We'll be Orlando for a weekend in July for a meeting, and would like any ideas of what to do for a short time besides theme parks.

We'll have about 5 hours after we arrive during the afternoon and probably 5 hours on Sunday before leaving. Are Leesburg, Ocala or beachers too far or not worthwhile? Prefer to be outside, but is summer heat stifling?

The highlight of my trip to Orlando (the reason I agreed to go, actually) was a visit to Eatonville, the home of Zora Neale Hurston, the great African-American novelist and folklorist. It's an old, incorporated African-American town, with a fascinating history, which you can learn about at the Zora Neale Hurston Museum. Before going to Orlando read Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and you won't even THINK about going to Orlando without a trip to Eatonville. It's about a half-hour drive from the center of Orlando.

Blue Spring State park.

Hi Annie!
We own a time share and have explored the area for 4 years now. My suggestion- a really neat town called Celebration. This is a town built by Disney and it's incredible. Have you seen "The Truman Show?" That's what it's like. Impressive architecture- a little town built on a lake with restaurants, great shopping and wonderful ambience. You feel like it's a movie set.Check out their website for activities- we went to an art fair one year and it was spectacular. www.celebrationfl.com

My advice is to see Cirque du Soleil's 'La Nouba' in downtown Disney. We just saw it 2 weeks ago, and the show is incredible!!! Even if I didn't visit any theme parks, my visit to Orlando would have become worthwhile by seeing this show alone.

I agree with Vince! I have seen La Nouba three times...I just get chills thinking about it... If you do one thing in Orlando, go to this show. Now see what you've done, Vince? I'M going to La Nouba!

Thanks for your suggestions.

We have been to Celebration, and found some good restaurants and shops.

Vince, where is "downtown" Disney? Is it within one of the parks? Would we need tickets ahead of time and where would we get info?

Is Cape Canavral National Seashore too far?

Yes, it will be pretty darn hot in Orlando in July! Daily highs will be in the mid to upper 90's and the humity will make it quite sticky as well. Daily afternoon showers (usually very brief) are the norm. A great place to escape from all that heat is Wekiva Springs State Park. It is a natural spring so the water stays a cool 72 degrees year round. It a lovely park north of Orlando in the Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Apopka area (not sure which city takes claim to it!) Anyway you should be able to drive there in about 45 minutes from the Disney area (depending on traffic).

Annie, Downtown Disney is like a mall located near the theme parks - not inside of any park. So, you don't have to pay any entrance fee. Information on how to buy La Nouba tickets you can get here: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/. I would buy the tickets in advance as the 9:00 pm performance on Sunday that I attended had very few vacant seats.

from my part of town, canaveral seashore (better known as playlina bch) is about a 60 min drive. it's the closest thing to a primitive bch with little more than a paved parking lot(s), porto-potties and stairs to the bch. the area is closed when rocket launches are scheduled.

Swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove. Expensive yes. Worth it? Yes.

Annie, my parents live in a retirement community outside Leesburg. The town itself really doesn't have anything going for it (although the community my parents live in is wonderful).
Mount Dora is worth a visit to get away from the whole theme park/strip mall experience (www.mtdora.com). But it will be hot!! However there are lots of cafes, etc., in Mt. Dora and if you take your stroll nice and easy, you should still enjoy it.