Attractions

Astro Skate

866 Goldenrod Road, astroskatingcenter.com Why mess with the formula? Astro Skate provides you with the skates, environs, visuals and soundtrack for peak retro rollerskating satisfaction.

Bok Tower Gardens

1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, boktowergardens.org On the outskirts of Orlando, Bok Tower Gardens is bursting with botanical gardens designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. Take in the natural wonders of Florida as you listen to the song coming from the iconic Singing Tower and its carillon bells.

Citrus Tower

141 North Highway 27, Clermont, citrustower.com This attraction from a simpler time — 1956, to be exact — is 22 stories tall, allowing an unobstructed view of Central Florida for miles in every direction. New owners Scott and Heather Homan are modernizing the experience, and have thus far added a fancy coffee bar, a vintage pinball and games arcade, and wifi throughout, making it more than worth the $10 price of admission.

Dinosaur World

5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City, dinosaurworld.com Life-size dinosaur models reign over this attraction visible from Interstate 4. Walk amongst the dinosaurs, dig for fossils, or visit the museum and Skeleton Garden.

Gatorland

14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, gatorland.com Known as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” this eco-preserve is home to thousands of flesh-eating reptiles — and the trainers brave enough to wrestle them. Get close enough (not too close!) to see them eat and sleep, or zipline safely above their marsh. Say hi to the Social Distancing Skunk Ape while you’re there.

Icon Park

8375 International Drive, iconparkorlando.com Right in the middle of Orlando’s tourist district, Icon Park features the Wheel, a 400-foot observation wheel, marine animals at the Sea Life Aquarium, the popular new Museum of Illusions, your favorite (and not-favorite) celebrities at Madame Tussauds wax museum, and the Orlando Starflyer.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

State Road 405, east of Titusville, kennedyspacecenter.com Take a tour of the 363-foot Saturn V that took Americans to the moon and see the lunar particles that still dust astronaut Alan Shepard’s space suit.

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Entrance: 2850 Lust Road, Apopka This 11-mile drive is free and maintained by the St. Johns River Water Management District. Download a map, reading guide and audio guide at sjrwmd.com and get ready to catch sight of jumping fish, strolling alligators and 300 different bird species.

Legoland

1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, legoland.com/florida What’s not to love about a 150-acre attraction dedicated to the tiny plastic building blocks and miniature humans that have been entertaining kids of all ages for decades?

Lukas Nursery Butterfly Encounter

1909 Slavia Road, Oviedo, lukasnursery.com Stand amid a cloud of winged beings at this year-round conservatory, where you can mingle with cheerfully chirping exotic birds and even feed butterflies from your fingertips.

Old Town

5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, myoldtownusa.com This perennial Osceola County attraction offers “classic American fun,” and we don’t doubt it a bit. There’s shopping, restaurants, thrill rides, a carousel and even a haunt!

Orlando Science Center

777 E. Princeton St., osc.org Home to Florida’s largest refractor telescope, the Orlando Science Center has a place for everyone. Children can explore KidsTown to their hearts’ content, which includes a climbing area and pickable “orange grove.”

Orlando Speed World Dragway

19164 E. Colonial Drive, raceosw.com/dragway Local drag racing finds a home at Orlando Speed World. Check out racing and stunt events here every week.

Putting Edge

5250 International Drive, puttingedge.com This 18-hole putt putt minigolf course has an edge over the rest with its indoors location. That makes for the perfect spot for glow-in the dark effects aplenty and a pumping soundtrack of the best of the 1990s.

SeaWorld Orlando

7007 Sea World Drive, seaworld.com/orlando Outdated marine animal shows aren’t the only thing SeaWorld has to offer. There’s Sesame Street land, thrilling roller coasters and exciting water adventures at Aquatica, and even a food festival that make this theme park a must-visit.

Universal Orlando Resort

6000 Universal Blvd., universalorlando.com From the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Marvel’s Adventure Island, Volcano Bay water park and the Bourne Stuntacular, there’s never a dull moment at Universal Orlando.

Walt Disney World Resort

disneyworld.disney.go.com The most magical place on Earth is still going strong. The newer Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood studios is proving to be a park favorite up there with perennials like Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion.

Wild Florida Drive-Thru Safari Park

3301 Lake Cypress Road, Kenansville, wildfloridairboats.com Even by Central Florida’s high bar of attraction novelty, this one rates pretty far up there. Get up close (though not too close!) and personal with over 100 native and exotic animals from the comfort of your automobile.

GATORLAND | PHOTO BY NICK FOX

Arts & Culture

With internationally renowned theme parks based right here, it’s no surprise that Orlando is a city with active visual and performing arts communities — it takes a lot of creative work to make all that magic, and our theaters and galleries showcase this homegrown talent. Proving the maxim that it’s the people, not the spaces, that make up a scene, local performers spent most of 2020 practicing their craft online with Zoom and Facebook readings, plays, comedy shows and even some classical music events, but they are ramping slowly back up into live presentations.

GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens

633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park polasek.org The Czech artist’s former residence is now a gallery, surrounded by gorgeous lakeside gardens full of his bronze sculptures.

