How To Make The Most of It(continued):
Day 3
An even more remote retreat than this watery suburban dream is Wekiwa Springs, Central Florida’s biggest state park. 45 minutes away from the theme parks, this nature paradise offers a glimpse of what Florida might have looked like around times when Timucuan Indians fished and hunted here centuries ago. It is totally different and more rustic than the experience you would get at silver lake resort.
Costing you only 5 USD per car, Wekiwa is one of the area’s best value-for money attractions. You can either take a picnic lunch and spend the whole day swimming or you could be just enjoying the peace and quiet. Wekiwa literally translates as water in the language of the Creek Indians, and these springs are crystal clear and stay a refreshing 22º, whatever time of year you visit. Visitors are allowed to venture as deep as they wish into the steamy jungle-like forest or even hire a canoe and paddle along the Wekiwa River.
Day 4
Florida’s unique, narrow shape ensures that both the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts are within easy striking distance for Orlando visitors. The Cocoa Beach, that is an hour’s drive east of Orlando is the nearest place for you to feel the sand between your toes.
Locate yourself near the wooden pier to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the beach. When the sun’s rays become to intensive, you can retreat to Ron Jon Surf Shop - an emporium selling everything from day-glow beachwear to tropical style home decor. In case the enthusiasm rubs off, you can always hire a board and try catching a few waves of your own.
Perhaps the region’s most famous coastal beach is Daytona - a place known for
hedonistic love of motor sports and its casual, beach party atmosphere. Daytona is about an hour’s drive northeast of Orlando, and its light brown sands stretch some 30 kilometres and are surrounded by typical seaside fare: miles of hotels, souvenir shops and restaurants.
Day 5
You could spend the next day at Cape Canaveral -a home to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, an attraction that directly relates to world’s fascination with space exploration and is fast-rivalling Orlando’s theme parks for the tourist dollar.
What distinguishes Kennedy from other team park is that it is pretty much a working site, the real-life hub of NASA space programme.
Shuttles are tested and blasted into orbit here an it, naturally, only adds to the appeal. Less widely known is the fact that this marshy island is also a protected wildlife haven.
An hour ride from Daytona (approx. 200 km from Orlando) is the delightful European style town of St. Augustine, which also sports a brace of beautiful beaches. First discovered by Spanish explorer Ponce de León in 1513, St. Augustine is the oldest permanent settlement in USA. Some miles from the historic district, on the islands parallel to the bay are wide, fine-sand beaches of St. Augustine Beach and Vilano Beach.
Reaching the white sands of Florida’s west coast also requires considerable driving time, but it is well worth the effort. One of the finest Florida bitches are located there, the stunningly beautiful St. Petersburg beaches.
You can enjoy a day here and still be able get back to your Orlando hotel at a respectable time or a visit for a luxurious treat at westgate lakes resort and spa although many visitors now tend to stay west for longer periods, twinning a beach break with time exploring Busch Gardens, Florida’s wildlife theme park, located in nearby Tampa.
However long you decide to enjoy the west coast make sure try and time your visit to coincide with the breathtaking sunsets. The views here can only be rivaled by those on the Florida Keys and it is common practice that crowd gathers nightly to appreciate this crimson and orange light show, a sight so spectacular even Mr. Disney himself couldn’t have dreamt it up.