Outdoors & Nature Insider

Singing Tower at Bok Tower Gardens Credit: Bok Tower Gardens

Orlando! It’s no secret that Orlando is chock full of in-your-face fun – theme parks, nightlife, shopping and sports venues. A myriad of sometimes physically and financially draining experiences leave you wondering, “Is there anything around that’s exciting and affordable?” (scroll down for five awesome outdoor getaway ideas ...)

I’m going to let the cat out of the bag – the Orlando area has tons of places where you and your family can have a rewarding experience in the Great Outdoors. Seems kind of strange, doesn’t it? Orlando, home to all things bigger-than-life, is also home to plenty of fantastic locations where you can experience the real Florida. Eco-parks complete with swamp-buggy and airboat rides provide a fun and exciting way to learn about Florida’s natural beauty, while large tracts of protected lands allow visitors to hike, bike and paddle along some of the best trails and waterways in the Sunshine State.

Think back to the days of summer when you were a kid. I bet a lot of you are reminiscing of simpler times, when days were spent swinging off a rope into a lake or spring, picnicking with family and friends and adventuring along wooded paths. Remember these good ol' days? 

Having an outdoors experience makes for a wonderful way to get some exercise, learn a little about the unique natural environment that we live in, and to bond with your family. Activities such as birding, nature photography and geocaching are all great ways to have a memorable experience. Those memories may last longer than a trip to a theme park, and guess what? These experiences are free or cost way less than almost any other outing you can find!

Here are five terrific places where you and your family can have an affordable outdoor adventure near Orlando:

#1: Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales) - Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark featuring one of America's finest gardens, a 205-foot Art Deco Singing Tower, Pine Ridge Nature Preserve and much more. It's a fantastic place for a romantic date or family outing.

#2: Santos Trailhead on the Cross Florida Greenway (Belleview) - Like mountain biking? You'll love the rugged trails at Santos. There's beginner trails perfect for a leisure ride and double black diamond trails for hardcore riders. In addition, the Florida National Scenic Trail passes through the Santos Trailhead, and there are equestrian trails as well. Camping is available on site for those wanting to turn a visit to the Santos Trailhead into a multi-day adventure.

#3: Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area (Christmas) - Over 30,000 acres of wilderness awaits at the Tosohatchee WMA. This is a top destination for almost every form of outdoor recreation, and it's right outside of Orlando!

#4: Blue Spring State Park (Orange City) - This is the classic Florida outdoors trip! Swimming and tubing in crystal-clear Blue Spring during the warmer months are the main draw here. Be sure to come early or during the weekdays as the park will sometimes fill to capacity. Pack a picnic lunch, grab your bathing suit and prepare to relax at Blue Spring!

#5: Gainesville Day Trip (Florida Museum of Natural History, Butterfly Rainforest, Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park) - These are all must-do stops for anyone traveling to Gainesville. Take the staircase to the bottom of 100-foot-deep Devil's Millhopper, learn about Florida's past at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and while you are there, check out the Butterfly Museum. It's a beautifully designed habitat featuring native plants and butterflies, waterfalls, birds and fish. After that, head out to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. In the 1700s, famed naturalist William Bartram called this area "The Great Alachua Savannah." It's an amazing place with plenty of trails for hiking and wildlife viewing.

Invite some friends and family members to come on down to Orlando to share in the outdoors fun. Send them a cool video invite from sharealittlesunshine.org! Everytime you send an invite, you'll be entered to win a Florida getaway, and your friends will receive exciting offers and deals for the Orlando area.