was hereWeeks of searching the internet and communicate with the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau to find interesting places off the beaten track.

Well, I'm happy to say that we returned safely yesterday from our trip and the trip itself was an adventure, because we have chosen the journey from Toronto to Orlando, about 2100 km! In fact, the disc is not as painful as I expected. The drive through Pennsylvania and West Virginia was beautiful and hilly,and I particularly enjoyed coming over the crest of the Appalachians, right where Virginia and North Carolina meet, where a magnificent view of the area around Piedmont Winston-Salem that spreads towards the Atlantic before the mountain range.

And I'm even happier to say that in 14 or so days we spent in Orlando, we not only ...;) too much golf (to make my husband happy in fact - including Mystic Dunes, Champions Gate, Royal St. Cloud Links,Hawk's Landing Golf and Country Club and Timacuan does not lead to talk about the Hall of Fame experience the journey of the Father Son Challenge at PGA Champions, but I have some interesting places to explore destinations rather expected I would be very close to Orlando. I also had the opportunity to do an interview with Orlando golf "a much better idea of why Orlando is called" The Ultimate Golf Theme Park

We started our first week with a visit toOrange County Regional History Center, which has given us an adequate historical background of Orlando and Central Florida. Then, for some sociological and cultural insights, we visited the built heritage in the Orlando Museum of African American history and culture. To complete our first day exploring, we enjoyed a stroll picturesque Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.

The next item on my off-the-beaten path agenda was a discovery of the city of Winter Park, abeautiful suburb of Orlando, reminiscent of old European cities. I also went to the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, a trip that was fun, informative and visually appealing.

The adrenaline revved much about our next trip: a very high-speed hovercraft tour with the Boggy Creek, which was followed by a much lower Swamp Buggy racing speed in a custom built-monster truck that brought us through authentic Florida landscape.

After our trip to the Royal GolfSt. Cloud Golf Links we enjoyed a wonderful picnic on the waterfront in sunny downtown Kissimmee. Then, on a beautiful Sunday morning we went about an hour from Orlando to reach the picturesque town of Mt. Dora, where I jumped on the "Herbie Express", a part of the mountain. Lake Eustis Scenic Railway - Dora.

By mid-week during the second week of the took a turn for the worse. While planes were sliding off and landing runs in Chicago and record temperatures were recorded inMid-west states, we were freezing in Florida where the mercury hovered around 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). So I bought a rain jacket, and determined not to let the freezing cold to destroy our plans, we headed to continue our explorations.

a day when rain was expected to be, but only ended up being a bit 'wet gray and culture went to discover Loch Haven Park, Orlando's center of science and art. We continue ourExplorations further south to discover some of Orlando's historic neighborhoods and parks such as Lake Cherokee and Lake Lucerne.

As the drizzly weather continued, we went to visit Florida's Natural Visitor Center in Lake Wales, about an hour drive south of one of Florida in Orlando, where I have a really good understanding of banks' s Central citrus industry. I spent the afternoon in another famous attraction in Lake Wales, the National Historic Landmarks two applies:the Historic Bok Sanctuary, where I see the beauty of the Bok estate and its historic carillon tower, was combined with a tour through the historic Pinewood Estate, decorated in full Christmas decorations.

During these two weeks in Florida, we have to water, many of its plants, flowers and animals from which you run into a lot of passing and playing golf, or picnic. Florida has a surprising amount of natural diversity and I amusedobserve the different species of birds, lizards and squirrels. The only thing I could not see was a live alligator (with the exception of the rear well hidden in a small alligator during our swamp buggy tour - unfortunately I could not even a good picture of that ..).

On our journey home on a sunny day (of course ...), we stopped in St. Augustine, a historic town founded by Spaniards in 1500, and the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States -a mighty photogenic place, I must add.

So, I ask you, you can spend two weeks in Orlando without a foot in a theme park and still have a good time? Well, the basis of the above path to realize I would say that my plans to explore Orlando off the beaten track was too full.

Mission accomplished.

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