Hey Thrill Seekers,
When planning a holiday to Orlando, it’s easy to concentrate on the big names. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld are often at the top of everyone’s itinerary, and with good reason. However, there’s a whole other side to Orlando that is well worth exploring.
From getting up close to alligators and taking an airboat ride through Florida’s wetlands to swimming with dolphins and discovering some of the state’s most unusual wildlife, Orlando has plenty of experiences that don’t necessarily require an entire day.
In fact, some of the best additions to an Orlando holiday are the attractions you might not have initially considered. Many can be enjoyed in just a few hours, making them ideal for a change of pace between theme park visits.
We’ve picked out 10 attractions and experiences worth considering for your next Florida holiday, including some of the more unusual options available through Orlando Attraction Tickets.
🐊 Gatorland – The Alligator Capital of the World
Half-day experience
If there’s one attraction that offers something a little different from Orlando’s world-famous theme parks, it’s Gatorland. Often referred to as the Alligator Capital of the World, this 110-acre wildlife park has been welcoming visitors since 1949 and is one of Florida’s longest-running attractions.
As you might expect from the name, alligators are the main attraction. Gatorland is home to thousands of alligators and crocodiles, with opportunities to see them from close range, including some enormous specimens. However, there’s considerably more to the park than simply watching reptiles.
Visitors can enjoy live alligator shows, explore the breeding marsh and encounter other animals, including snakes, birds and tortoises. For those looking for something a little more adventurous, the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line offers a bird’s-eye view of the alligator breeding marsh, with the added excitement of flying above the reptiles.
There’s also the opportunity to experience the Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure, which takes visitors through the park’s more rugged terrain.
Allow around three to four hours for a visit, although those keen to experience the additional activities could easily spend longer.
Why visit? Gatorland offers a very different experience from the major theme parks, combining Florida wildlife, live entertainment and adventure activities in one attraction.
👉 Grab your Gatorland tickets
🚤 Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures – Explore Florida’s Wild Side
Short experience
You don’t have to travel far from Orlando to discover a completely different side of Florida. Just south of the main tourist areas, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures offers the chance to explore the state’s famous wetlands on a high-speed airboat.
Unlike conventional boats, airboats use a large propeller to glide across shallow water and marshland, allowing them to access areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
An airboat ride is an experience in itself. Expect open stretches of water, natural Florida scenery and the possibility of spotting alligators, turtles, birds and other wildlife along the way. The experienced captains also provide insights into the local ecosystem and the animals that inhabit it.
There are different tour lengths available, making it relatively easy to fit an airboat experience into a busy Orlando itinerary. Shorter rides are particularly appealing if you want to experience the Florida wetlands without committing an entire day.
For an even more memorable visit, Boggy Creek also offers opportunities to explore its Native American village and enjoy other experiences at the site.
Why visit? It’s a chance to experience the natural Florida that exists beyond the theme parks, with plenty of excitement along the way.
👉 Discovery Boggy Creek
🐬 Discovery Cove – A Day in a Tropical Paradise
Full-day experience
While Discovery Cove is a little different from the other attractions on this list, it deserves a mention for anyone looking to add something special to their Orlando holiday.
Rather than a traditional theme park, Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive tropical day resort where visitors can swim, snorkel and relax in a beautifully landscaped environment.
One of its biggest attractions is the opportunity to swim with dolphins, although this is an optional experience and requires the appropriate package. Guests can also snorkel among tropical fish and rays in the Grand Reef, explore the freshwater Wind-Away River and relax on sandy beaches.
Unlike the major theme parks, Discovery Cove operates with limited daily attendance, creating a more relaxed atmosphere. Meals, snacks and selected drinks are included in standard admission, making it an appealing option for those wanting a break from the usual theme park routine.
Although it takes a full day rather than just a few hours, Discovery Cove is particularly appealing as a rest day during a busy Orlando holiday.
Why visit? It offers a more relaxed, all-inclusive experience, with opportunities to get close to marine life and enjoy a tropical setting.
