Orlando Day Trips

Day Trips

Orlando may be landlocked in the center of the state, but spring-fed lakes and quaint oak-shrouded villages abound in this part of Florida. And the nearest beaches – including one of Florida’s most pristine stretches of sand at Canaveral National Seashore on the Space Coast - are less than an hour’s drive from downtown.

Smart Splurge    Great Value
Florida's Space Coast
Home to the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral's shuttle launches, and the family-friendly sands of Cocoa Beach, it's the closest spot for an ocean dip from Orlando.
40 miles east of downtown Orlando; Cape Canaveral, FL; www.space-coast.com
Tags: beach | family | culture | historic | editor pick
Mount Dora
Bountiful antique shops and cozy inns are the main draw at this quaint lakefront town of 11,000.
30 miles northwest of Orlando; Mount Dora, FL; www.mountdora.com
Tags: family | specialty
Bok Tower Gardens
A tranquil escape in Lake Wales with botanical gardens, a nature preserve, a 205-foot Gothic and art deco bell tower, and the eight-acre, Mediterranean Revival-style Pinewood Estate.
54 miles south of Orlando; Lake Wales, FL; www.boksanctuary.org
Tags: family | architecture | gardens | nature
Tampa/St. Petersburg
Big-time roller-coaster thrills and wildlife encounters await courtesy of Tampa's Busch Gardens Africa while laid-back, artsy St. Pete provides gorgeous, white-sand beaches.
85 miles southwest of Orlando; Tampa, FL; www.floridasbeach.com
Tags: beach | family | art | theme park | zoo
Ocala National Forest
Fishing, canoeing, hiking, and swimming in the crystal-clear fresh water of Alexander Springs makes this a recreational paradise.
40 miles northwest of OrlandoFL; www.ocalacc.com
Tags: family | hiking | swimming | fishing | nature
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