{"id":18679,"date":"2017-05-15T13:11:55","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T17:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/?p=18679"},"modified":"2026-03-20T06:18:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T10:18:21","slug":"day-trips-orlando","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/florida\/day-trips-orlando\/","title":{"rendered":"Day trips from Orlando"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><strong>If you fancy a break from the theme park hubbub the options for day trips from Orlando are practically endless.\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Here&#8217;s a rundown of things to see and do away from the city that will have you feeling like a Floridian in no time.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Ideally located in the middle of Florida, Orlando has loads of easy-to-reach day trip destinations on its doorstep. Most of the trips we&#8217;ve included here are within 100 miles of Orlando \u2013 so you should make it there and back on one tank of gas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Read on to find out more about the best day trips from Orlando.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"#beaches\">Beaches and islands<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#tours\">Tours and\u00a0excursions<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#road\">Road trips<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#theme\">Theme parks<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#shopping\">Shopping and spas<\/a><br \/><a href=\"#sight\">Sightseeing and nature<br \/><\/a><a href=\"#more\">More day trips from Orlando<\/a><a name=\"beaches\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beaches and islands\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lap up the Daytona Beach attractions<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Daytona Beach is just an hour&#8217;s drive from the city and it&#8217;s one of the most popular spots for day trips from Orlando. You can park right on the beach so it&#8217;s ideal if you&#8217;re packing a picnic or carrying watersports equipment, as you won&#8217;t have to lug it around with you. There are 23 miles of golden beaches to choose from, as well as fantastic attractions for all the family including a splash park, an entertainment center and dozens of restaurants, bars and arcades. The region is also home to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Daytona International Speedway<\/a>\u00a0where you can check out the visitors&#8217; center and drive laps around the historic 2.5-mile-long track in an authentic stock car.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spot manatees at Merritt Island\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>For a short, fun-packed trip from Orlando, head to Canaveral National Seashore \u2013 it&#8217;s just over an hour away from Orlando. You can while away the hours frolicking in the warm clear waters or exploring the pristine beach and boardwalked sand dunes. Pack a picnic for lunch and when you&#8217;re done you can take a trip to the nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/refuge\/merritt-island\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge<\/a> where you&#8217;ll see manatees, alligators and birds of every kind.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Catch the waves \u2013 and a rocket launch!<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Day trips from Orlando don&#8217;t get much better than catching waves on a beautiful beach, with the potential for catching a rocket launch at the same time! If you head to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cocoabeachpier.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cocoa Beach Pier<\/a>\u00a0or one of the many other <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Space_Coast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Space Coast<\/a> beaches, you&#8217;ll get a great view of a live rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center. All of the Space Coast beaches are within 100 miles of Orlando so you&#8217;ll easily make it there and back on one tank of gas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Go kayaking through the Thousand Islands<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re staying in one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/collections\/villas-near-disney-world\">villas close to Disney World<\/a>\u00a0it&#8217;s a one-hour drive east to Cocoa Beach and the stunning\u00a0Thousand Islands\u00a0region. Cocoa Beach is the go-to area for Orlando day trips, packed with plenty of shops, restaurants and attractions. The beach itself is a mecca for surfing and water sports and it&#8217;s home to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronjonsurfshop.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ron Jon&#8217;s<\/a>, the\u00a0world&#8217;s largest surf shop. If you want to check out the local wildlife you can go on a <a href=\"https:\/\/cocoabeachkayaking.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guided kayaking tour<\/a> through the surrounding canals and islands.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hit the Gulf Coast<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you want to hit the Gulf Coast beaches they&#8217;re located west of Tampa, around a 2-hour road trip from Orlando. There are scores of beaches and bays to choose from, all with emerald waters, brilliant white sands, picturesque sand dunes and ample opportunities for fishing, wildlife-spotting and pure relaxation. For beach day trips from Orlando, the easiest\u00a0ones to reach are around Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Sarasota.<br \/><a name=\"tours\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tours and\u00a0excursions from Orlando<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" class=\"wp-image-18835\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_406542415.jpg\" alt=\"Orlando day trips\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_406542415.