👉 Explore Discovery Cove
🏀 Orlando Magic – Experience the Excitement of NBA Basketball
Evening experience
For something completely different from Orlando’s theme parks, why not experience a live NBA basketball game? The Orlando Magic offer visitors the opportunity to experience American sport at its most entertaining, with fast-paced basketball, spectacular athleticism and an electric atmosphere.
Playing their home games at the Kia Center in downtown Orlando, the Magic are one of the city’s best-known sporting attractions. Even if you’re not a regular basketball fan, attending an NBA game can be a memorable addition to your Florida holiday.
NBA games are as much about the entertainment as the sport itself. Expect music, big-screen entertainment, cheerleaders, fan competitions and plenty of interaction with the crowd, alongside the action on the court.
The Kia Center is also conveniently located in downtown Orlando, with restaurants and bars nearby, making it easy to turn a game into a full evening out.
The NBA season typically runs from October through April, with potential playoff games extending into May and June. If you’re visiting during the season, it’s worth checking whether the Magic are playing at home during your stay.
Why visit? An NBA game offers a distinctly American sporting experience, combining live basketball with the atmosphere and entertainment of a major sporting event.
👉 Experience the Orlando Magic
🦅 Wild Florida – Airboats, Alligators and Wildlife
Half-day experience
If you like the idea of Boggy Creek but want to explore another part of Florida’s wetlands, Wild Florida is another attraction worth considering.
Located south of Orlando, Wild Florida combines airboat adventures with a wildlife park, offering visitors several ways to experience Florida’s natural environment.
The airboat tours are a major highlight, taking you across the headwaters of the Everglades in search of alligators, birds and other wildlife. You can choose between different tour lengths, including shorter 30-minute rides, which are ideal if you’re fitting the experience around other holiday activities.
The Gator Park is another attraction, featuring alligators, exotic animals and opportunities to learn about Florida’s wildlife. It’s a particularly good option for families who want to combine an airboat adventure with a more traditional wildlife experience.
For something extra special, Wild Florida also offers drive-through safari experiences, although these require additional time and a separate ticket.
Why visit? Wild Florida combines wildlife encounters with airboat adventures, making it an appealing alternative to spending another day at a theme park.
👉 Find Wild Florida Tickets
🔬 WonderWorks – An Upside-Down World of Fun
Half-day experience
You’ve probably seen the enormous upside-down building on International Drive, but have you ever wondered what’s inside? WonderWorks is part science museum, part interactive attraction and part adventure playground.
The unusual building is home to more than 100 hands-on exhibits, covering everything from physics and space to natural disasters and optical illusions.
Visitors can experience the sensation of lying on a bed of nails, create enormous bubbles, test their reactions and even experience a simulated earthquake. There’s also a 4D motion theatre, laser tag and a ropes course suspended indoors.
One of WonderWorks’ biggest advantages is that it’s suitable for a wide range of ages. Younger children can enjoy the interactive exhibits, while older children and adults can take on the more adventurous activities.
Located on International Drive, it’s also relatively easy to combine a visit with other nearby attractions, restaurants or shopping.
Allow around two to three hours for a typical visit, although anyone keen to try everything could spend longer.
Why visit? It’s an interactive attraction that combines education and entertainment, making it a useful option for a few hours away from the theme parks.
👉 Investigate WonderWorks Tickets
🚡 Screamin’ Gator Zip Line – Fly Over Alligators
Short adventure
For visitors who want something a little more adventurous, the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line offers an unusual way to experience Gatorland.
Rather than simply walking around the park and watching the alligators from the safety of the boardwalks, this attraction gives you the opportunity to soar above the alligator breeding marsh.
The zip line course features multiple lines and elevated towers, with views across the park and its resident reptiles. It’s an experience that combines the thrill of ziplining with the rather unusual prospect of having thousands of alligators below you.
It’s worth noting that the zip line is a separate experience from general Gatorland admission, so you’ll need to check the ticket options and any age, height or weight restrictions before booking.
For those who don’t fancy the zip line, Gatorland itself still offers plenty to see and do, making it easy to combine the adventure with a wider visit.
Why visit? It’s a very different way to experience Gatorland and offers an adventure that you won’t find at most other Orlando attractions.
