Traveling solo in Orlando
 

Any particularly wonderful things to do when traveling solo in Orlando?

Any nature places (guided) great to see, historical, best shopping outlet, best theme park alone, best restaurant to do alone.

Thanks.

...and best spa in Seaworld/Disney area?

It would certainly help to know some of your preferences. It's hard to recommend a theme park or restaurant without knowing your likes and dislikes. My favorite theme park in Orlando is Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando. For loads of information on the Orlando theme parks, go to www.disboards.com

Understandable:
-History
-Nature
-Cultural
-Flora/fauna
-Great food, well well made, fresh ingredients, any type, seafood, beef, chicken, American, French, Japanese, Italian, Greek, etc.
- I love consignment shops, antiques shops, flea markets.

For a solo adult I highly reco EPCOT (actually uses some of the brain for something) and Sea World (some of the curators/docents can be very interesting). I would avoid disney hotels at all costs - we try to stay at the Hyatt Grand Cyprus (very adult friendly with good pools and minimal rug rats) which has a really nice casuale restaurant: Hemingway's.

Thank you for the suggesting SeaWorld and Epcot. I love learning stuff. And talking to docents, etc. This was a great help to me.

I would also suggest Epcot as a fun day for touring, and you will probably meet people while you are there, standing in line, waiting for a pass, eating, waiting in line, oh,,,,wait I said that already, (just teasing).

I did Epcot by myself a few years ago and really enjoyed the day. The International section was my favorite and the Underseas exhibit, lots to see there.

Some of restaurants, are very good and there is a bit of fun shopping.

For outlets, don't get me started, I LOVE outlet shopping in Orlando and most of the outlets you can get discount coupons for even better savings. Check with your hotel on suggestions, and most of the hotels will also have coupon books or know where you can get them.

Have a great time.

Oh my, no doubt about it, Premium Outlet Mall in I4 is the best outlet shopping IMO. Upscale outlets- Coach, Ralph Lauren, it just goes from there, and it is good quality bargains, not junk.
Spa: Canyon Ranch at Gaylord Palms (close to Disney on I4, across the Hwy from the Disney Marketpalce area) if you can afford it. If not, I have used Kissimmee MassageWorks- good, professional, and affordable. They make house/hotel calls too for massage, and do massage and other services at their place.

Premium Outlets are fantastic.
Avoid Disney's Magic Kingdom at all costs. It's only fun if you have kids who are in a good mood. We like Universal's Parks better than Disney's anyway. Their Hard Rock Hotel is fun too. They have a nice spa in the hotel and their concierge team is tops. You might also like the Royal Pacific. I stayed there alone before and liked it alot. They are very pet friendly.

All of y'uns:
Thank you for your suggestions. I am going to go now for sure.

Epcot definitely, maybe a history museum about the Seminoles, if I can find one.

And outlet shopping...Why is it I find clothes at the Geofrey Bean that fit me great only from Orlando????

Massage too...ah, do go away for a while arther-eye-tiz.

Such a big help, thank you again.

The Seminoles have a hotel and casino and museum in Tampa off Interstate 4, the Orient Rd. Exit or thereabouts. If you decide to go, look for the watertower with the arrow shot through it when you begin to see signs that you're in or near Tampa. You can't miss it. I was there years ago but I believe it's a much better museum now but nothing like Epcot or a Smithsonian museum. It's a small local museum.

It looks like disboards.com offers a forum just for adult and solo visitors.

Thank you, I'll go look there. I appreciate the advise.

I'll be staying next to the Orange County Convention Center- are there any spas in that area that are close to cab to?

You could go to the spa at the Portofino Hotel which is not far at all - and a reproduction of an Italian village. The Italian restaurant there is great. Check out the pics on the website.

You could go to the Royal Pacific hotel as well. Folks say Emeril's restaurant there is really good. In that area I'm usually eating at Portofino, the Thai restaurant nearby or Cafe Tu Tu Tango.

A very cool natural place to go is Wakulla springs near Altamonte springs - but you would need a car to get there.

When I'm solo in Orlando, I chose Sea World for the park. I just love the Shamu show. If you decide to swim with the dolphins you get a week's free pass for Sea World. Many a work day I've finished up the day by ducking into Sea World for the last Shamu show. I just love it.

If you want to get away to a nice little town to stroll and shop check out Winter Park. Great Tiffany glass int the museum there. Not far away, but a world apart.

I stayed 3 days on International Drive a few years ago and never used my rental car. The I-Drive Trolley ticket was $3 for 3 days unlimited travel. That, along with Universal Studio Shuttle bus, and my feet, were all the transportation I needed. There were outlets at both the north and south ends of the route.

starrsville, which restaurant in the Portofino? they seem to have 3 Italian places: Bice, Mamma's and del Porto

Mamma's.

I just checked the website.

Yes, Mama Della's is the place I would go for dinner - whether or not I was staying at the hotel or not. Great food - casual, family friendly dining. I was very comfortable eating there solo and enjoyed small and large group dinners there too.

The Trattoria is the restaurant that was open at lunch (next to Mama's which was open for dinner) when I was there. Food was fine - but nothing to write home about.

I didn't know there was a Bice there. The website indicates it just opened. If the food is anywhere as good as the West Palm location, then it's a great place for dinner. Fine dining, whereas Mama's is more casual.

Love Bice's in West Palm. Glad to know there's one at Portofino now.

Try looking into discovery cove. www.dicoverycove.com