The Orlando Urban Trail is a mostly off-street path that runs from Loch Haven Park to Winter Park. This trail is great for walking, biking, and jogging. Located incredibly close to Downtown Orlando, the Orlando Urban Trail offers both urban and natural scenery. Along the trail, you will cross two bridges and meander around six different lakes. In total length, the trail spans roughly 3 miles in one direction.

Real Florida Adventures is located just north of the Florida Center North neighborhood. The Manatee Snorkeling adventure is a wildlife experience and guided tour that takes visitors to Crystal River, Florida to get up close and personal with manatees. During this experience, a professional tour guide and Coast Guard-certified captain will take you on an exploration of the river. As part of the tour, snorkeling equipment is provided for visitors who wish to get in the water and swim with the manatees. This experience lasts about 12 hours total, including travel time to and from Crystal River. Lunch is provided as part of this adventure package.

For the thrill seekers out there, Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park is the perfect place to go. With a 425’ zip line and a tree-top obstacle course that features 97 aerial challenges, Orlando Tree Trek offers one of the best zip lines and ropes courses in all of Orlando. The features of the tree-top ropes course include swinging Tarzan ropes, ladders, hanging nets, suspended bridges, swinging logs, hanging skateboards, and — of course — the zip line. This adventure park is designed to be accessible to as many people as possible and offers four different difficulty levels to choose from. Additionally, the park also has two separate courses specifically designed for kids that include unique challenges fit for younger participants.

Located just around 20 minutes to the north of Downtown Orlando, Wekiwa Springs State Park offers stunning natural scenery and outdoor adventures. The park is a hub for outdoor activities, including: bicycling, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, kayaking, picnicking, and more! The state park also features a nature center with an interpretive exhibit that includes wildlife and historical artifacts for visitors to check out. If you are coming to Orlando with a furry friend, you’re in luck — Wekiwa Springs State Park allows pets. Pets must be kept leashed and are not permitted in the swimming areas.

Get a taste of Florida’s agricultural scene with a visit to Bountiful Farms. At Bountiful Farms, you can stop by and purchase a plethora of fresh goods. The farm grows 120 different crop varieties seasonally, so you have a tremendous selection to choose from. Flowers are also available to purchase at the farm. Bountiful Farms is also home to an outdoor bistro that serves freshly made American fare made using the farm’s crops, as well as items from local bakers. All seating for the bistro is outdoors, under the shade of a majestic oak tree. You can view the bistro’s menu online, as well as the farm’s seasonal hours and events. To learn more about visiting Bountiful Farms, contact the farm today.

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures is an outdoor adventure company that offers airboat tours that take you through the Central Florida Everglades. On one of Boggy Creek’s airboat tours, you have many chances to catch glimpses of the native wildlife including alligators, turtles, and birds. The company keeps 30+ juvenile alligators in a gator pond that you can watch from afar or even feed under the supervision of the Boggy Creek staff. It doesn’t stop there either, Boggy Creek is home to a fossil and gem mining facility with a water tower and more than 70 feet of mining troughs. After you have worked up an appetite on your airboat tour or in the Boggy Creek park, you can stop by the Tiki Bar or the Boggy Bottom BBQ restaurant for drinks and a bite to eat.

Spread out over 75 acres, the Brevard Zoo is an exceptional zoo experience in the Orlando area. Brevard Zoo is located in Melbourne, Florida, roughly an hour’s drive east of Downtown Orlando. The zoo is home to 900 different animals housed in spacious outdoor and indoor habitats. Along with standard self-guided tours of the zoo, what makes Brevard Zoo truly special is the variety of optional adventures offered. These adventures include: giraffe feedings, rhino encounters, kayaking tours, Cape to Cairo Express (a ten-minute train ride), lorikeet and cockatiel feedings, and so much more! Plus, this zoo features a walk-through kangaroo exhibit where you can physically enter the kangaroo enclosure and view them up close and personal — just be sure to keep your hands to yourself!

Leu Gardens is home to an incredible collection of botanical gardens spanning over 50 acres. A few of the fan favorites include the,  Tropical Stream Garden: A collection of tropical plants including bananas, birds of paradise, bromeliads, calatheas, gingers, palms, vines, and more — all designed to mimic the appearance of a naturally-formed tropical rainforest. Idea Garden: The Idea Garden features 10 mini gardens focused on horticulture and garden design. These gardens include creative landscaping, plant sculptures, and other unique features. Herb Garden: At the Herb Garden, you can check out a wide variety of herbs used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. This garden offers an incredibly aromatic experience. Butterfly Garden: If you have ever wanted to sit amongst a kaleidoscope of butterflies, now is your opportunity. The Butterfly Garden features a wide range of flowers that attract all different types of butterflies. In addition to these stellar gardens, other areas feature plants like palms, cycads, bamboo, and camellias. The Leu Gardens compound also includes the Garden House Welcome Center and the Leu House Museum.

Located in Clermont, Florida — around 45 minutes to the west of Downtown Orlando — is Showcase of Citrus. This attraction is a tourist hot spot where visitors can enjoy many awesome activities. These activities include: U-Pick Citrus. During harvest season between November to May, visitors can come to pick oranges, lemons, limes, and other fruits right from the branches of the farm’s trees. Showcase of Citrus offers Monster Truck Tours that take you on a guided adventure around the 2,500-acre estate. The tour includes views of the estate’s wildlife preserve which includes zebra, watusi, water buffalo, alligators, and other critters. The Gem Mine is a treasure trove where you can find arrowheads, crystals, fossils, shark teeth, shells, and so much more. Showcase of Citrus is home to a variety of farm animals that visitors can observe and feed. These animals include chickens, goats, pigs, a miniature horse, a donkey, and others. You can purchase animal feed at the Old Time Country Store. The Old Time Country Store is a nod to old-school Floridian agriculture and sells a variety of handmade, locally-sourced goods. Some of the items you can find in this store include jams, soaps, hot sauces, tropical wines, and more!

For as awesome and awe-inspiring as each of these attractions is, there are hundreds of other outdoor activities to enjoy in Orlando. As you plan your next trip or outing, keep these 9 destinations in mind. Each of these experiences is unforgettable and will give you a great sampling of Orlando’s culture, history, and natural beauty.

You’ll need some R&R between your Orlando adventures, but don’t fret. Red Roof has comfortable accommodations sure to make your trip a triumph. Book a room at one of our affordable, pet-friendly hotels today.

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