Orlando is one of America’s number one tourist cities. While most everyone knows this throw away fact, not many know about the true things outside of Disney, Universal, Sea World, Aquatica, etc. that make Orlando a truly brilliant place to be.
If you’re a freshman, you probably already know about the local bars in the UCF area and the bus routes to getting downtown. For the time being, this is probably all you’re going to want to do, trust me I was a freshman once, too. (If your upper classmen, you’ll probably see a few things in here you’ve never heard of. Don’t fret; it takes time to find gold in a coal mine).
However, once you read this article and decide to look beyond the world between Waterford and McCulloch, you’ll be surprised at how far a dollar can go and how much of an experience you can get through the culture of Orlando.
Food Trucks
Handcrafted juicy burgers, surprised-taste-bud brisket sandwiches, soft silky crepes folded over various selections of fillings, no one can deny the beauty of the Orlando Food Truck.
Orlando Food Trucks are a ‘meals on wheels’ taken to a whole new extreme. With over 60 different trucks that offer a spectrum from gourmet foods, to vegan creations, to decadent cup cakes—there is no limitation of what these brightly colored vehicles can create behind their metal doors.
Here’s a small list of some mouth-watering Food Trucks in Orlando:
Fish Out of Water Sushi Truck
Korean BBQ Taco Box
SwedeDish Food Truck
Of the many gatherings, The Orlando Food Truck Bazaar is one of the largest. This “Bazaar” travels from city to city in the Orlando area Friday through Sunday. You can find their weekend locations on their Facebook page by clicking here. And, of course, share with the world how delicious they were post-grub.
Wekiwa Springs
If you’re not into food (I never want to meet you) and seek rather an outdoor adventure for you and a group of friends, you absolutely need to check out Wekiwa Springs in Apopka, FL (about 30-40 minutes away).
Among the various nature trails, biking routes, campgrounds and fishing spots, my personal favorite is the canoe/kayak trips. It’s $17 to rent a kayak or canoe for two hours and $3 per hour thereafter. Down the river you’ll see turtles and alligators sun bathing and just when your arms start to get tired is when you hear the music. Keep paddling because this is when you get to the area of the river where you’ll find
Wekiva Island, a bar set up with cabanas, tents, and a dock to park your canoe!
Ferris and Foster’s Chocolate Factory
Yes, we’re back to food. But who doesn’t love chocolate? (Once again, I never want to meet you). Ferris and Foster’s Chocolate Factory of Baldwin Park is a truly unique place to visit not only because they are home to delicious chocolates but also because you get to make the chocolate yourself; this is every kid’s dream come true and let’s face it, every adult’s as well. For $29 for two, (maybe you bring a date, a friend, your professor to secure that A) you are given a small demo on the art of chocolate where you create using an enrobing machine (think conveyor belt/ chocolate waterfall like in the beginning of the movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) and decorate with all sorts of toppings. With samples given throughout the demo, you really can’t go wrong spending a day laboring in sweets. (Plus you can bring your own alcohol!)
I honestly could go on and on about all the things you can do in Orlando but this article would be too long for some of us with short attention spans. So, to help out with more ideas I have created a list in which you can research yourself and decide if the endeavor is for you or not.
Harry P. Leu Gardens, Lake Eola Park (including Farmer’s Market on Sundays), Park Avenue in Winter Park, Shipyard Brewery, Rebounderz (indoor trampolines), Hard Knocks (Indoor war laser tag, think Call of Duty but with laser tag military guns), Frank & Steins (bar with shuffle board, Jenga, board games, etc.), Lakeridge Winery (Clermont, FL, free tour and wine tasting), and the Orlando Kart Center (Florida’s fastest go-kart race tracks).
As the wise Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Dare to discover the world beyond the commercials. Eat things you’ve never eaten before. Talk to strangers. We are as young now as we ever will be and there is beauty yet to be seen.
