You've visited the major parks, now what ??

You've visited the headline Orlando attractions:-
Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Pleasure Island;
Universals' Studios, Islands of Adventure and Citywalk;
Sea World,  Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens (at Tampa).
You've been well washed at Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, the new Aquatica, Wet 'n Wild and Adventure Island water parks.
You've shopped at Premium Outlet, The Florida Mall, Mall at Millennia and The Mercado, (to name just a few...) explored International Drive from end to end, been to evening dinner - shows at Medieval Times, Arabian Nights, Sleuths, Polynesian Luau and Pirates .
Gone further afield on daytrips to Kennedy Space Center, Silver Springs and visited the Gulf Coast beaches,
But still need to fill that odd half-day!

There are many attractions in & around Kissimmee not quite so well advertised or well known as Disney or Universal but, never the less, well worth a visit.
Try any of these links for further information...

An airboat ride could blow away the cobwebs: try Boggy Creek Airboats or, a little further away, the poetically named Kissimmee Swamp Tours (actually pretty good)...
My 60th birthday this year (2009), so some treats:  We tried an airboat tour at Cypress Lake  & can thoroughly recommend it... a bit further away, but a huge natural lake, full hour tour and masses of wildlife with lots of 'gators - great 'photos... Have a look at our webpage 'Something Different' & follow the links on it.....

Try Gatorland on South Orange Blossom Trail to meet some of the original inhabitants of the locality !

The Holy Land Experience will take you back to the time of Christ in an interactive way...

If you're up to a 6am start, you could try Orange Blossom Balloons by Days Inn on the 192 - they often fly directly over our villa...You never know, you could wave to yourself !!!
Another birthday 'first' - Painted Horizon balloons - chosen as they fly more intimate 4-passenger balloons. Tom Green piloted us on a very smooth & interesting trip, followed by a champagne toast. You keep an engraved souvenir champagne flute & certificate !

To blow away those cobwebs, how about a helicopter flight ? - Try Sunshine Helicopter Tours.

For tinys & those into fluffy critters, Green Meadows Petting Farm on Poinciana Blvd. could be the thing.

These are all within a few minutes drive of our villa & are only an idea for alternative venues - there are many more...!

A little further away, but well worth a visit, Fantasy of Flight maintain a working museum of airplanes.
South on the I27 is Bok Tower Gardens the highest point in Florida on Iron Mountain (295ft !!) with very attractive gardens & a carillon tower. (Cypress Gardens used to be in the same neighborhood, but has now closed). However, the site has been earmarked for a future Legoland.... Watch this space !!!

Within daytrip distance are Mount Dora, a small 'olde worlde' town with some interesting antique shops, Winter Park with the Tiffany glass museum, boat rides and Squirrel park or St. Augustine, reputedly the oldest city in America, originally settled by the Spanish ('though the Indians got there first!)....

 Further afield are Miami, the Everglades, the Florida Keys & ultimately Key West. Really not daytrip distances, if you want to explore that far South, consider either a multi-centre holiday or overnight lodgings.