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_406542415-460x259.jpg 460w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_406542415-622x350.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_406542415-390x219.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take an airboat tour<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Airboat tours in Orlando are an exciting way to spend a day, or even a weekend, discovering Florida&#8217;s fascinating wetlands and swamps.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/theblackhammock.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Hammock Adventures<\/a>\u00a0offers some of the best airboat tours in Orlando with various rides around gator-infested Lake Jesup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clearwater Beach day trip from Orlando<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You can escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a day trip from Orlando to Clearwater Beach. Its about a 2-hour trip, but when you&#8217;re there you can make the most of the white-sand beaches, or break up the day with optional extras like a speedboat rides or deep-sea fishing. Organised excursions are a great way to go, with an early morning pick-up from selected stops around Orlando and a late-night drop off after a long day out.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ride high on a helicopter tour<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You can get a bird&#8217;s eye view of Orlando&#8217;s most famous resorts and attractions on a helicopter tour over the city and its environs. There are an array of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/florida\/orlando\/5-amazing-helicopter-rides-in-orlando\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Orlando helicopter tours<\/a> to choose from including flights over the theme parks with a full commentary from your pilot. You can also fly further afield and take in the Butler Chain of Lakes, which is home\u00a0to thousands of alligators \u2013 and\u00a0mansions owned by\u00a0famous celebs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Soar above the city in a hot air balloon<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Check out Orlando from a whole new perspective in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/florida\/orlando\/where-to-find-hot-air-balloon-rides-in-orlando\/\">hot air balloon<\/a>, taking in everything from its world-famous attractions and theme parks to its orange groves, forests and swamps. You can book a sunrise ride including resort pick-up and drop-off, a champagne toast, post-flight snacks and a souvenir flight certificate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Explore the Everglades<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you fancy taking a ride on the wild side of Florida we recommend an Orlando Everglades tour. The stunning wilderness of the Everglades is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world, and there are a number of ways to discover its various regions. You can spot alligators on a day trip along the Tamiami Trail, or take in views of the Shark Valley area from a 65ft observation tower. West from Shark Valley is Everglades City, a boat-launch site close to the scenic Ten Thousand Islands region.\u00a0There&#8217;s also the Big Cypress National National Preserve with 40 miles of trails for walking, hiking and cycling. The Oasis Visitors&#8217; Center has great exhibits for guests of all ages, and there&#8217;s an alligator-spotting area with a viewing platform, a restaurant and opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing.\u00a0This is one of our favorite day trips from Orlando.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tours from Orlando to Miami<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You can take a 1-day tour from Orlando to Miami\u00a0which includes\u00a0a shopping stop at the buzzing <a href=\"https:\/\/baysidemarketplace.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bayside Marketplace<\/a>\u00a0in Downtown Miami, as well as a cruise over to\u00a0Star Island\u00a0followed by a trip to the famous Miami Beach and South Beach areas. If you book an Orlando to Miami tour, you&#8217;ll be picked up from a stop near your resort at around 6am and typically dropped off at 11pm.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day trips from Orlando to Bahamas<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You may not make it there and back in a day, but if you&#8217;re looking at weekend trips from Orlando you can take a 3 or 4 night cruise from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas.<br \/><a name=\"road\"><\/a><a name=\"theme\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Theme parks<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"488\" class=\"wp-image-18837\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_101966932.jpg\" alt=\"orlando alligator tour\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_101966932.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_101966932-460x299.jpg 460w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_101966932-538x350.jpg 538w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_101966932-390x254.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_101966932-230x150.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visit the alligator capital of the world<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Get up close and personal with alligators galore at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gatorland.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gatorland<\/a> in Kissimmee. This 110-acre nature park is home to thousands of alligators and crocodiles as well as an aviary, a petting zoo, a splash park and a 1,200-ft-long zip line. You can see 4 of the largest known alligators alive, and other attractions like an alligator wrestling show and up-close encounters with gators, snakes and other reptiles. Gatorland is located on Orange Blossom Trail just a few miles from Disney World.