Kennedy Space Center

Orlando family getaways are a way to enjoy all that Central Florida has to offer. Each of the following day trips are located within 45-60 minutes of most Central Florida vacation home rental communities.

East of Orlando

3-2-1 Lift off!  The Kennedy Space Center is one of several great Orlando family getaways!

About an hour from the Orlando area and located near the beach, the Kennedy Space Center is an educational and fun visit for the whole family.  Depending on your travel dates, you may be able to plan your visit around a real rocket launch (check the Kennedy Space Center website for dates).

Start the day with the Shuttle Atlantis with Shuttle Launch Experience.  This shuttle-like ride, designed by a team of NASA astronauts, simulates the experience of being launched into outer space.  You’ll feel like a real astronaut when the shuttle blasts off and floats miles above the earth!  Next, spend an hour watching one of the two 3D IMAX movies about space.

If your little one wants to grow up to be an astronaut, you just might want to arrange lunch with one.  For a relatively small fee, your family can dine with an astronaut where you can ask all the questions about life in space you want (but be sure to arrange this in advance as space is limited)!

Then head over to the Apollo/Saturn V Center where you will see the biggest rocket ever made and touch moon rock just like Neil Armstrong did when he landed on the moon.  Finish the day by taking one of the informative tours of the Space Center or just let the ‘junior astronauts’ run around and explore the space-themed playground.

South of Orlando

If you enjoy wildlife and adventure, plan a fun-filled Orlando family getaway that includes spending half a day at Gatorland and half day at one of Central Florida’s airboat tours.  Only 30 minutes south of Orlando, Gatorland, originally a roadside attraction, has been around for 65 years!  Your family could easily spend the day strolling around this nature park.

Gatorland features thousands of alligators and crocodiles as well as a variety of other reptiles, birds, and animals.   Additionally, there is a petting zoo, swamp walk, reptile show (think SeaWorld for Gators) and breeding marsh with an observation tower and boardwalk.  And, here’s a fun fact for all the Indiana Jones fans, if the breeding marsh looks familiar, it is because the marsh was used in the movie Temple of Doom!  If  you’re feeling extremely daring, there are additional experiences (for a nominal fee) that include: a behind the scenes tour of the Alligator Breeding Marsh, Trainer for the Day, Gator Wrestling or ziplining several stories above the park and over a pool of alligators!

After a half-day at Gatorland, your family just might want to take the adventure to the next level and journey into the wild!  Quintessentially a Floridian experience, swamp tours are a fun and unique activity  for the whole family.   Hop on an airboat and speed through the marshy waters of the Everglades!   This is your chance to see hundreds of species including alligators, turtles and endangered birds living in their native habitat!  And for all the ‘croc hunters’, south Florida is the only place in USA to see crocodiles in the wild.

Airboats make stops along the way where you’ll learn about the history of the area and see some of these amazing creatures.  One thing to keep in mind when planning your day – the best time to see gators is early in the morning during warm months and later in the day during cold months.  Tours are relatively inexpensive and range from 30-90 minutes depending on the airboat company you choose.  Unlike many of the theme park rides, airboat tours have no height or age restrictions.

LEGOLAND

Located about an hour southwest of Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida is one of the biggest in the world!  With more than 50 rides, shows, attractions, shops, restaurants, and a water park, amusement park fans should definitely put LEGOLAND on the must visit list.  Families visiting LEGOLAND will welcome the break from large crowds and wait time for rides when compared to other theme parks.  Plus, LEGOLAND makes one of our perfect Orlando family getaways because it is actually doable in one day.

Legoland Orlando

This 150-acre playground is particularly geared towards families with kids between the ages of 2 to 12 (older kids may find it a bit too tame).  There are plenty of rides including 5 coasters, a ‘real life’ driving experience—driver’s license and all, boating school, water carousel as well as a 4D cinema, Lego factory, and a well-received water ski show on the nearby Lake Heloise. Click here for a Legoland site map.

LEGOLAND frequently offers discounted advanced purchased tickets online and coupons for discounts.  Plus, each child under 12 receives a free Lego toy with admission.  Here’s a bonus for all those staying in your Orlando 360 Home and don’t feel like driving:  LEGOLAND offers a round trip shuttle from I-Drive 360 for only $5 per person plus free garage parking!

The best part about all of these day trips is that you will be back in your OVH 360 home rental before bed!

Give the OVH 360 team a toll free call at 1-888-826-0551 to discuss your many Orlando vacation rental options or click on the “search inventory” feature to select your perfect rental. OVH 360 hand selects each of its homes for comfort, location, amenities and value.