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How to spend a week in Orlando and not visit a Theme Park.

Now the title may seem a little strange. Particularly when you consider that Orlando and the surrounding areas is probably host to the best and most popular Theme Parks there are, such as Disney World and Universal Studios not to mention Sea World.
However Central Florida has a lot more to offer than just Theme Parks.

First though let me run you through some numbers in my research for this article. These figures show the amount of visitors to Florida and the largest majority comes to Orlando, to see Mickey Mouse and friends and the other area attractions.

These figures are for Florida as a whole:

Calendar Year Visitor Numbers for 2006
Visitors Percent of Total Most Recent Value Change
Total Visitors 100.0% January-December 84.6 million* +1.2%
Air Visitors 50.5% January-December 42.7 million* +0.2%
Non-Air Visitors 49.5% January-December 41.9 million* +2.3%
* Preliminary figure

Quarter Four Visitor Numbers 2006
Visitors Percent of Total Most Recent Value Change
Total Visitors 100.0% October-December 17.7 million* +9.5%
Air Visitors 56.1% October-December 10.0 million* +3.0%
Non-Air Visitors 43.9% October-December 7.8 million* +19.0%
* Preliminary figure

Quarter Three Visitor Numbers 2006
Visitors Percent of Total Most Recent Value Change
Total Visitors 100.0% July-September 20.8 million* -2.1%
Air Visitors 42.6% July-September 8.9 million* -1.8%
Non-Air Visitors 57.4% July-September 11.9 million* -2.2%
* Preliminary figure

Quarter Two Visitor Numbers 2006
Visitors Percent of Total Most Recent Value Change
Total Visitors 100.0% April-June 23.0 million* +0.7%
Air Visitors 48.8% April-June 11.2 million* +1.3%
Non-Air Visitors 51.2% April-June 11.8 million* +0.1%
* Preliminary figure

Quarter One Visitor Numbers 2006
Visitors Percent of Total Most Recent Value Change
Total Visitors 100.0% January-March 23.1 million* -0.9%
Air Visitors 54.9% January-March 12.7 million* -1.6%
Non-Air Visitors 45.1% January-March 10.4 million* -0.2%
* Preliminary figure

Quarter One Visitor Numbers 2005
Visitors Percent of Total Most Recent Value Change
Total Visitors 100.0% January-March 23.3 million +8.4%
Air Visitors 55.2% January-March 12.9 million +9.6%
Non-Air Visitors 44.8% January-March 10.4 million +6.9%

Quarter Two Visitor Numbers 2005
Visitors Percent of Total Most Recent Value Change
Total Visitors 100.0% April-June 22.8 million +5.0%
Air Visitors 48.5% April-June 11.1 million +12.0%
Non-Air Visitors 51.5% April-June 11.8 million -0.8%

Now there is a lot of numbers to digest above but what it does show is the impact the tourist has on the State. The State needs the tourist in order to survive.
Another figure I find fascinating is the numbers who stay in a hotel or motel.
Did you know that 72% of oversea travelers stayed in a hotel/motel? The remainder stayed with friends/relatives or booked a vacation home for their stay.
I cannot understand why anyone when traveling with family would rather pay more to stay in a hotel/motel than enjoy the comforts of a luxury private home with its own pool.

Clearly the minority know more than the majority.

So, back to the title of the article.
How do you spend a week in Orlando and not visit a Theme Park. What else is there to do?
Some time ago I came up with a list centered round this very idea. I kept the list up to date and current in content, oh its nothing flashy just a plain text document that has information on alternatives to do for a day or night out in the Central Florida area. There are even details on Dolphin swimming towards the south of the state.
Yes, visiting Orlando to visit the Theme Parks is why most are here, but when you are consider your options and even if it’s a day or two away from the norm take a look at our list and see if there is something to interest you.
You never know. You may never visit a Theme Park again.