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A day trip to Universal Studios<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You may need a few days to get around all the parks at Universal but it&#8217;s well worth the trip if you&#8217;re in town. You&#8217;ll marvel at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, journey through legendary worlds at Islands of Adventure and enjoy thrills and spills at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universalorlando.com\/web\/en\/us\/theme-parks\/volcano-bay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Volcano Bay<\/a>\u00a0water park opening in May 2017. For even more entertainment plus great dining and nightlife head to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universalorlando.co.uk\/citywalk-overview.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Universal Citywalk <\/a>complex.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do Disney in a few days<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>No trip to Orlando would be complete without at least a few days at Disney World. Located just south of Orlando in the charming town of Kissimmee, this is one of the most popular spots for Orlando day trips. There are 4 exciting theme parks, 2 water parks, numerous golf courses, a camping resort and masses of shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. If you&#8217;re staying in one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/orlando\/vacations\">villas in Orlando<\/a>, you&#8217;ll be located just a few miles from Disney&#8217;s main entrance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Have a family day at Legoland<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It&#8217;s a bit too far to be considered an Orlando theme park, but if you&#8217;re looking for short trips from Orlando then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legoland.com\/florida\/homepage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Legoland<\/a> is a top choice \u2013 especially if you have kids under 12. Located in Winter Haven a short drive south of Orlando, it&#8217;s home to a 150-acre theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, plus gorgeous botanical gardens and a water park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spend a day at Disney Springs<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneysprings.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Disney Springs<\/a> complex at Walt Disney World is a great way to spend the day \u2013 and it&#8217;s free to get in. This bustling waterside promenade is home to an abundance of shops and restaurants as well as loads of family-friendly entertainment like live music shows and street performances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hit the water parks<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You can have a splashing time on a day out at one of Orlando&#8217;s many and varied water parks. There&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/disneyworld.disney.go.com\/destinations\/typhoon-lagoon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Disney&#8217;s Typhoon Lagoon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneyworld.co.uk\/destinations\/blizzard-beach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blizzard Beach<\/a>, as well as Universal&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universalorlando.com\/web\/en\/us\/theme-parks\/volcano-bay\/index.html\">Volcano Bay<\/a>. SeaWorld&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/aquatica.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Aquatica<\/a> water park is a top spot for Orlando day trips, and there&#8217;s a great water park for younger kids at the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.legoland.com\/florida\/homepage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LegoLand<\/a>\u00a0water park.<br \/><a name=\"shopping\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shopping and spa day trips from Orlando<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"490\" class=\"wp-image-18838\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_423421135.jpg\" alt=\"Orlando day trips\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_423421135.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_423421135-460x301.jpg 460w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_423421135-536x350.jpg 536w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_423421135-390x255.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_423421135-230x150.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get big discounts on designer brands<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premiumoutlets.com\/outlet\/orlando-international\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Orlando Premium Outlets<\/a> are the best discount shopping malls in Orlando. One is located at Vineland Avenue and the other is on International Drive so you can probably get around them both in one day, if you fancy it. If you want to combine some serious retail therapy with your Orlando day trips, these malls offer shoppers discounts of up to 65% on designer brands like Diesel, Giorgio Armani and Burberry, to name just a few.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shop &#8217;til you drop<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>As well as the Premium Outlets, Orlando is home to the high-end <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mallatmillenia.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mall at Millenia<\/a> near the northern end of International Drive. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simon.com\/mall\/the-florida-mall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Florida Mall <\/a>is another top spot for shopping \u2013 \u00a0it&#8217;s the largest indoor shopping mall in Central Florida. If you head to Downtown Orlando you&#8217;ll find even more shopping centers as well as boutique stores, department stores and specialty shops.