no disney,seaworld, universal in orlando
 

please help me spend four days in orlando without any parks.

No can do. That's against some sort of law, I just know it.

Gatorland? Although it is even tackier than the theme parks.

Check out www.visitflorida.com for lots of great information.

steamer-

Give us a few more details to work with.

When do you plan to come?

From where are you coming?

Interests (shopping, natural attractions, restaurants, etc.)?

How far outside the greater Orlando area are you willing to travel?

Is the Tupperware Museum still there?

Oddly enough, many of us who live here manage to be entertained outside the parks. ;-)

As OrlandoVic says, give us some more info and we can give you some recommendations.

If you don't want to see the parks - and don't know what else there is to do - is there some reason you decided to come to Orlando to begin with? Versus Miami or someplace else in FL? Or someplace else completely different?

Well, Downtown Disney is a fairly neat place. La Nouba is definitely worth seeing.

I also say go to www.visitflorida.com for more information. We have lived just north of downtwon Orlando for 16 years and have been to the parks only 5 or 6 times with visiting family. There is SO much more here than that.

www.kennedyspacecenter.com
Educational and entertaining

Hope you don't mind if I piggyback onto this thread with my own request:

Hubby and I driving over for a long weekend to celebrate a Big Anniversary. Think romance. No parks for us either.

Where would you dine? We love special, independent, or maybe famous chef. Have already been to Emeril's (loved it). One night, cost does not matter, we want the best. Second night, we still want great food, but more casual.

Also, what's better for nightlife, Church Street Station or Pleasure Island? We love jazz, island, blues music.

Thanks in advance!

joan-

For a visitor coming to the Orlando area, here are three of my very best picks. Any one would be appropriate for a special occasion.

1. California Grill. Scott Joseph is the restaurant critic of the Orlando Sentinel. His recent review <http://tinyurl.com/yuodao> should convince you that this is a superb choice.

2.Seasons 52 <http://www.seasons52.com/> on Sand Lake Road. This is a very classy restaurant and requires reservations 1-2 weeks in advance.

3. Artist Point <http://tinyurl.com/8nc5x> at the Wilderness Lodge. Great food in a Pacific Northwest ambience. It probably requires even more advanced reservations that Seasons 52.

You can't go wrong with either of these fine restaurants.

Joan - it obviously would be decided by where you are staying. There are so many fabulous dining places away from the parks area. I am in the Winter Park Maitland area. Lots here for sure! As far as Church Street Station...most is gone and closed down, it is being worked on but not much there yet as I understand it.

Thanks to both of you!
We are staying at the Omni in Championsgate (about six miles west of DW). The main restaurant there is called Zen, and there's also "trevi"...don't know anything about either. I know there are lots of great places on Sand Lake Road, how far would that be? Also, I believe Omni has a shuttle system to Disney, so getting to the California Grill would be worry free (got to have that bubbly!).

Go out to the St John's River for an airboat ride. Tons of fun and you'll see lots of gators.

Sand Lake has Antonio's - wonderful Northern Italian food. The origianl is here in Maitland but there are two other locations - Sand Lake and Celebration.

Seasons 52 is also on Sand Lake Rd. One of my favorites.

I second Orlando Vic's restaurant reccomendations. Had a fantastic meal at Artist Point earlier this year (man-I love the discounts get through my kids!). You might also consider Narcoose's, Citronelle (sp?), or Boma (casual but nice buffet). They are all on Disney property.

Pleasure Island would be closest for nightlife, but since you mentioned jazz & blues, you might consider City Wall at Universal, or some of the clubs downtown.

Since you have shuttle service to Disney, you might consider things to do there besides the parks. They have a couple of golf courses. You can hire a guide to go fishing: they have bass in most of the lakes. You can rent a boat and toole around on your own. Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island both have plenty of shops for browsing. You might be able to arrange spa services at some of the nicer hotels. There may be a concert or act you would enjoy playing at House of Blues (Downtown Disney) or at City Walk (Universal).

Away from the parks: airboat rides, space center & wildlife refuge, outlet shopping, swampbuggy rides, tubing at Rock Springs, canoeing at Wekiva, time at the beach, Morse Museum for great Tiffany art display and shopping in Winter Park, Orlando Art Museum and Science Center, and so on...

Snorkeling with the manatees in Crystal River. About an hour and a half west of Orlando.

Winter Park is great...cute shops and a great wine bar right on the park.

We have stayed at the Omni a number of times. We LOVE their lazy river (as adults with no kids!). We also liked Zen. You can have the "Zen experience" for $40/per person. They bring you samples of most everything on the menu. If you don't like it, put it aside. If you want more, they bring you more. It is really fun. It's not the best food you'll ever eat, but it is high-quality pan-Asian food.

Ooooh!!! You guys are getting me so excited about this honeymoon, er, anniversary! Can't wait!

Will definitely make a res for Zen. Sounds like a perfect ending to a day of champagne and lazy river, dontcha think?

And the next day, we'll wander over to Downtown Dis, check out the House of Blues, and since it was recommended both here and on Chowhound, if I can get a res, we'll dine at the classic California Grill.

thanks one and all!
Will report back with most ;) of the details!

joan-

If you are serious about going to the California Grill...

1. Make your reservation wayyy in advance. (I'm not kidding!)

2. If you can, ask for a reservation about 1/2 hour before the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks show starts. Better yet, ask for a window table.

Now, what about steamer?

Done! Snagged a 9:00 on a Sunday night, told them it was my anniv, they suggested just what you did, Vic - ask for a window seat on arrival.

Took me two tries on the voice system BTW. But they were great once I finally got through.

Thanks again.

Yo Steamer, where the heck are ya?

http://www.floridaecosafaris.com/

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recr...ndex_oca.shtml

Not exactly in Orlando but both are about an hours drive from the City Beautifully.