Making a summer bucket list? Add these Central Florida activities

ORLANDO, Fla. – Summer is here, and so is the heat.

When people think of what to do around Central Florida in the summer, the first thing that often comes to mind are the signature theme parks Orlando has to offer. However, these are not only expensive, but they are also in the glaring sun and packed with crowds.

There are countless other fun opportunities in the area and summer is the perfect time to try them with your family. Here is a listing of summer activity ideas, along with some specific places, in Central Florida to check out. Remember to stay safe and hydrated, and have a great summer!

If you know of any other great summer ideas, activities or events that are not listed here, feel free to send us an email at web@wkmg.com.

Visit a community pool near you

Swimming pools are a classic option for children and families during the warmer weather and there are several public and privately-owned options in the local area. Most offer admission at a low price or free of cost to residents.

• The James R Smith Pool and the College Park Pool are public swimming pools offered by the city of Orlando. They are free to residents for open swimming and additionally offer swimming lessons for kids, water aerobics and lifeguard classes.
• The Bob Makinson Aquatic Center in Kissimmee offers a standard swimming pool, a 150-foot waterslide, diving boards, a water playground and an eight-lane lap pool. Admission is only $5 per person and season passes are also available for purchase.
• The Cady Way Pool and Community Center Pool are both offered by the city of Winter Park. They feature a variety of amenities, including areas with splash elements for kids, a lap pool, a playground, tennis courts and more. Admission is $3 for residents and $6 for non-residents.

Other options include the Chris Lyle Aquatic Center in St. Cloud, The Clermont Arts & Recreation Center, the Oviedo Aquatic Facility, the Ocoee Family Aquatic Center and more.

Explore a splash park

Splash parks offer a great way for kids to play outside without getting too hot, and it is a great option for younger children who might not yet know how to swim. There are several splash parks across Central Florida, most of which are free or offer admission at a very low cost.

• Champions Splash Park is open daily throughout the summer and is an interactive splash park in Clermont for children and families. Admission is only $2 per person, with the option for residents to purchase a season pass.
• The Dr. Phillips Community Park, funded by the Orange County Parks and Recreation, offers a variety of amenities for the whole family to enjoy, including a splash pad and a nature loop trail.
• Wooten Park in Tavares has a range of water activities in addition to its splash park for children, like boating, kayak rentals and seaplane rides.
• The Winter Garden Splash Pad has a free sprinkler park that is open daily. There is also a farmer’s market that occurs in the area on Sundays.
• The Kissimmee Lakefront Park offers a free, nature-themed splash pad, located next to its large playground and walking trails.

Similar options that kids might enjoy are inflatable water playgrounds or Orlando’s larger water parks, like Blizzard Beach, Aquatica, Volcano Bay and more.

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Take a dip in a Florida spring

While pools can sometimes warm up from the heat and be crowded, swimming in one of Florida’s several natural springs is a refreshing way to cool down. Most just require a low-cost admission fee to enter the state parks they reside in.

• Blue Spring State Park is a nature preserve located in Orange City along the St. Johns River. Enjoy crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling in the summer months. There are also camping areas that offer the option to stay on-site.
• Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka is another great spot to swim in cool, clear waters. There is a good chance you will spot wildlife during your time there, whether it be a turtle, bird or black bear. Wekiwa Springs also has a campground, several nature trails to explore and kayaks to rent on-site. Rock Springs in Kelly Park is another great spring right next to Wekiwa, so close that people have paddled between the two!
• De Leon Springs State Park offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, hiking and boat tours. The park’s signature restaurant, the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, is a great breakfast spot for families, and you can make your own pancakes right at your table.

Keep your kids engaged with summer camp

Summer camps are always a great, fun option for kids over the summer, whether a parent wants to expose their child to a variety of summer activities or simply needs an engaging form of childcare.

• The YMCA of Central Florida has several branches across the area that provide summer day camps for kids. These include elementary and middle school camps, offered at schools across Orange County, along with specialty camps at the Dr. P. Phillips, Lake Nona and Osceola YMCA locations.
• The Orlando Science Center STEM Camp is an educational program for students to keep learning all year long! Campers explore a wide range of topics including chemistry, engineering, nature and more, through fun, hands-on activities.
• Adventures in History Summer Camp, hosted by the Orange County Regional History Center, offers children ages 6 to 11 an opportunity to attend an interactive, immersive experience that consists of themed weekly programming and an offsite field trip.
• Park Maitland School Summer Camp, in Apopka and Maitland, offers a variety of different program variations, including academic camp, day camp, specialty camp and specialty camp. All of these focus on education, team building and child development.
• The Orlando Watersports Complex Camp offers a summer program for students ages 7 to 15 that revolves around learning a variety of watersports and engaging in fun, water-based activities.
• Camp Kennedy Space Center is an interactive, five-day program for students entering preschool through grade six, interested in space exploration and aerospace science. While the program is currently full for this cycle, registration opens each spring for the center’s summer camps.

