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OTHER THINGS TO DO WHILE IN ORLANDO
If you fancy doing something else instead of the theme parks and
maybe something a little less strenuous we have a few ideas for you. Some of the
things we have done and some we haven’t, but would like to do.
Let’s start with shopping. There are loads of places to shop and
if you like a bargain try one of the many factory outlets. One of our favourites
is the Orlando
Premium outlet. It has the likes of Timberland, Levis and Tommy Hilfiger and you
are guaranteed to come away with a fantastic bargain.
If you are into the top designers try the Mall
at Millenia. With the US favourite department stores of Bloomingdale’s and
Macys, also big designer names Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy choo, Gucci and
Dior, this place is bound to take a big chunk out of your credit card.
Now if you have found you have already spent too much at Millenia
try taking a stroll around one of the Flea
Markets
on the US192. All undercover with hundreds of little stalls this
could kill an hour or two if it’s raining.
4 miles north of the villa on the US27 at Clermont is a Wal-Mart store, where you can pick up just about anything at a great price
including a new suitcase to put all your new stuff in.
If shopping isn’t your thing or you fancy a bit more excitement
how about a helicopter
ride over Disney. There are several companies scattered about on the
US192 and International Drive. Prices starting at about $20 per person for a
flight over International Drive.
If you don’t mind getting up early and want a bit more adventure
try a balloon
ride. Starting at 6am you fly over Disney and the Florida orange groves
and then finish with a champagne toast and breakfast. These are not cheap with
prices starting at about $175 for an adult and $95 for children aged 10 to 15
years.
Or of course you could try a spot of horse riding. Horse
world stables cater for all ages and abilities. Prices start at $40 for an hour
trail ride.
For all you golf enthusiasts you couldn’t possibly go to Florida
without playing a round or two of golf. Just 10 minutes away from the villa you
have the championship golf course Champions Gate, designed by Greg Norman, it’s
got 36 holes and is probably one of the best in the area, but very pricey.
Within 15 minutes drive there are another 6 good courses. Check out www.thegolfcourses.net for a list of courses in the Orlando area.
If
you find you still have energy at the end of the day how about a baseball match.
Disney world of sports have them (checkout the Disney website for details), but
if you have been down to Tampa for the day try the Tampa
Devil Rays
to see if they are playing. Prices start at about $5, but you will probably need
to spend $20-$25 to get a reasonable seat.
Another thing to do in the evening is go down to Kissimmee
Old Town. It has shops, a funfair, entertainment and on Friday and Saturday
nights they have a classic car show with older and modern custom cars parading
down the main street from 9pm. On Thursday nights they have a bike parade.
If you want the American feeling go to the Kissimmee sports area on
a Friday night where the locals have a Rodeo. There are competitions to see who can stay on the bull the longest
and the youngsters show off their riding skills. You can also pick up some
authentic western gear. Entrance cost about $20 for an adult & $10 for
children 12 and under. Well worth it for a good nights fun.
If at lunchtime you fancy something nice to eat and want a lazy
afternoon, take a drive into Celebration. Built for the workers of Disney, this little village is lovely. It
has beautiful houses, quaint little shops, a cinema and fantastic restaurants
all situated near the lake. It’s a great place to go for a relaxing
time.
If after lunch you want a bit of fun how about going on an airboat
ride. There are several companies dotted about who do them. Prices start
at about $20 for an adult and $15 for children, for this you get about 45
minutes on the boat where you will see alligators in their native surroundings
and you may get to see a bald eagle as well.
If we haven’t given you enough ideas try these websites for more www.thedibb.co.uk & www.kissimmee-us192.com. Or course you can always go back to the theme parks again because
they are always worth a second visit.