Art and History Museums — Maitland

231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland artandhistory.org The cultural complex includes the Maitland Art Center (a National Historic Landmark), the Germaine Marvel multi-use space, the Maitland Historical Museum, the Victorian-era Waterhouse Residence and the Telephone Museum.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park morsemuseum.org This museum features an astounding collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including a wing dedicated to recreating the essence of Laurelton Hall, Tiffany’s Long Island estate.

CityArts

39 S. Magnolia Ave. downtownartsdistrict.com/cityarts The Downtown Arts District is centered in the venerable Rogers-Kiene Building. The historic building recalls Orlando’s past; the rotating exhibits within feature local, national and international artists.

Cornell Fine Arts Museum

1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park cfam.rollins.edu Tucked away on the campus of Rollins College, this museum continues to acquire cutting edge works of contemporary art for its Alfond Collection, originally donated by a pair of alumni.

Faith Arts Village Orlando

221 E. Colonial Drive faithartsvillage.com This ministry housed in an old motel provides individual artists’ studios and hosts a monthly art market.

Hannibal Square Heritage Center

642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org Exhibitions and displays of archival photos and historical documents related to the Black experience in evolving west Winter Park.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida

851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland holocaustedu.org The tiny gallery within the Jewish Community Center hosts rotating exhibits that challenge the viewer.

The Mennello Museum of American Art

900 E. Princeton St. mennellomuseum.org The space is small, but it packs a lot of punch. It’s a showcase for works by folk artist Earl Cunningham and an eclectic mix of traveling exhibitions.

Orange County Regional History Center

65 E. Central Blvd., thehistorycenter.org This storehouse of archived wonders fills its exhibition spaces with traveling exhibitions as well as homegrown collections and pieces.

Orlando Museum of Art

2416 N. Mills Ave., omart.org Nestled into Loch Haven Park, the reinvigorated OMA shows work by major artists as well as homegrown talent.

Snap Downtown

420 E. Church St., snaporlando.com Slick photography-centric gallery hosts some of the best art parties in town.

Well’s Built Museum

511 W. South St., wellsbuilt.org Housed in 1920s hotel, Well’s Built is a trove of local African American history and artifacts.

Zora Neale Hurston Museum of Fine Arts

344 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville, zoranealehurstonmuseum.com Featuring the work of contemporary artists of African diasporic descent.

THEATERS & PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS

Athens Theatre

124 N. Florida Ave., DeLand athensdeland.com DeLand’s restored historic theater hosts a resident community theater group.

Bach Festival Society of Winter Park

1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park bachfestivalflorida.org BFS presents an annual season of classical music, performed by more than 100 volunteer members as well as visiting artists.

Bob Carr Theater

401 W. Livingston St., drphillipscenter.org Operated by the Dr. Phillips Center, this old standby still hosts the Orlando Phil, as well as concerts and comedians.

Central Florida Community Arts

250 SW Ivanhoe Blvd., cfcarts.com This very inclusive musical arts organization believes every artist of every age should have a cultural platform to connect and perform.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

445 S. Magnolia Ave.,drphillipscenter.org The airy glass-and-steel cultural facility offers multi-use spaces and theaters hosting touring Broadway productions, dance, live music and local theater.

Garden Theatre

160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, gardentheatre.org The lovingly restored historic theater in quaint downtown Winter Garden hosts theater, film and family shows.

The Improv

9101 International Drive, theimprovorlando.com Touring and local stand-ups perform while patrons enjoy dinner and drinks.

Mad Cow Theatre

54 W. Church St., madcowtheatre.com The established and well-regarded professional Mad Cow Theatre features regular stage productions as well as classes, workshops and socials.

Opera Orlando

operaorlando.org This rigorous but always fun company stages aeventurous chamber operas and recitals.

Orlando Ballet

orlandoballet.org Orlando’s professional ballet company performs at the Dr. Phillips Center, as well as in the auditorium space of their administrative and school complex, Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre.

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

orlandophil.org Wider fare than just classical music keeps Orlando’s only professional orchestra in action, both at the Dr. Phillips Center and at the O.Phil-owned Plaza Live: pops, film scores, opera and distinguished guest artists.

Orlando Repertory Theatre

1001 E. Princeton St., orlandorep.com Professional family theater productions are the specialty of Orlando Rep.

Orlando Shakes

Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St., orlandoshakes.org The Shakes produces a regular season in addition to PlayFest, which showcases new works. Lowndes is also host to the Orlando Fringe Festival.

Phantasmagoria

phantasmagoriaorlando.com A Victorian steampunk circus troupe offering “macabre and delicious Halloween treats and tricks.”

SAK Comedy Lab

29 S. Orange Ave., sak.com Good, clean fun is the hallmark of the troupe that specializes in improvisational comedy shows.

Theater on the Edge

5542 Hansel Ave., theaterontheedge.org Repertory theater company makes edgy choices of material and dives deep into the human condition.

Theater West End

115 W. First St., Sanford, theaterwestend.com Professional theater in Sanford’s historic downtown stages musicals and repertory plays.