Things to do in Orlando FloridaWhether you are taking your first trip to Orlando, or an annual visit to the central part of the Sunshine State, there are many things to do in Orlando that don’t require a theme park admission. Our top best things to do in Orland are... ">Gaylord Palms Resort Summer Treasure Hunt Challenge:
Bring your family and friends to compete for a grand-prize treasure of $10,000. in cold cash. Beginning May 2 through August 28, the Gaylord Palms Resort will be transformed into a pirate treasure hunt experience. Contestants will prove their skills to act and think like pirate and treasure seekers as they earn points by traversing the resort while solving clues, puzzles and performing unique "piratey" tasks. At the end of the summer, the team that earns the greatest number of points during their stay will be awarded the $10,000 prize. The second-place team will win a $3,500 cash prize and the third-place team will be awarded a three-night stay at a Gaylord Palms Resort. Enjoy a full day of aquatic fun at Clarion Resort and Waterpark - Escape the Florida heat at Orlando's Clarion Resort. The only hotel in Orlando featuring over 50,000 total square feet of waterpark, pools and slides, with six waterpark attractions, three main slides, six kiddy slides, and two pool areas just steps away from your hotel room and free of charge for all guests.  Golf Outings
Florida is a golfer’s paradise; especially during the winter, when cold weather shuts down northern golf courses. Daytime temperatures in Orlando are in the 60s and 70s in February, and by the end of March the daytime highs get closer to 80 degrees.
There are several golf courses located just minutes away from the attractions and major resort areas, so a day on the green won’t require a day trip from your hotel. Shingle Creek Golf Club was rated by Golfweek magazine as one of America’s Top 40 Best New Courses for 2005. This par 72 championship golf course lies along Shingle Creek—headwaters of the Florida Everglades.
In 2000, Golf & Travel magazine named Falcon’s Fire Golf Club one of Florida’s 50 Finest Golf Courses. This club features a Rees Jones Signature designed championship golf course, a spacious clubhouse, and an award-winning golf shop. In nearby Haines City, the Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club offers a dramatic hillside layout that stretches to over 7200 yards and features 100 feet of elevation changes not typically found in Central Florida.
Unique Restaurants
If you don’t want to pay theme park food prices but prefer to avoid the chain restaurants, Orlando has a wide variety of family dining establishments to accommodate whatever you crave. Steak lovers will want to check out the Black Angus Steakhouse, which has been a serving top quality meat and seafood for over 30 years. There are two Orlando locations (the International Drive Black Angus is in the Best Western Movieland hotel) and the Kissimmee restaurant is in the Econolodge Maingate Hawaiian hotel.
If it’s an authentic ethnic atmosphere you are looking for, the Vallarta Mexican Grill will deliver. Vallarta Mexican Grill offers live mariachi music, cold margaritas, and traditional Mexican cuisine. This colorfully decorated restaurant is a family owned establishment, where the chef’s dishes have been passed down for generations.
Even casual American dining does not have to be a mundane experience in Orlando. The entire family will enjoy NBA City at the Universal Studios Resort. The restaurant is located in Universal’s CityWalk, and the 33-foot statue of the NBA’s “logoman” makes it nearly impossible to miss. In addition to the NBA theme (and amply stocked gift shop) the restaurant serves up burgers, pizza, pasta, salad, grilled steaks, and sandwiches.
Shopping
Shop ti'l you drop at great malls and discount outlets such as The Mall at Millenia, The Florida Mall, Festival Bay and Prime One Outlets. You will find excellent discounts on famous brands like Coach, Reebok, Anne Klein and Louis Vuitton. The malls are easily accessible from I-4, Lake Buena Vista and International Drive area. So, go ahead, enjoy a shopping experience like never before! Dinner Theatre
Dinner theatre combines the best of both worlds—fine dining and an entertaining show. There are several dinner theatres in Orlando, and one of the most popular ones is the Arabian Nights dinner show. This award-winning show promises that “fairy tales come true; it can happen to you.” As a guest of the Arabian nights you are invited to celebrate the wedding of a Prince and a Princess, while watching horses perform in the world’s largest indoor equestrian area.
This only scratches the surface of what you can choose from when you schedule a “free day” in your Orlando vacation. There are many things to do in Orlando. From a day of golfing to dinner and a show, your day away from the theme parks will fill up pretty fast. Related links: | 
.gif)
