If you’re planning a trip to Orlando, you’re probably heading there for Sea World, Universal Studios or the Disney World Resort. Orlando has so much more to offer the entire family besides expensive theme parks. The best part: Many of these activities are open late, so you can eat a relaxing dinner before going out for a night on the town.

Here are seven things you can do along International Drive, and a few tips to save you a little money on tickets, too.

Take a Ride on The Wheel at ICON Park

Orlando is pretty flat terrain. So getting 400 feet into the air allows you to see everything Orlando and central Florida have to offer. Once on-board for the 25-minute ride around the largest Ferris Wheel in the east coast, you can spot Universal Studios, Sea World, and even the EPCOT ball over at Disney World Resort.

If you’re wanting to see something outside of Orlando, look to the east and you may just catch a glimpse of the Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) can be seen if the skies are clear. You can use the little screen inside your capsule to identify various locations.

For a complete rundown on ICON Orlando, including ticket prices and hours of operation, check out my guest blog post on Tips for Family Trips.

Visit the SEA Life Orlando Aquarium

Sea turtles, jellyfish, seahorses, Oh my! The SEA Life Orlando aquarium has a little something for everyone. There are interactive screens to help you learn about sharks. Hands-on exhibits that teach you about preservation and endangered species.

The feature that will leave you talking is the 360-degree glass tunnel that takes you through the shark tank. You can observe various sharks, rays, sea turtles and more swim overhead or below your feet. It’s a great way to feel up close and personal with the fish, without having to get in the water.

The SEA Life Orlando aquarium even has an activity booklet for kids to help them learn and engage throughout the tour. Don’t forget to pick one up at the front desk when you arrive.

Meet the Stars at Madame Tussauds

If you like hanging out with movie stars (like Will Smith, Shrek or Katniss Everdeen), you won’t want to pass up a visit to Madame Tussauds Orlando. The famous wax museum is in the same complex as the ICON Orlando and SEA Life Orlando aquarium. If you’re looking to save a little money, you can buy a single pass that will get you into all three attractions.

Madame Tussauds is divided into multiple sections. However, some of the individuals may change:

• Historical figures (i.e., Ponce de Leon, Neil Armstrong, Abraham Lincoln).
• Famous geniuses (i.e., Martin Luther King, Jr., Walt Disney, Steve Jobs)
• Sports figures (i.e., Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams)
• Pop stars (i.e., Taylor Swift, Elvis, Lady Gaga)
• TV icons (i.e., Oprah, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Lopez)
• Movie personalities (i.e., Po, ET, Katniss Everdeen)
• Hollywood movie stars (i.e., Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks)

The museum is a great place to capture selfies with famous people, without feeling awkward.

Learn about Chocolate on the Chocolate Kingdom Tour

The Chocolate Kingdom in Orlando has done a fabulous job of making education fun… and tasty! Visitors on the tour will follow a dashing young prince and his faithful dragon as they learn about chocolate – From the cocoa seeds grown around the world, to the process of creating the chocolate bars we know today.

Throughout the tour, visitors are treated to, well, treats. You get to taste a candied cocoa seed, the original hot cocoa drink, and little samples of milk, dark and white chocolate.

At the end of your tour, you can even create your own chocolate bar. You pick the type of chocolate and three ingredients. They make your bar and deliver it to you on a little overhead conveyor in the main lobby of the Chocolate Kingdom.

You can learn more about the Chocolate Kingdom tour here, including hours of operation and admission.

Mini Golf with Pirates, Ya Bilge Rat!

A round of mini golf is great for your family, or even a group of colleagues if you’re there on a business trip. Our group took on Black Beard’s Challenge, which was the tougher of the two courses.

Right from the start, the decor of the course catches yer eye! You can even grab a group photo around the stockade before you start your round of golf.

Admission:

• 18 holes: $13.50+tax for adults; $11.95+tax for kids (ages 4-12)
• 36 holes: $22.50+tax for adults; $19.95+tax for kids (ages 4-12)
• A second round of 18 holes is an additional $9.50+tax

Pirates Cove Adventure Golf is open from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., every day of the week. Pretty convenient if you want to catch a round after a day at one of the theme parks. The address is 8501 International Drive, roughly one mile from the Convention Center.

If you want to throw in some added fun, encourage everyone to talk like a pirate, me hearties!

Explore Science at WonderWorks Orlando

The exterior of the building definitely catches you by surprise as you walk down International Drive. WonderWorks Orlando is an edu-tainment amusement park that is definitely a MUST-VISIT when in Orlando. You can buy your tickets in the morning, and come and go throughout the day as you please.

The building has various sections that let you experience science in unique ways. Try sitting in a cafe during a strong earthquake. Touch lighting produced by a Tesla Coil. Feel hurricane-force winds and try to stand upright. All of that is found on the first floor.

The second floor offers many more hands-on exhibits. You can lay on a bed of nails, see how hot (or cold) you are, land a space shuttle after it re-enters the earth’s atmosphere, or capture your shadow on the wall. If space is your thing, check out the astronaut training experience – but only if you can withstand lots of spinning.

In the basement (which is the top floor – remember, the building’s upside down) you can play a round of laser tag or climb above the arcade floor on a glow-in-the-dark ropes course.

Check out everything WonderWorks Orlando has to offer, including admission prices and hours of operation.

Shop, Dine or Catch a Movie along International Drive

International Drive in Orlando is lined with shops, restaurants, museums, attractions and shopping malls. If you’re staying near the Convention Center, you can find great places to eat at Pointe Orlando. We’ve enjoyed BB Kings, Tommy Bahamas, Johnny Rockets and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

If shopping is your thing, there are many clothing and jewelry stores – similar to many malls across America.

If you want to get off your feet and enjoy a movie, Pointe Orlando also has a movie theater.

There’s plenty to do along International Drive, and if you don’t feel like walking, you can grab a taxi or Uber/Lyft. Another option or the iRide Trolley that run up and down International Drive. It’s $2 per ride (kids are only $1). You can also buy single-day or multi-day passes. The trolley runs from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. NOTE: The driver does not carry cash, so exact change is required.

If you want to grab some coupons to various activities or restaurants along International Drive, pick up a brochure at the Convention Center or pop into one of the travel information places along the road. You can also save a few dollars by purchasing your tickets online in advance of your trip. Taking the time to do a little extra research will be worth it in the long run and help you save some dollars and not be left wondering – what should we do?

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