👉 Go Crazy on a Gator Zip Line
🔵 Blue Man Group – An Unusual Night Out
Evening experience
Not every Orlando experience needs to involve wildlife or adrenaline. Sometimes, a show is the perfect way to spend an evening, and Blue Man Group offers something quite different from traditional theatre.
Known for their distinctive blue characters, unusual percussion instruments and often bizarre sense of humour, Blue Man Group combines music, comedy, technology and audience interaction into one energetic performance.
The show is largely non-verbal, making it particularly accessible to international visitors and families who don’t necessarily want to spend an evening following a complicated storyline.
Expect unusual musical performances, colourful visual effects, unexpected comedy and plenty of surprises. It’s difficult to describe exactly what a Blue Man Group performance is like, which is perhaps part of its appeal.
A typical show lasts around 90 minutes, making it relatively easy to fit into an evening after a day exploring Orlando.
Why visit? It’s an alternative to the theme parks that offers a memorable evening of music, comedy and visual entertainment.
👉 Book you Blue Man Group Tickets
🪄 The Outta Control Magic Dinner Show – Dinner with a Difference
Evening experience
If you’re looking for something to do in the evening that combines entertainment and food, The Outta Control Magic Dinner Show is worth considering.
Located inside WonderWorks on International Drive, this interactive comedy magic show combines close-up magic, audience participation and plenty of humour.
Rather than sitting back and simply watching a performance, guests are encouraged to get involved, with the magician regularly interacting with the audience. The result is a relaxed, entertaining evening that’s particularly suited to families.
The show also includes an all-you-can-eat pizza and salad dinner, along with selected drinks, so you can combine a meal and entertainment in one visit.
It’s a particularly convenient option for those staying on International Drive, as it removes the need to travel elsewhere for an evening activity.
Why visit? It combines dinner and entertainment in one experience, making it a straightforward option for a family evening out.
👉 Get involved in The Outta Control Magic Dinner Show
🔦 Gatorland Night Shine – See Alligators After Dark
Evening experience
We’ve already mentioned Gatorland, but there’s another experience worth considering if you want to see the attraction from a completely different perspective.
Gatorland’s Night Shine takes visitors into the park after dark, when alligators and other wildlife can behave differently from how they do during the day.
Armed with flashlights, visitors explore designated areas of the park in search of alligators, with their eyes reflecting the light in the darkness. It’s a fascinating way to observe these reptiles and offers an entirely different atmosphere from a daytime visit.
The experience is particularly appealing to anyone interested in wildlife or looking for something unusual to do in the evening.
As Night Shine is a separate experience, check the available dates, times and ticket requirements before booking.
Why visit? It’s an opportunity to experience one of Orlando’s best-known wildlife attractions after dark, when the atmosphere is completely different.
👉 Purchase your Gatorland Night Shine Tickets
🤔Which lesser-known Orlando attraction should you choose?
With so many attractions to choose from, the best option will depend on the sort of experience you’re looking for.
| If you’re looking for… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Florida wildlife | Gatorland |
| A high-speed adventure | Boggy Creek Airboats |
| A wildlife and airboat combination | Wild Florida |
| Something adventurous | Screamin’ Gator Zip Line |
| An interactive family attraction | WonderWorks |
| A relaxing day | Discovery Cove |
| An unusual evening out | Blue Man Group |
| Dinner and entertainment | Outta Control Magic Dinner Show |
| Americana | Orlando Magic Basketball |
| An after-dark adventure | Gatorland Night Shine |
➕Make more of your Orlando holiday
It’s easy to fill two weeks in Orlando with visits to Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. However, some of the most memorable experiences can come from doing something a little different.
Whether it’s watching an alligator leap out of the water at Gatorland, speeding across the wetlands on an airboat or enjoying an evening of comedy and magic, these attractions offer a welcome change from the major theme parks.
Many are also relatively easy to fit into an existing itinerary. You could spend the morning at Gatorland, for example, and still have plenty of time for an afternoon shopping trip or an evening on International Drive.
If you’re planning your next Florida holiday, it’s worth looking beyond the big theme parks and considering some of these alternative experiences.
Smiles included…
Jamie
