Must-sees for your trip
Resort's clubhouse
This is your clubhouse at no additional charge! There's a big pool, water slides for kids, a lazy river, a pool-side bar, a gym, an arcade room, a store, multipurpose outdoor sports courts, a beach volleyball field, and a lake!
Windsor at Westside by Pulte Homes
2100 Malta TerraceThis is your clubhouse at no additional charge! There's a big pool, water slides for kids, a lazy river, a pool-side bar, a gym, an arcade room, a store, multipurpose outdoor sports courts, a beach volleyball field, and a lake!
Sightseeing
Explore the history and tomorrow of space here! This museum has outdoor and indoor attractions, various bus tours to choose from, including exclusive tours with real-life astronauts! There's a whole-day-camp for kids too.
Reservation recommended.
Hours: 9AM-5PM
Driving time from the house: 1hr15min
Location: Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32899
Price: Around $80 per adult
772 locals recommend
Kennedy Space Center
Explore the history and tomorrow of space here! This museum has outdoor and indoor attractions, various bus tours to choose from, including exclusive tours with real-life astronauts! There's a whole-day-camp for kids too.
Reservation recommended.
Hours: 9AM-5PM
Driving time from the house: 1hr15min
Location: Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32899
Price: Around $80 per adult
The Wheel gives you a great view of the town, there's a wax museum, an aquarium, a little train for kids, lots of eateries and shops. At night, bars and restaurants are lively with music.
Restaurant reservations recommended.
Hours: 10AM-2AM
Driving time from the house: 1hr
Location: 8375 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
Price: package available, attractions sell tickets individually
396 locals recommend
ICON Park
8375 International DrThe Wheel gives you a great view of the town, there's a wax museum, an aquarium, a little train for kids, lots of eateries and shops. At night, bars and restaurants are lively with music.
Restaurant reservations recommended.
Hours: 10AM-2AM
Driving time from the house: 1hr
Location: 8375 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
Price: package available, attractions sell tickets individually
For first-time travelers, I recommend going on TripAdvisor and search for Crystal River activity packages because the place is huge. Most activities involve kayaking, paddling, or swimming with Manatees. Winter and spring are the best seasons to see manatees. If you want to relax, some areas allow for simply swimming.
I booked the Clear Kayak Manatees Tour on TripAdvisor in March, kayaked in a clear boat for hours, and saw a few manatees swim under me. We also arrive at a protected wildlife area with tons of manatees resting there.
If you're an animal lover, some tour groups allow for swimming with manatees.
After your tour, you can visit the nearby restaurant called Seafood Seller & Cafe.
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Driving time from the house: 1hr40min
Location: depends on which tour you book
Price: depends on different packages
190 locals recommend
Crystal River
3266 N Sailboat AveFor first-time travelers, I recommend going on TripAdvisor and search for Crystal River activity packages because the place is huge. Most activities involve kayaking, paddling, or swimming with Manatees. Winter and spring are the best seasons to see manatees. If you want to relax, some areas allow for simply swimming.
I booked the Clear Kayak Manatees Tour on TripAdvisor in March, kayaked in a clear boat for hours, and saw a few manatees swim under me. We also arrive at a protected wildlife area with tons of manatees resting there.
If you're an animal lover, some tour groups allow for swimming with manatees.
After your tour, you can visit the nearby restaurant called Seafood Seller & Cafe.
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Driving time from the house: 1hr40min
Location: depends on which tour you book
Price: depends on different packages
This is where I went for the afternoon after a morning kayak tour at Crystal River. It's a very cute little zoo housing animals in rehabilitation (some of them are "retired," while others are going to be released into the wild when they're healthier.) You get to be fairly close to the animals, especially in the open-space bird area.
There are manatees here too, a medium-size lake that you can loop around, an underwater viewing area to see fish, a cute gazebo (great for pictures), and several shows throughout the day where the staffs give educational talks about animals.
There are two entrances. One you park and go in. The other you park, and then take a ferry to the zoo.
No reservation needed.
Hours: 9AM-5:30PM
Driving time from Crystal River: 10min
Location: 4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446
Price: $13 per adult
187 locals recommend
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
4150 S Suncoast BlvdThis is where I went for the afternoon after a morning kayak tour at Crystal River. It's a very cute little zoo housing animals in rehabilitation (some of them are "retired," while others are going to be released into the wild when they're healthier.) You get to be fairly close to the animals, especially in the open-space bird area.
