Orlando attractions, not Disney, in December?
 

My husband and I (no kids) are traveling to the Orlando area in early December, and we are looking for recommendations for things to do besides Disneyworld.

I know we will want to spend a day at the Kennedy Space Center. Any suggestions on which tours, etc are best? We are casual space fans. I visited in 1988, and my husband has never been.

Can anyone recommend an airboat tour vendor? How about a small ocean fishing charter boat?

We love to eat local, so any good restaurants that aren't the same chains we have at home would be great!

Depending on where you will stay, the Winter Park Maitland area just north of downtown Orlando is a fabulous place to visit. Winter Park has the upscale Park Avenue with wonderful restaurants, shops and museums. Maitland also boasts several museums - art & history, and an Audubon Birds of Prey Center. All areas will be be dressed beautifully for the holidays. Leu Gardens (leugardens.org) is a great botanical garden in Orlando and well worth a days visit.

Wekiwa Springs State park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wek...gs/default.cfm
http://www.canoewekiva.com/

Blue Spring State Park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm

Winter park Scenic Boat Tour
http://www.scenicboattours.com/

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/

THE CHARLES HOSMER MORSE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
http://www.morsemuseum.org/home.htm

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
www.bcairboats.com

St. Augustine is off the radar of most tourists to Orlando, but well worth visiting for 2-3 days. It is America's oldest city and has tons of history. Also good and reasonable restaurants, art galleries, shopping (2 outlet malls) plus sportfishing, golf, etc. Here are a few links to get you thinking about it:

http://staugustine.com/visitors-guide
http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com
http://www.augustine.com

____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

The space center tour that is included with your admission will take you to the observation gantry (looks over the shuttle launch pads) and to the Saturn V center which is a large complex that includes a Saturn V rocket, various exhibits and shows.

If you're interested in the beginnings of the space program, the Cape Canaveral tour takes you over to the air force side of the cape. IIRC, you visit the museum there, a couple of the original launch complexes and then you are dropped off at the Saturn V center.

We're staying in Clermont.

Thanks for the suggestions! I hadn't even considered St. Augustine!