What to do in Orlando except parks and shopping?

[DressDownFriday]

We're going to Florida this year and instead of going to the parks everyday we would like a day or 2 out doing something different.

Anyone have any ideas?

If you have a car hired, you could drive to The Kennedy Space Centre in Fort Lauderdale.

I was there a few years ago and enjoyed it. We had it timed that we saw an actual rocket launch whilst visiting.

KSC is located in Cape Canaveral and makes for a good day out. Its about an hour or so east of Orlando.

We drove to Cocoa Beach one day and spent one day at Clearwater. Both gorgeous beaches.

Swim with wild manatee at Crystal river.
Winter park is nice.
Daytona if you're into cars.
To me though, the whole point of Orlando is theme parks and shopping - I hate shopping in this country but put me in the Florida mall or Walmart and I'm happy.
If you drove to Ft Lauderdale hoping to see KSC, you'd be sorely disappointed, it's at Cape Canveral near Cocoa beach!
Kennedy is definitely worth a day out, we'll be drving there 3 weeks on Sunday.

Thanks for the replies.

We are getting 14 day tickets for WDW but wanted a couple of days doing something different.

Will certainly look at your recommendations - also looking at a baseball game and horseriding (ideas from a previous thread).

We're going in August. As well as the parks we're having a day at Gatorland with an airboat safari on the Everglades tagged onto it. A friend did it last year and said it was the best day of their holiday.

As well as the malls, WDW, Universal and Sea World we did gatorland with the airboat safari (in the dark - eek), space centre and a hot air balloon ride it all easily filled 3 weeks.

Kennedy Space Centre is def worth a day trip.
If you like the beach then a day trip to the beach is good too - we went over to St Pete's Beach and Treasure Island.

As well as the theme parks you also have the water parks.

chubbymummy we're going in August too. The airboat safari in the dark sounds like something the dc would like.

go to the beach on the gulf coast
the beaches are amazing. clearwater is fab. about 2 hours from orlando.