...to want to find artistic, cultural, lefty-liberal, bohemian/hippie/gay alternative things to do in Orlando?

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

It can't all be amusement parks, can it?
Please help me escape the Mouse.

Space Centre !

Thanks. Anything else? Where’s the culcha?

Wild swimming in the Everglades

Alligator hunting?

What's a 'gay thing'? Well, men if you're a man and women if you're a woman I guess.

It’s very easy to esacape the crowds. Beaches are nice - Anna Marie island on gulf coast is beautiful or cocoa beach on Atlantic coast. space centre is cool - check if there is a launch as that’s worth seeing.
Have you ever been before? Because Disney doesn’t have to be about rides and the characters. Epcot world showcase is good to wander, eat and drink around. Even just visiting the different resorts is worth it as they all have different restaurants and activities e.g animal kingdom lodge is worth a wander round.

Do you have access to a car? The Salvador Dali museum is on the gulf coast about and I loved it.

This is a bit like saying, where's the countryside in London? (Richmond Park for a start, but why are you going to London in the first place if that's not really what you want.)

Having said that, the Space Centre is well worth it for a different day trip.

You sound like you'd enjoy Miami or the Keys. Can you book a few nights down there, go to the Everglades as well (it's not really a day trip from Orlando).

I was going to say miami very art deco or at least that's how it looked in dexter

Watch the Dale Winton Florida roadtrip series on catch-up TV - Miami one is very good.

But Disney/Universal are bloomin good fun.

I thought Orlando was quite conservative, as is Florida as a whole? Just what I read though, I'm sure someone from near the area can inform you better than me.

Afraid we're tied quite closely to Orlando, so Miami isn't an option. But yes, we will have a car, as it's virtually impossible to get around there without.

The theme parks are the main thing for the kids, and that's why we'll be there for a fortnight; I'd just like a few days doing something a bit different if I can find it.

Why are you going to Orlando?
If by choice, then why on earth?

Too bad you are lied up in Orlando, because the Keys would have been so great for you!

www.visitorlando.com/things-to-do/

Sorry but I'm in agreement with Ethylred
Had to spend some time in around the Orlando last year,escaping the hurricane & it was awful.
Sorry OP.I'd drive straight on out of there & head for the beautiful Florida Keys,where it is soooo much better

Busch gardens, rides and wildlife park. Clearwater and St Pete's on Gulf coast.
Sea World in Orlando. Disney has 2 water parks, aquatica is similiar. The shopping mails can be interesting and downtown Orlando has museums etc
HTH

We did a wild canoeing trip in the everglades for the best part of a day. it was fantastic, memorable and really interesting as well. I second going to Florida keys as well but then that's because I wish I was there!

The classic car meets in old town Kissimmee (sp?) on Friday and Saturday evenings were good. We went on the Saturday and there were some fantastic classic American and European cars. The amusement/shopping arcade made me feel like I’d just walked into the set of the Lost Boys.

Bok tower is nice

One of the best things we did was Wild Willys, it's a boat over the Everglades looking for alligators. They are a small firm and take you out for about an hour, we saw so much wild life alongside the many many alligators. It's fantastic, some of the bigger companies aren't as personal though so would definitely recommend Wild Willys.

Orlando is the venue for a large family gathering of which we are but a small cog.

There is the Disney wilderness preserve - an ecological area owned by Disney that very few know about - free entry, hikers trails, lakeside viewpoints, toilets. Wildlife galore!

floridahikes.com/disneywilderness

Miami is a long way from Orlando! About 250 miles. It's like someone looking for things to do in York and suggesting the Tower of London.

We went about an hour south and did an airboat ride on the lakes in the early morning which was amazing. Well worth it. Lots of gators. There are also some National Park areas not far away but you'd need transport.

On the whole though Orlando is very laid back and chilled out and you're not going to get any hassle.

Head out to Melbourne. It’s about an hour away, it has a bit of a surfer hippy vibe with art galleries, lots of independent shops and miles of quiet beaches. Don’t expect anything as exciting as somewhere like Venice beach, but it’s very different from Orlando.

Airboat ride? We’ve done the one at boggy creek.
When you going op? Epcot (Disney) has a nice food and wine festival in Autumn and flower and garden festival in Spring. With seminars, cooking demos, live bands. It’s not all rides and characters. If you are into gardening there is a behind the seeds tour at Epcot.
If you look on the dibb forum (British Disney planning) there is a beyond the parks sub forum with ideas.