11 Fun Things to Do in Orlando When You Want a Break From Disney

Winter Park is a historic town right in the heart of Orlando. If you're looking for something to do that's equal parts relaxing and educational, the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is for you. On the tour, you'll be taken through a series of lakes and pass by multimillion-dollar mansions that have been owned by the likes of Mr. Rogers and NBA stars.

For all of the adrenaline junkies out there, the Orlando Starflyer is the world's tallest swing ride. You can see for miles at the top as you spin around Orlando at 45 miles per hour.

The Morse Museum is for those of us who want to keep our feet planted firmly on the ground and have a more tranquil trip. The museum houses the largest collection of Tiffany glass in the world, along with a beautiful mosaic chapel. This is a great spot to head to if it looks like rain might be part of your day, which is likely in Orlando.

Orlando's food scene is great, especially at Plant Street Market. The food hall houses multiple vendors and an on-site brewery, so grab a beer from Crooked Can and explore a little. Oh, and don't leave without grabbing dessert from Sir Benji's Donuts.

Orlando has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in Florida, and right on the outskirts of little Vietnam is a placed called Sticky Rice. This restaurant is bringing authentic Lao street food to America. You need to be a little adventurous to eat here, but it's so worth it!

Gideon's Bakehouse is a local Orlando icon. The small bakery in the East End Market serves some of the best cookies you'll ever taste. They're half-pound monsters filled with sweet chocolate chips and topped with course sea salt.

For an authentic Mexican meal in Orlando, you're going to want to head to Reyes Mezcaleria. The eatery serves a seasonal menu and handcrafted cocktails, and we highly suggest getting its guacamole and queso fundido to start.

For those looking for a little time outdoors, we love the West Orange Bike Trail. You can either bring your own bike or rent one from the West Orange Trail Bikes and Blades shop. For a full afternoon, take the trail to Plant Street Market and grab a bite to eat before heading back.

The Ritz-Carlton's Highball & Harvest restaurant is doing everything right. It has a great cocktail program where the bartenders will create a drink just for you. And the food is all locally sourced, sometimes even from the hotel's own garden and bee farm! We love its mini doughnuts with coffee gelato for dessert, which come with a tube of Nutella.

The Ravenous Pig is a sister restaurant to Disney Springs' Polite Pig. The American gastropub makes its own charcuterie for a truly unique experience. In fact, it makes almost everything on the menu in-house, which makes this place a must visit when you're in Orlando.

If you're willing to travel about 40 minutes outside of the theme parks, you'll find one of nature's theme parks. Rock Springs at Kelly Park is a free-flowing natural spring that invites people of all ages to enjoy nature while floating down the springs and enjoying the day.