Getting Local in Orlando - Leave the Theme Parks Behind

People often ask me, "What do you do in Orlando?" Like the citizens of the most touristy city on the east coast do things differently than they do elsewhere. Orlando denizens go to the supermarket and to the movies. We order Papa John's and get gas at the Mobil station just like everyone else. But for some reason everyone thinks we hang out at Disney World and have 365 day tans.

Allow me to clarify a few things. Theme parks are overcrowded and overpriced. We locals don't like standing in line and listening to other people's children whine all day. If you go to Animal Kingdom, you will not get kissed by a giraffe like the billboards lead you to believe. You won't be doing flips off the tip of Shamu's nose at Sea World (you will however get your fill of free beer at the Budweiser Pavilion. I love Sea World for that.) Nor are there any celebrities hanging out at Universal Studios. It gets cold here in the winter. We don't go to the beach when it's cloudy and 59 degrees.

I do have some favorite non-theme park locations within an hour of downtown Orlando. They're affordable, entertaining, sometimes delicious and no one within a 5 mile radius is wearing Crocs, tube socks, a fanny pack and pushing a stroller all at the same time.

So here, take my suggestions. Get out of the hotel and see some of these local sights.

Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 N. Forest Ave.
Orlando, Fla. 32803
(407) 246-2620
www.leugardens.org
Leu Gardens is an absolutely breathtaking 50 acre botanical garden and museum. They boast over 1,000 types of roses and have one of the largest camellia collections in the United States. There are well over a dozen different gardens ranging from a citrus grove to a tropical rainforest. It sits on the bank of Lake Rowena where you can easily spot alligators basking in the sun from the safety of the boardwalk. Admission is $7 for adults and $2 for kids. Admission is free on Mondays before noon. Tours of the museum house operate every 30 minutes.

Blue Spring State Park
2100 West French Avenue
Orange City, Fla. 32763
(386) 775-3663
www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/
The best time to visit Blue Spring is November through March when the manatees are in residence. When the waters of the St. John's River become too cold for them, they camp out with their babies in the 73 degree spring where they attract all sorts of attention. Rent a canoe and just hover over the dozens of massive manatees as they pop up from the water to look at you as curiously as you look at them. The wildlife in the surrounding area includes gators, turkeys, turtles, cranes, pileated woodpeckers and deer. When the manatees have left the spring it is open to swimmers and scuba divers. Admission is $5 per car. Campsites and cabins are available to rent.

Rolando's Cuban Restaurant
870 Semoran Blvd.
Casselberry, FL 32707
(407)767-9677
In a little, almost undetectable building on Semoran, you will find the best Cuban fare in Orlando. Rolando's is operated by two couples and it maintains a downhome charm. From ropa vieja (a shredded beef dish) to traditional paella (seafood and rice), you cannot beat the menu. Most dishes run about $10.

Johnny's Fillin' Station
2631 S. Ferncreek Ave.
Orlando, Fla. 32806
(407) 894-6900
www.johnnysfillinstation.com/
Year after year, Johnny's consistently wins the Best Burger in Orlando award. The burgers are big, the tater tots are crispy and the atmosphere is no frills. Outwardly, the Fillin' Station looks like a biker bar, on the inside it could be a dive in any town in America. The prices are good, the beer is cold and the people are friendly. At night the place goes from local lunch hangout to full-blown bar so it isn't great for kids after dark and parking can be brutal on any night of the week.

Enzian Theater
1300 South Orlando Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 629-0054
www.enzian.org
Home to six film festivals, comfy seating and a full dinner menu, the Enzian Theater is the central Florida hub of indie film. The film selection changes regularly and they don't limit their selections to strictly independent films. Worthy studio productions, classics and blast from the past find their way onto the Enzian screen as well. I love the hummus plate, the homemade chocolate chip cookies and the biting peppermint tea. Get there early for a good seat.