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relax with a spa day<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If your idea of the perfect Orlando day trip is taking time out at a luxury spa, you&#8217;ll find plenty to choose from. There&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/thespaorlando.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Spa<\/a>\u00a0on Edgewater Drive, offering an array of day spa services such as massages, nail services, facials, skincare, waxing, body treatments and spa packages. If you&#8217;re staying at Reunion Resort you can head to the on-site <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/florida\/orlando\/reunion-resort\/spa-reunion-resort\/\">Boutique Spa<\/a>\u00a0for a relaxing treatment, or a whole day of pampering.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discover Winter Park<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Winter Park is just a stone&#8217;s throw from Orlando and it&#8217;s packed with parks, shops, restaurants and nightlife. You can spend the day shopping along Park Avenue, or get a\u00a0great deal\u00a0on fresh local produce at the weekly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cityofwinterpark.org\/departments\/parks-recreation\/farmers-market\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Winter Park Farmers&#8217; Market<\/a>.<br \/><a name=\"sight\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sightseeing &amp; nature day trips from Orlando<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"392\" class=\"wp-image-18839\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_469708088.jpg\" alt=\"miami daytrip from orlando\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_469708088.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_469708088-460x240.jpg 460w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_469708088-670x350.jpg 670w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_469708088-390x204.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step back in time at\u00a0Fort Christmas<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The fascinating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orangecountyfl.net\/CultureParks\/Parks.aspx?m=dtlvw&amp;d=15#.WNUZ3rGcZTY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fort Christmas Historical Park<\/a> features a full-scale replica of the original Fort Christmas which was built in 1837 during the Second Seminole Indian War. There&#8217;s a traditional Florida &#8216;Cracker&#8217; house as well as 8 pioneer homes, a schoolhouse, a sugar cane mill and other historic farming equipment. The site is located\u00a0in the town of Christmas just off County Highway 420, well within 100 miles of Orlando.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visit the Museum of Seminole County History<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You can learn more about Seminole County history at this fascinating museum in Sanford. There are more than 20 rooms of exhibits, maps, photographs and memorabilia relating to the history of Seminole County, which was the historical gateway to Central Florida.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">See 50 acres of exotic gardens<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Head to the Harry P. Leu Gardens for a day out in\u00a0beautiful botanic gardens featuring flowers from all over the world. This 50-acre estate is also home to hundreds of picturesque flower gardens, a butterfly garden\u00a0and the fascinating\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leugardens.org\/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leu House Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check out Church Street<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Church Street is Orlando&#8217;s historic downtown district where you&#8217;ll see some of America&#8217;s oldest buildings and neighbourhoods. There are frequent concerts on the bandstand at nearby Wall Street Plaza and there are dozens of restaurants, bars and nightclubs to check out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">See a national landmark<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Located around 30 minutes from Orlando,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/boktowergardens.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bok Tower Gardens<\/a>\u00a0is home to an historic carillon tower as well as acres of beautiful gardens, a kid&#8217;s play area and a bird sanctuary. The focal point is the gothic 205-foot tower housing one of the world&#8217;s finest bell carillons. Bok Tower Gardens is a perfect spot for day trips from Orlando, located in the rolling countryside around Lake Wales.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marvel at Florida&#8217;s oldest tree<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you take a trip to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/floridahikes.com\/bigtree\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Big Tree Park<\/a>\u00a0you&#8217;ll see the remains of the &#8216;Senator&#8217; tree which was the oldest and largest cypress tree in the world. Sadly it was destroyed by fire, but a memorial site has been set up around its massive stump, and a huge clone tree has been planted nearby. The park is located at Spring Hammock Preserve in Longwood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take a break at Lake Eola Park<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Lake Eola Park is a huge 43-acre oasis in the heart of downtown Orlando. You can spend the day relaxing by the beautiful lake, which is home to graceful swans, and enjoying views of the city&#8217;s iconic skyline. If you visit at the right time you can enjoy one of the many free concerts at the amphitheater, or pop by the farmer&#8217;s market on Sundays.