Visiting Orlando The Stuff You Dont Find in Brochures - Orlando

Your Orlando Vacations. The Stuff You Don’t Find in Brochures 

If you think you’ve seen and done everything in Orlando, you might be wrong! There are more places to see and things to do in Orlando and you rarely read about these in brochures or on the internet. 

Fun and excitement come in many forms.  You don’t need to wait in line or pay a high price all the time. In more ways than one, you can enjoy and have fun with just the simple stuff. Here are a few you should consider when you visit Orlando. 

1) Sample Local Cuisine

You may not be in some faraway exotic location but are you aware that Florida is known for several dishes? Here are a few. If you haven’t tried any, take the time to do so while you are in Orlando. You will find these in many restaurants. 

Gator Tail.  Before you say “eeew”, try it first. When fried, it actually almost tastes like chicken!

Key Lime Pie. It originated in the Florida Keys. Made of lime juice, eggs, condensed milk and pie crust, it is a great dessert!

Florida Style Catfish. It’s best when fried. You can taste the Southern influence but with a bit of variation.

Cuban Sandwich. It’s made of ham, roasted pork, melted cheese, mustard, pickles on toasted Cuban bread. Many say it’s excellent with plantain rather than potato chips.

Florida Orange Juice. Florida is the largest citrus producer in the United States. Oranges are available everywhere but there is nothing like drinking freshly squeezed OJ. 

2) Discover Orlando’s History 

Orlando was first known as Jernigan, a community that grew around Fort Gatlin in 1840. In 1850, the city’s name was changed to Orlando. No one’s sure why. Some believe Jernigan was re-named Orlando after Shakespeare’s character in his play “As You Like It”.  

Fort Christmas Historical Park

Construction of Fort Christmas began in 1937 to protect settlers during the Second Seminole War. The original fort was built of timber. Thus, nothing much of it is left today. 

The Orange County Parks and Recreation built a full-scale replica about a mile from the original fort’s site. In its museum, you will see both pioneer and Seminole artifacts in its many displays. Likewise featured are restored Florida Cracker houses furnished with original and reproduction pieces. No, it’s not a joke! Florida cracker is an architectural style typical of homes in the State. 

Fort Christmas Historical Park is about a 30-minute drive from Orlando. If you’re a history buff, the trip is worth it.

Church Street Station

Do you like trains and historical stations? The original Old Orlando Railroad Depot, as the station was known back in 1889, still stands today. You’ll find an old locomotive parked right in front. A new station has been built a block away and serves Sunrail commuters.

There are shops, bars and restaurants around the station. It is close to the Orlando City Hall, Orlando City Stadium and the Center for Performing Arts.

 St. James Cathedral

You might not be religious but did you know that St. James Cathedral is the first Catholic Church in Orlando? The original wooden church was built in 1887 which is more than a century ago. Back then, the population of the city was just around 4,000. Those folks then would have not imagined that number to increase to 2.5 Million today.

The current church is standing on the site of the first St. James Cathedral. If you enter the church, you will see its beautiful nave and stained glass windows.

Orange County Regional History Center

Do you want to know more about Orlando’s history? Visit the Orange County Regional History Center at Central Boulevard. 

The first history exhibit began in 1892 right by where the current History Center now stands. The center’s permanent display include exhibits on flora and fauna of Florida, the first indigenous peoples, the arrival of the Spanish, the life of the pioneers in the 19th century, Florida’s tourism history and many others.

3) Visit a Citrus or Blueberry Farm

If you have never been to an orange grove or blueberry farm, you have your chance now! There are a lot of these near Orlando. A couple of these are the following:

Showcase of Citrus. It is just 15 minutes away from Orlando.  This farm provides tours. If you visit during harvest time, you can pick oranges and purchase these at outrageously low prices.

Beck Brothers. Have you ever wondered where the blueberries in your cheesecake come from? A 20-minute drive from Orlando, it is located in Windermere, Florida. Dating back to the 19^th century, the farm is family-owned. Pick buckets of berries and pay low prices for each.

Where to Stay

If you’re still searching for a place to stay in Orlando, consider hotels in Celebration. Yes, Celebration is a place! It’s a small charming community located in Kissimmee.

There are several Celebration hotels to choose from and one of these is the Grand Orlando Resort. It’s a family-friendly hotel with a children’s playground and a beach volleyball court. It also has a heated pool with a 40-foot slide and a bar too. 

Located at Celebration’s edge, the Vacation Village at Parkway is also a family-friendly hotel. Seven pools, seven hot-tubs and 22 barbecue grills are just some of the amenities you will find at this hotel. It’s a great hotel for entertaining guests.  Bars, restaurants, shops and malls are just a stone’s throw away from Vacation Village.

Search the internet for hotels near Disneyworld and you will definitely find these two. These are good hotels. Just check out the reviews from former guests.

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So, when you visit Orlando, include at least one of these in your “to do” or “to see” list.  It’s a guarantee you’ll not regret it!

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