There are manatees here too, a medium-size lake that you can loop around, an underwater viewing area to see fish, a cute gazebo (great for pictures), and several shows throughout the day where the staffs give educational talks about animals.
There are two entrances. One you park and go in. The other you park, and then take a ferry to the zoo.
No reservation needed.
Hours: 9AM-5:30PM
Driving time from Crystal River: 10min
Location: 4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446
Price: $13 per adult
Supposedly one of the best beaches in Florida. I've never been, but it's almost a two-hour drive, but from what I hear, it's worth it.
1870 locals recommend
Clearwater Beach
Gulf of Mexico DriveSupposedly one of the best beaches in Florida. I've never been, but it's almost a two-hour drive, but from what I hear, it's worth it.
Showcase of Citrus is just the location. I went on a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon trip (booked on TripAdvisor), and this is the meet-up place.
You confirm the trip the night before, and they'll tell you the meet-up time. There's free parking, and then they haul the ballon and everybody to the actual take-off location. We were in a parking lot to get the balloon up. There are around 8 people per balloon with the operator in the middle section. You're in midair at sunrise. We took plenty of sunrise pictures, saw cows and wild boars from above, landed in a grass plain, and were driven back to our cars. The entire trip felt very safe, and the scenery was gorgeous.
Must have an advanced reservation.
Hours: sunrise
Driving time from the house: 15min
Location: 5010 US-27, Clermont, FL 34714
Price: $164.99 per adult
76 locals recommend
Showcase of Citrus
15051 US-27Showcase of Citrus is just the location. I went on a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon trip (booked on TripAdvisor), and this is the meet-up place.
You confirm the trip the night before, and they'll tell you the meet-up time. There's free parking, and then they haul the ballon and everybody to the actual take-off location. We were in a parking lot to get the balloon up. There are around 8 people per balloon with the operator in the middle section. You're in midair at sunrise. We took plenty of sunrise pictures, saw cows and wild boars from above, landed in a grass plain, and were driven back to our cars. The entire trip felt very safe, and the scenery was gorgeous.
Must have an advanced reservation.
Hours: sunrise
Driving time from the house: 15min
Location: 5010 US-27, Clermont, FL 34714
Price: $164.99 per adult
I went on "Wild Willy's Airboat Tours," booked on TripAdvisor. Morning tours are the best to see alligators and birds. We were on the lake for an hour, saw so many different birds, a bald eagle nest, and got really close to several huge alligators. We get to hold a pet alligator by the end of the tour.
Hours: several tour times throughout the day
Driving time from the house: 45min
Location: 4715 Kissimmee Park Road Saint Cloud, FL 34772
Price: $49 per adult
49 locals recommend
Lake Tohopekaliga
I went on "Wild Willy's Airboat Tours," booked on TripAdvisor. Morning tours are the best to see alligators and birds. We were on the lake for an hour, saw so many different birds, a bald eagle nest, and got really close to several huge alligators. We get to hold a pet alligator by the end of the tour.
Hours: several tour times throughout the day
Driving time from the house: 45min
Location: 4715 Kissimmee Park Road Saint Cloud, FL 34772
Price: $49 per adult
This is an indoor museum for all ages. It's quirky and sciency, with laser tag, 4D rides, rope courses, and more!
More information on their website:
https://www.wonderworksonline.com/orlando
184 locals recommend
WonderWorks Orlando
9067 International DrThis is an indoor museum for all ages. It's quirky and sciency, with laser tag, 4D rides, rope courses, and more!
More information on their website:
https://www.wonderworksonline.com/orlando
If you're in downtown Orlando, don't miss Lake Eola. There are lots of friendly birds, gorgeous white and black swans, you can paddle boats on the lake, and grab a bite at the lake-side bars.
Parking can be tricky, bring cash.
333 locals recommend
Lake Eola
If you're in downtown Orlando, don't miss Lake Eola. There are lots of friendly birds, gorgeous white and black swans, you can paddle boats on the lake, and grab a bite at the lake-side bars.
Parking can be tricky, bring cash.
Food scene
The Melting Pot restaurant is a must-go for fondue lovers! They have cheese fondue for before, hot-pot or grill for your main entree, and chocolate fondue for after!
This is a chain restaurant, the address shown here is the one closest to Disney World.
7549 W Sand Lake Rd
7549 West Sand Lake RoadThe Melting Pot restaurant is a must-go for fondue lovers! They have cheese fondue for before, hot-pot or grill for your main entree, and chocolate fondue for after!
This is a chain restaurant, the address shown here is the one closest to Disney World.