Must-see in Orlando

Go ahead and indulge, unashamedly, in the offerings of Disney Springs. Shopping, dining, sightseeing and more are the main draw in this massive outdoor Disney wonderland, which welcomes anyone and everyone, free of charge.

And yes, there is something for everyone here – from spending a buck or two on Disney merch (or non-Disney merch,) meeting one of the characters from your favorite Disney adventure, sipping a catchy cocktail – or just standing in awe of it all with younger family members.

Parking and traffic can get hairy during the high-peak season, so I’d recommend coming during the fall when Orlando isn’t as busy.

Discover Orlando’s wildlife at Bill Frederick Park. The park covers 183 acres of maintained land and is considered one of the top fishing lakes in Florida. It’s open from 8 am to 5 pm every day. Because Orlando’s climate is diverse (semi-tropical and cold), the wildlife here is impressive for bird watchers. You can’t experience Orlando properly without getting to know its natural habitat – so I suggest heading here early in the morning with binoculars at the ready and hiking shoes for the trek. They charge $2-5 for entry; if you’re traveling by bus, it’ll only be $1. Pro tip: rent a kayak and get out on the lake. The last time I did, it was sheer bliss – and I won’t even drop a spoiler about what the view was like.

The epicenter of Orlando’s musical culture lives at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The center sits directly in front of city hall and not a far walk from Downtown Orlando’s Central Business District, where restaurants almost outnumber people. There are two theaters and one hall that hosts shows during the holidays, including operas, orchestras, and philharmonic performances, and it is truly a place where one samples Orlando’s veritable entertainment scene. The entire theater is 330,000 square feet, and they have a verdant outdoor space that I recommend visiting if you’re in the mood for a picnic.

If you’re looking for a fun-filled day out on International Drive, ICON Park is definitely worth adding to your list of things to do. This vibrant park offers a wide range of attractions, including some of the city’s top restaurants and various shops. One of the main highlights of ICON Park is the 400-foot-tall Wheel, which provides breathtaking views of the city from its pods.

Some say it’s romantic – go see for yourself. Visitors can also explore Madame Tussauds Orlando and marvel at the life-like wax models of celebrities and fictional characters. For music lovers, Tin Roof, a Live Music Joint is a fantastic option for those looking for entertainment, offering live performances almost every night.

The icing on the cake (foodie or not) has to be the countless culinary options on offer here. Personally, I’m a big fan of Tapa Toro – a Spanish restaurant, complete with Flamenco dancers, that brings the Iberian Peninsula to Orlando with aplomb.

The Orlando Library is a brutalist fever dream first constructed in 1923 with multiple expansions and updates in the 1960s and 1980s. It fills out an entire city block and is just a short walk from Lake Eola Park. Just visiting the exterior will give you a sense of the culture and history that the Downtown Orlando neighborhood can provide. Architect John M. Johansen, part of the Harvard Five, designed the library. In case your knowledge of architecture is as rudimental as my own: The Harvard Five was a group of enterprising minds from the university of Harvard, all of whom were influenced by and studied under Walter Gropius, the creator of the famous German Bauhaus School. As a child, every time I passed by the library, I would stare in awe at the awkward gray building and notice just how different it was to the other buildings in the area.

EPCOT might not be the most exciting park in Disney’s inventory, but it’s a classic that stands its ground amongst the titans.

Make your way over to Spaceship Earth: a ride that has been a staple favorite of EPCOT fans for generations. This animatronic time warp takes you from past to future in one helluva journey and is in itself reason enough to add this park to your list. While here, sink your teeth into some of the many offerings at the food pavilions, which feature culinary delights from Mexico to Norway and everything in-between.

A must for visiting families, Boxi Park, in the iconic neighborhood of Lake Nona, is a great place to kick back, have a beer, and let the little ones loose. This event space plays host to food trucks and an energetic stage that comes alive on the weekends. Sporty souls can also indulge in a game of volleyball here – while the kids can truly let loose in the open field.

I recommend coming here during the holidays, when the place well and truly comes alive. Picture bespoke, holiday-themed outdoor events that feature everything from storytime with Santa and Mrs. Clause, holiday markets, and bucketloads of artificial snow.

The park is open on the weekends from 11-12 am to 11 pm (Saturday and Sunday) and 5-11 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Free parking is available in a nearby garage.

The TRON Lightcycle / Run attraction at Magic Kingdom is a thrilling ride inspired by the classic movie TRON and its 2010 sequel TRON: Legacy. As a bit of a fan myself, I love how the ride brings these beloved movies to life. From the rush of the wind to the blue glare of the cycle’s wheels, it feels like you’re racing on a real Light Cycle.

The speed and thrills of the ride are, on their own, enough to draw visitors here – independent of if they are diehard TRON aficionados or if they have never heard of TRON.

This memorial is a great place to learn about the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. You can explore the commemoration, which is planned to be a permanent monument on your own and learn about the victims. Parking is available nearby, and the monument is open daily from 7 am to 12 am. The Pulse Memorial is on this list as a place that well and truly brought Orlando together to support the LGBTQ+ community after the shooting, during which some of my own loved ones and friends were lost to the tragedy. Since then, many businesses and other organizations have openly supported the LGBTQ+ community by showing that their businesses are a safe space by marking their doors with a rainbow flag. Orlando is not only empathetic with the community but also accepts them wholly. The 2016 shooting is and will forever be etched into the history of Orlando and its people.

