By Kirk Brown
Inexpensive Things to Do in Orlando Florida
You don't have to spend a fortune to have a good time in
Orlando, Florida. The city and its surrounding environment feature an array of inexpensive things to do. The options range from shopping for souvenirs at bargain gift shops to playing golf under an erupting volcano to strolling around picturesque lakes and gardens. Paddling down the scenic and serene Wekiwa River or taking in a museum also are easier on the wallet than visiting Mickey Mouse and his pals at Disney World in nearby Kissimmee.
Look for Bargains on I-Drive
The main drag for central Florida tourists is unquestionably International Drive. It is home to more than 30,000 hotel rooms, scores of restaurants featuring every imaginable cuisine, the sprawling Orange County Convention Center and SeaWorld. I-Drive also is packed with a plethora of gift shops offering deals on beach towels, T-shirts and other souvenirs for friends and relatives back home. Gala Gifts (8723 International Drive; (407) 870-4603) is worth checking out.
Miniature Golf With a Rumble
International Drive is lined with top-notch miniature golf courses that offer family fun, typically for less than $10 per person. The Tiki Island Miniature Golf Course (7460 International Drive; (407) 248-8180) includes a pair of courses in the shadow of a four-story volcano that periodically rumbles to life and erupts. In addition to a host of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, this attraction has paddle boats, arcade games and a gift shop.
See Picturesque Gardens and a Popular Lake
Admission to Harry P. Leu Gardens (1920 N. Forest Ave.; (407) 246-2620) is free Monday mornings. Visitors can stroll along 3 miles of paved walkways that wind through 50 acres of gardens, featuring a wide assortment of plants highlighted by azaleas, camellias, dogwood trees, orchids and roses.
Locals are drawn to Lake Eola (195 N. Rosalind Ave.; (407) 246-2827), which is in the heart of downtown Orlando. Featuring an impressive fountain, Lake Eola is encircled by a walkway that is nearly a mile long. Walkers and joggers can gaze at the city's skyline or the swans, ducks and anhinga that make Lake Eola their home. There is also a playground, an amphitheater and rental boats that are shaped like swans.
A Natural Getaway
An hour from the main tourist attractions, Wekiwa Springs State Park (1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka; (407) 884-2039) offers a glimpse of what central Florida looked like centuries ago. Visitors can canoe or kayak down the Wekiwa River or simply enjoy a picnic. The park also has 13 miles of trails for hikers, bicyclists and horseback riding. Admission is $5 for a carload of as many as eight people.
Take in a Museum
The Orlando area has several first-rate museums that provide an inexpensive cultural alternative for tourists. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park; (407) 645-5311) boasts the most complete collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. In addition to Tiffany jewelry, paintings and windows, the museum has a notable collection of American art pottery. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children.
The Cornell Fine Arts Museum houses 6,000 pieces by American and European painters, sculptors and decorative artists. Admission to the museum, which is on the campus of Rollins College (1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park; (407) 646-2526), is $5 for adults.
About the Author:
Kirk Brown is an award-winning freelance writer with two decades of diverse media experience. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he also was managing editor of an acclaimed scuba diving magazine. Brown has written scripts for more than 50 half-hour TV programs focusing on technology and health topics.
Photo Credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhrono/3349038923/