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">See a mermaid show<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Known as one of Florida&#8217;s most unique natural attractions,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/weekiwachee.com\/park-attractions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Weeki Wachee Springs<\/a> is a top spot for Orlando day trips. This\u00a0stunning state park features a vast clearwater spring with live &#8216;mermaid&#8217; shows, a water park, boating lakes and equipment rentals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spot manatees<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Located west of Orange City,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridastateparks.org\/parks-and-trails\/blue-spring-state-park\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Blue Spring State Park <\/a>is a popular destination for day trips or even weekend trips from Orlando. Available activities include canoeing, scuba diving, kayaking and tubing in the crystal clear springs, as well as hiking, fishing and camping in the surrounding parklands. During the manatee season from November to mid-March the park becomes a winter haven for hundreds of migrating manatees.<br \/><a name=\"more\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More ideas for day trips from Orlando<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" class=\"wp-image-18836\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_285231905.jpg\" alt=\"day trips from orlando\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_285231905.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_285231905-460x307.jpg 460w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_285231905-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/shutterstock_285231905-390x260.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drive down to Tampa Bay<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The 80-minute drive down to the Tampa Bay area is one of the best road trips from Orlando. This region encompasses Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, and is a popular destination for day trips on account of the many things to see and do once you&#8217;re there. You can visit Busch Gardens Tampa, the area&#8217;s best-known amusement park, or you can take to the idyllic Gulf beaches. There&#8217;s the historic Latin quarter of Ybor City, as well as several other thriving downtown areas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spend the day at Treasure Island<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You can plan a fairy tale day trip from Orlando to this beautiful Gulf Coast island. The area got its name from an early hotel owner who claimed to have discovered chests of treasure buried on the beach. Today the island&#8217;s main draw is its 3-mile stretch of powder-white beach perfect for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and water sports. From Orlando, you can reach Treasure Island by car or coach in just under 2 hours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hang out at a unspoilt island<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Caladesi Island State Park just north of Clearwater is one of the few remaining undeveloped islands along Florida&#8217;s Gulf Coast. You can spend the day sunbathing on its white powdery beaches and feeling as if you&#8217;re on your very own desert island. There&#8217;s a walking trail for nature hikes and bird watching, as well as kayaking trails, picnic pavilions, a marina, a snack bar, and a souvenir shop. Entrance fees are around $2 per person and ferry fees are around $14 per adult from Honeymoon State Park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discover Naples, Florida<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It&#8217;s a bit of a trek but if you&#8217;re looking for the best road trips from Orlando, they don&#8217;t get much better than this. If you take the I-4 west from Orlando towards Tampa and then the I-75 south, the journey should take around 3 and a half hours. Once you&#8217;re there you&#8217;ll find plenty of high-end shopping and dining options, as well as great golf courses, a historic downtown area and the iconic Naples Pier. The city is fringed with miles of beaches with calm waters and sugar-white sands \u2013 some of the best are Clam Pass Park and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take a day trip from Orlando to the Kennedy Space Center<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You can take an out-of-this-world day trip from Orlando to the Kennedy Space Center with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grayline.com\/tours\/orlando\/kennedy-space-center-tour-5873_27\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gray Line Kennedy Space Center Tour<\/a>. This 1-day trip is within 100 miles of Orlando and includes roundtrip transportation from the Orlando and Kissimmee areas, as well as an admission ticket, entrance to the visitor complex, and a professional tour guide. You&#8217;ll have access to restricted areas and you can even meet a real-life astronaut.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Book your Orlando accommodation<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking of booking an Orlando vacation, then it&#8217;s important to make sure that you have the dream villa to go along with it. Our extensive collection features handpicked properties that are filled to the brim with incredible d\u00e9cor, and luxury amenities, and thoughtfully designed to give you everything you need for a comfortable and memorable stay. Interested? Browse throughout Orlando villa by clicking the button below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-black-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetopvillas.com\/orlando\/vacations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Explore our Orlando villas<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you fancy a break from the theme park hubbub the options for day trips from Orlando are practically endless.\u00a0Here&#8217;s a rundown of the top things to see and do away from the city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":18834,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,27],"tags":[908,907],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.3 - 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