Star Wars fans take note, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience is a place where all your Star Wars dreams may just come true. This two-night role-playing immersive experience will send you to faraway galaxies quicker than you can say “Luke Skywalker.”

Your journey starts aboard the Halcyon starcruiser from one of the Walt Disney World Resort terminal ports. After a Lightsaber for dummies course, your foray into galaxies unknown well and truly begins. Without spoiling the surprise, you’re in for an out of this world experience, pun intended – from hanging at the Sublight Lounge – to sampling world class, sorry I meant galactic class cuisine.

Whether you’re an amateur botanist or a green-fingered guru,, you’ll appreciate the Harry P. Leu Gardens. Donated to the city in 1961 by the Leu family, it allows locals and travelers to see different plants and flowers every season. Unlike some places in South Florida, Orlando’s climate affords a complete rotation of the seasons – something that’s quite easy to see in the gardens over the year.

Tickets will set you back around 14 bucks, and the gardens are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. I’d recommend coming during the holidays, during which the park is draped in sparkling lights to make it an even more magical experience.

As cheesy as it sounds, I’m one of those crazy people who have attended the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament countless times. Imagine a four course dinner consisting of roast chicken, garlic bread, tomato bisque, sweet buttered corn, and herb-basted potato – as you watch knightley companions compete for the honor of their house. Thanks to the showmanship of the performers, you may very well find yourself feeling as if you’ve been sent back a few thousand years – enveloped by a clamor of iron and shouts. Conveniently, unlike a few thousand years ago, you do have vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options to choose from. Now a staple for many Orlandoans over many generations, this event very much epitomizes what the city is all about.

Once a pinery, Ivanhoe Village is now Orlando’s Indie shopping haven. Foods from all parts of Florida are on show here and many establishments are embellished with pineapple memorabilia as a nod to the area’s history as a pinery. Expect a mixed experience: from paddle boarding on Lake Ivanhoe to an upscale food hall complete with TOTO toilets that are in themselves an experience to see for yourself.

Make the most of your experience here with a wine walk (sip, stroll and shop – perhaps not till you drop.) Opening times are from 6 am to 11 pm every day.

The internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil show in Disney Springs has wowed audiences for decades now with its breathtaking acrobatics and ingenuity. In collaboration with Disney, the Orlando version of this global production currently takes form as a show dubbed “Drawn to Life.” It’s the lively tale of a young woman’s journey of discovery – through the sketches of her deceased father, who was an animator in his heyday.

Tickets start at $85 and –performances are at the beginning and end of every month.

One of my favorite places to forest bathe (a fun way to reduce stress and improve your mood) is the Tibet-Butler Preserve. Get lost in over 3.6 miles of well-groomed hiking trails through different environments like marshes and swamps: Fret not though, you won’t be trudging through mud. Walking through these paths will show you another side of the City Beautiful, regardless of your age. Take time to appreciate it all: the hoots of the owls and the vastness of the enduring forest, the coolness of the air and the softness of the earth beneath your feet.

Opening times run from 8 am to 6 pm daily and there’s also a small center that hosts exhibitions and similar in which one can learn more about the area.

Watching Orlando City SC (men’s) and Orlando Pride (women’s) play games can be an electrifying experience. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, attending an Orlando City SC or Pride game is an experience you don’t want to leave Olrando without trying. It is a beautiful representation of the local community coming together for something positive that showcases the city in a great light. The teams and stadium were founded in 2015 and have since become part of Orlando’s DNA. In the same breath, It’s worth noting that the stadium has 49 rainbow-colored seats in memory of the 2016 Pulse shooting victims. I’ve been to a game here once, and the booming sounds of the crowd cheering in the stadium made me a true fan – if only for a few hours.

Nestled amongst the bright lights of the Downtown Arts District, CityArts is a funky art gallery complex housed in one of the oldest buildings in Downtown Orlando. The building was built sometime in the 1800s and still has some of the original Victorian architecture. The art space came together within the last couple of decades, and it’s one of my favorite places to see local contemporary art. There are seven art galleries, a cute in-house cafe, and a generally relaxed vibe that’s native to this spot. I’d recommend coming here on the third Thursday of every month for their gallery hop. This free event puts the spotlight on emerging Orlando artists, and you get a chance to rub shoulders with some of the city’s artsy folk.

If you’ve ever been to Orlando, you know it gets scorching here in the summer. That’s why water parks are so important for both locals and visitors alike. One great example of a good water park in the area is Aquatica on International Drive. In fact, in 2021, Aquatica was voted the best water park by readers in a USA Today pol.l. Some of the top attractions at Aquatica include the Reef Plunge, Ihu’s Breakaway Falls, and Taumata Racer. With over 17 rides to choose from (including three just for kids), it’s the perfect destination for families looking for a fun day out.

Adjacent to the Lake Nona Wave Hotel, the sculpture garden features numerous sculptures from talented local and international artists. While you’re here, check out The Lewis Collection, which features the Charging Bull by Arturo Di Modica (you may have heard of it as this same sculpture can also be found in New York. Another worthy collection to add to your must-sees while here is Leda the Swan by the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The garden also hosts wine tastings and other events held in collaboration with the Lake Nona Wave Hotel. Despite its leafy offerings (it is strewn with palm trees and tropical flowers) and just how much one gets out of a visit here, the garden is still considered to be one of Orlando’s best kept secrets.