Things to do with toddlers in Florida that is not a theme park.
During a hectic theme park trip it is always nice to plan in some down time at alternative Florida attractions that do not cost an arm and a leg.
We have always aimed to see a little more of Florida and with every trip we try a new non-theme park activity.
One activity we do on every trip is the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive with toddlers
Everything about this activity is perfect for toddlers: It is free, it is flexible, and it is full of animals to see. At around a 40 minute drive from Walt Disney World Resort it is a nice escape from everything Mickey shaped.
This is basically a self-drive loop around a wildlife reserve full of birds and alligators.
There are plenty of walks and picnic areas but I get a bit paranoid that an alligator is going to steal our picnic… I mean toddler… so we tend to stay in the car.
I like to print a little toddler friendly animal key so they can identify what animals or birds they spot.
The speed limit is so low that we often let our children on our laps which is a huge novelty to them.
I recommend adding this to your itinerary and is especially good for a rainy day.
An Airboat tour with toddlers
On our honeymoon we really enjoyed an airboat tour to see alligators and other swamp wildlife.
We also enjoyed a lot of other things on our honeymoon that are not suitable for children.
I do not recommend an airboat tour with babies, toddlers or young children.
For the first half, both my 1-year-old and 3-year-old were uncomfortable with the noise; despite having ear defenders.
Then my 1-year-old kept losing his headphones as they were too big for his little pea head. I still think the reason he won’t pick up his toys is because his hearing is impaired from the airboat ride – not due to toddler obstinacy, no definitely not.
For the last part my son actually fell asleep.
And for the whole part I was either worried they were going to fall out the airboat or anxious about what the other passengers thought about the irresponsible Mum brining toddlers on an airboat, not that I’d be able to hear them anyway.
Unfortunately I think this is just an activity suitable for older children.
One actually enjoyable part was at the end of the trip my daughter got to hold a baby alligator!
Blue Springs State Park with toddlers
On our most recent trip there was a freak cold spell in Florida so we needed to find activities to avoid the cold. This led us to Blue Springs State Park. It is a trek from Disney World Resort at an 80-minute drive but, in my opinion, is worth every second.
This is a free national park with pram and toddler friendly walkways full of stunning scenery and nature.
It is $6 to park all day and queues to get in can get really long but they move quickly.
Even without the high amount of manatees, the surroundings are just beautiful and we saw plenty of birds and even some deer from the boardwalk.
There is also a café and park that our toddlers really enjoyed.
We really enjoyed being away from the theme parks and seeing a part of ‘real’ Florida and will definitely add this to next trip’s itinerary.
Crystal River manatee swim with toddlers
If watching the graceful sea cow from a boardwalk isn’t enough and you want to swim next to them then you may consider a Crystal River snorkelling cruise.
My aim of this trip was to float next to something that could potential make me feel better about my post-partum body.
With the average age restriction of snorkelling with the manatees being 3, I really would not recommend this excursion until your child is a really confident swimmer. Unfortunately, this is another activity I would wait until the children are much older to do again.
The boat ride itself is not worth it as Crystal River is just a residential area built around a river and it is difficult to see manatees from the boat.
The manatees also still had a better body than me.
Old Town Kissimmee with toddlers
Spending an afternoon in Old Kissimmee feels like you’ve travelled back to the fifties.
Though the main attraction, Funspot, is another theme park. We love just spending a couple of hours in the main street.
There are car shows on every Friday and Saturday.
My husband really enjoyed looking around all the old classic and muscle cars, as would a car loving toddler, but the highlight of the event is the atmosphere.
The cars drive up and down the main street and there is often live music.
Old town is full of cute souvenir shops and has a traditional ice cream parlour with car shaped tables for little kids.
Showcase of Citrus with toddlers
This cutesy family-owned citrus estate come farm was minutes away from our accommodation in Clermont so we thought we would check it out.
Though I would not rush back, it was a lovely break from the theme parks and perfect for a bit of free play.
It has a decent play area for toddlers full of sand and toys. Plus plenty of animals to see and feed.
The best thing about it is that it is free! You can pay for animal feed, buy farm groceries or book a novelty monster truck tour around the small farm.
DuBois Park lagoon with toddlers
Though this lagoon was truly stunning, I don’t think this would be worth a day trip from Orlando as it is 2.5 hours away. We came across this gem on our drive back to Orlando from Fort Lauderdale cruise port.
It is perfect for toddlers with a playground, shaded picnic area, beach and shallow clear water lagoon.
The reason I mention it is because it made me think there must be so many other family friendly beach destinations for families to visit during their Disney vacation.
We really enjoyed seeing a little more authentic Florida and would recommend adding a lagoon play area to your itinerary.
If the thought of planning a Florida vacation scares you more than trying to get just one wipe out of the package, then check out my travel advice page where I can not only help you find the best deals but help plan an itinerary that incorporates some Orlando activities like the above.