Rock out at a concert

Several venues across Central Florida will feature a variety of talented music artists in the coming summer months. Visit the websites and ticket vendors of local event centers to view the summer schedules for concerts and similar music events.

• The Kia Center, located in downtown Orlando, will be featuring several artists over the summer, including Jhene Aiko (July 6), Chris Brown (July 11), Janet Jackson (July 20) and Zach Bryan (July 21).
• The Amalie Arena in Tampa will be featuring Melanie Martinez (June 18), Missy Elliott (24), Childish Gambino (Sept. 4) and more.

Other popular venues hosting concerts this summer are Orlando-based event centers, like the House of Blues, Orlando Amphitheater, Camping World Stadium and The Abbey, along with Cocoa Beach Riverfront Park and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Visit the websites of these venues to view their schedules and upcoming events.

For a more family-friendly, affordable alternative, countless restaurants in Central Florida provide live music from local artists as a part of their signature dining experience.

Book a unique theater experience

Whether you want to watch a new blockbuster or a classic musical, watching something is always a great way to spend an evening with your family. Nearly every city has a standard, classic movie theater, but here are some unique viewing experiences in Central Florida to add to your summer to-do list.

• The Silver Moon Drive-in Theatre, located in Lakeland, is only one of four drive-in theaters left in Florida, according to the drive-in. It offers the chance to see new movies at a lower rate than standard movie theaters as well as a unique movie-going experience. It features a full snack bar and Swamp Shop on the weekends.
• The Enzian Theater, located in Maitland, provides another unique experience due to its ambient, cinematic atmosphere. It features an array of independent and foreign movies, along with classic films.
• The Athens Theatre is a historic performing arts venue located in DeLand. This elegant landmark, a classic American theatre, still operates today, allowing you to attend a variety of show adaptations in an atmosphere characterized by rich history and culture. The venue’s central production this summer is Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

For other places that offer more opportunities to catch classic films, new movies or musicals, check out the websites of the Pointe Orlando, the West Orange 5 Cinema, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Winter Park Playhouse

Plan a beach day

For a day of family-friendly, summer fun, check out one of Central Florida’s beaches!

Some of the closest to the Orlando area include Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Flagler Beach and Ormond Beach. These have designated public access, along with coastal shops and restaurants located on the coastline.

Go to a shopping center

Who doesn’t need new summer outfits and essentials? Going out shopping is always a fun option for a hot summer day. Visit any of Orlando’s popular shopping centers, like the International Premium Outlets, the Mall at Millenia, or the Florida Mall, for a selection of your favorite stores and brands. Tanger Outlets, located in Daytona, is another great option for outdoor shopping, while the Altamonte Mall offers indoor shopping.

Disney Springs, located in Lake Buena Vista, has a variety of luxury brands and boutiques that make for a great shopping selection. There are also opportunities for additional entertainment, including fine dining options, a bowling alley, a movie theater and more.

Explore the outdoors at a nature trail

Whether you are an avid hiker or simply want to take a relaxing, shaded walk in summer’s greenery, Central Florida offers a variety of opportunities at its beautiful state parks, botanical gardens and nature trails to enjoy.

• Mead Gardens is a free, 47-acre nature park with an amphitheater, butterfly garden, boardwalk and nature trail in Orlando. There are often guided hikes, regularly-scheduled classes and guest speaker presentations hosted at the gardens.
• Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical oasis near downtown Orlando that features a rose garden, butterfly sanctuary and vegetable garden. The gardens often hosts events like movie nights or story times in the garden, as well as plant sales and clinics. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids.
• Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is an 11-mile drive near Lake Apopka North Shore provides an opportunity to view animals in their natural habitat, including over 174 different bird species. The drive is Friday through Sunday and is free to visit, but donations to maintain the drive are accepted.
• Sanford Black Bear Wilderness Area is a natural preserve of over 1,600 acres in northwest Seminole County that is open to the public for free. There are two hiking trails, 1.5-mile and 7-mile trips, through the natural habitat as well as camping opportunities. However, be cautious, as there is a significant chance of seeing black bears, or signs of their presence, such as prints or scratches on trees.

Other nature parks or trails in the area would be Kraft Azalea Garden in Winter Park, Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland and the UCF Arboretum on the campus of the University of Central Florida.

Another great nature-focused option would be to visit a zoo. Some exhibits in the area would include the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Brevard County Zoo.

Check out other community or city events

Community organizations often offer a variety of events and programs over the summer for children and families.

Check out the website of your city’s local event venue, recreation area, community center or library system for a listing of festivals, classes, sessions or programs that may be offered near you.

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