7 Great Date Ideas in Orlando, Florida

Every night above Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom the sky lights up with a spectacular fireworks display that can be seen from any of the hotels' beach that sit along with the Magic Kingdom on Bay Lake. In my opinion, the best hotel from which to watch the show is the Polynesian Resort hotel. Grab dinner at one of the hotel's restaurants and then cozy up with your loved one in one of the hammocks on the white sand beach and enjoy the show.

Spend an evening discovering Orlando's haunted past

Each night, Orlando Ghost Tours offers a walking tour of downtown's haunted places. At one stop, a former mortuary, a horse drawn carriage used to bring the dead can sometimes still be heard. At another stop you'll hear about a former brothel turned bar where the piano sometimes played by itself thanks to one haunted inhabitant.

Enjoy an afternoon strolling down Park Avenue in Winter Park

The exclusive enclave of Winter Park has long been the home of many of the Orlando areas wealthy and notable residents (Mr. Rodgers of Mr. Rodger's Neighbor fame lived here). The main street through downtown Winter Park is Park Avenue. This tree-lined street's retail area is about 10 blocks long and contains many small, exclusive shops, cafés, and eateries. Also along the avenue is small park that hosts a myriad of events throughout the year. Once year, the whole area hosts the Winter Park Art Festival, a show featuring artists from around the world.

Cuddle up on a couch and watch a movie at the Enzian Theater

The Enzian Theater is Orlando's only independent film house. With couches, table, and plush chairs, it's 180 degrees from most other theaters. You can enjoy a drink from the full bar outside before entering the theater. Upon choosing where to sit (I highly recommend the couches toward the front - great for cuddling), a waiter will be around to take your order. There's the usual theater fare such as soda and popcorn, but there's also cheese and fruit, nachos, and even full entrees. All in all, the Enzian makes a great place for a first date.

Ride in a swan boat in downtown's Lake Eola

Lake Eola Park is a beautiful spot in downtown Orlando that surrounds Lake Eola. The lake itself has a beautiful fountain that lights up at night. There are also swan-shaped paddle boats that you can rent for a romantic experience on the lake.

Shore side, there a walkway around the lake that's popular for long walks at dusk. There's also the Walt Disney Amphitheater that often hosts concerts and the University of Central Florida's Shakespeare Festival. On Sundays, the park is also home to the downtown farmer's market.

Discover Downtown's eclectic Thornton Park neighborhood

Located near Lake Eola Park is the Thornton Park neighborhood. As recently as a few years ago, this area was rundown and forgotten. However, Thornton Park is going through a renaissance complete with trendy cafés, art galleries, and shops. There are some great places to grab lunch or
dinner such as Dexter's Wine Bar or Hue. Most of the restaurants and cafés have outdoor seating so you can enjoy a sunny Orlando day as you drink wine and watch the world go by.

Set sail for romantic afternoon with a Winter Park Boat Tour

The city of Winter Park, a few minutes from downtown Orlando, features many beautiful homes along several lakes and canals. On the Winter Park Boat Tour you can spend an hour or so cruising along the canals seeing the multi-million dollar homes, each with magnificently landscaped lawns. You'll see the current and former homes of some of the area's most famous residents.