Orlando?

[fanaudical]

I'll be in Orlando next month with my wife for a wedding. Aside from Disney stuff (high on my wife's list), what are the best sites to see? Any recommendations for specific things to see around Cape Canaveral?

[astrochex]

Kennedy Space Center.

Epcot is supposed to be cool.

[berettafan]

Anything happening at Daytona while you're there?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by astrochex

Kennedy Space Center.

Agree.

The have excellent tour packages.

https://www.viator.com/Orlando-tourism/d663-r6544575731-s110215571?m=33953&supag=1227056057619378&supca=676994510&supsc=kwd-76691362288174&supai=76691137373379&supdv=c&supnt=o&suplp=66816&supli=&supti=kwd-76691362288174&tsem=true&supci=kwd-76691362288174&&msclkid=a599ac8eeaf81cd436c7c411ceba6aca&gclid=a599ac8eeaf81cd436c7c411ceba6aca&gclsrc=3p.ds&gad_source=7

I got weathered in one night coming back from a test period in the Bahamas...Patrick AFB south of Kennedy.

In the morning we launch and get cleared to fly over the Kennedy facility. The old Shuttle runway is almost 3 miles long! It is spectacular from 500ft

If you can, I would stay on the beach for at least one night...only an hour or so from Orlando.

[Dixie]

Go to the beach. Yes, I know it's obvious, but you can't come to Florida and not go to the beach.

[Porchdog]

Back when the Universal Wizarding World was new, my oldest son, daughter and wife were all eager to go. The middle son and I, not so much.

We dropped them off at the park in the morning and went on an airboat ride on the St. Johns river. We thought it was fantastic. We were the only ones booked that weekday morning, so the company owner took us out himself. When he learned that we liked hunting and fishing and weren't shy about critters we got the "sporting" tour - what a blast.
The Captain was trying to convince us to stay until the following Monday night for the opening of alligator season.

The rest of the family still wasn't done at the park when we got back to Orlando so we went to the Orlando Kart Center. Great carts and a great track. We even stayed out through a rain shower for a drift session.

[ryans65]

Kennedy space center for sure, see if you can book an apollo launch site tour ahead of time too, they sell out. The price of general admission is worth it just to see the Saturn V... it left me speechless! Same with the assembly building!

[id10t]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Go to the beach. Yes, I know it's obvious, but you can't come to Florida and not go to the beach.

If you like the beach (I don't). Personally, I will recommend hitting the springs - Homasassa, etc. Get out on a kayak and/or snorkeling tour in Crystal River, or come up my way and experience the Itchetucknee, Silver, or Rainbow Rivers

But I'm one of those that draw a line from Crystal River over to just S of Ocala and then over to Ormond-ish and anything south of that is "south florida" and oh so different from Florida proper

[BK911]

From Orlando take 520 towards cocoa.
Take airboat ride at st John's river.
520 towards cocoa.
Turn right S courtenay pkwy/S tropical trail to Indian Harbour beach.
Turn north towards cocoa beach.
Taco city for carry out.
Walk to beach to eat.

[rattlsnak]

i went to Kennedy Space Center a few months ago and not sure what I was expecting but it was fantastic! And of course, Universal Studios is a must go to..

[Brian 162]

Kennedy Space Center was amazing. There was a rocket launch the day we were there.You could feel the ground shake from 10 miles away.
You can also buy the pen that writes upside down.

[thingmon]

Car museums? Don Garlits, etc...
San Augustine.
Wrangle some pythons in the Okeechobee.

[fanaudical]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Go to the beach. Yes, I know it's obvious, but you can't come to Florida and not go to the beach.

Hmmmm....Dumb question, but what's the beach like on the east coast? I'm only familiar with PNW beaches - It's where you dig clams, find big dead things that have washed up (along with large boat parts), and you never turn your back on the ocean because it will kill you...

Thanks for the suggestions! Will start looking at those.

[fanaudical]

Thanks, all, for the tips. My wife and I got back from a few days in FL and had a great time. We spent three nights in Melbourne near where family was staying - it's a nice area. The wedding was at a blueberry-farm-converted-to-wedding venue and was well done. We saw some great thunderstorms. Visited Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and it was great! Kennedy Space Center was very cool. The Apollo and space shuttle exhibits were outstanding. We saw one of the Space-X launches from about 20 miles away. And we stayed at the beach two nights of our trip. The beach was very nice - clean, no rocks, and not at all like PNW beaches on the Pacific. I went swimming in the Atlantic just after sunrise and it was amazing and warm (not frigidly cold like the Pacific).

[astrochex]

^Glad you had a great time!

Melbourne happens to be my hood. Ever After Farms is a lovely venue for weddings.

[ryans65]

Thanks for following up, seeing those rockets launch is pretty spectacular!

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Thanks, all, for the tips. My wife and I got back from a few days in FL and had a great time. We spent three nights in Melbourne near where family was staying - it's a nice area. The wedding was at a blueberry-farm-converted-to-wedding venue and was well done. We saw some great thunderstorms. Visited Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and it was great! Kennedy Space Center was very cool. The Apollo and space shuttle exhibits were outstanding. We saw one of the Space-X launches from about 20 miles away. And we stayed at the beach two nights of our trip. The beach was very nice - clean, no rocks, and not at all like PNW beaches on the Pacific. I went swimming in the Atlantic just after sunrise and it was amazing and warm (not frigidly cold like the Pacific).