Beyond the castles and coasters, Orlando is a dream playground for kids of all ages. I love how this city brings imagination to life—where every turn leads to a new world, whether it’s filled with wizards, astronauts, or colorful creatures under the sea.
To me, Orlando means spinning teacups and fireworks at Walt Disney World, thrilling broomstick rides at Universal’s Wizarding World, and hands-on fun at Orlando Science Center. We cool off at splash pads in Lake Eola Park, wave at gators at Gatorland, and marvel at space shuttles at Kennedy Space Center—just a short drive away. Crayola Experience brings color to rainy days, and mini-golf, airboat rides, or ice cream strolls down ICON Park round out our sunny adventures. I love visiting during shoulder seasons—fewer crowds, same magic.
Picture this: The kids are laughing through bubble shows, wide-eyed at a rocket launch, and twirling glow wands under a starry sky—all in one enchanted Orlando day.
"Castles, critters, and crayons galore? This is Orlando with kids!"
Unique Orlando Activities for Kids:
1. SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
The SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is a family-friendly underwater world that is home to a variety of sea creatures in amazing and awe-inspiring habitats. Located at ICON Orlando 360™, the heart of International Drive, the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium features Orlando’s only 360° Underwater Tunnel where visitors can see sharks and graceful rays swim overhead, as well as an array of incredibly themed habitats and bubble tanks with close-up views of the animals inside them. Visitors can discover the secrets of the Atlantic, explore beautiful tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, and soak up the wonders of the Pacific through fascinating exhibits and displays, interactive activities, animal feedings, fun talks, and a Dive Adventure Trail.
8449 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, Phone: 855-450-0680
2. Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park
Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park is an action-packed adventure park with swings, nets, ropes, trapeze, Tarzan swings and more that promises fun for the whole family. Located near Walt Disney World® Resort in Kissimmee, the park is designed for children of ages seven years and up and features 97 exhilarating aerial challenges, including 50-foot high bridges through the pine tree forest canopy followed by 425-foot plunging zip lines, leaping into hanging nets, navigating swinging logs, balancing on hanging skateboards, climbing 50-foot ladders, and crossing wobbly suspension bridges. Climbers are securely clipped into a world-class safety cable throughout the entire course, and each climber is given a safety demonstration by trained instructors before beginning the course. Where to have the best breakfast in Orlando.
7625 Sinclair Road Kissimmee, FL 34747, Phone: 407-390-9999
3. Orlando Fire Museum
The Randall R. Tuten Orlando Fire Museum, formerly Station 3 and simply known as the Orlando Fire Museum, showcases the history of Orlando’s fire department and features a variety of antique equipment that includes an array of impressive fire engines. Based in a beautifully restored two-story, red brick firehouse that was built in 1926, the Orlando Fire Museum boasts fascinating exhibits and displays including a lovingly restored 1926 American LaFrance fire engine, a 1919 ladder truck, LaFrance apparatus from the early 1900s, and fire-fighting artifacts such as helmets and other tools. The Randall R. Tuten Orlando Fire Museum is open on Friday and Saturday.
814 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803, Phone: 407-246-3468
4. West Orange Trail
The West Orange Trail is a 22-mile long multi-use rail trail with most of its length built on old railroad alignments that passes through downtown Apopka, Oakland, and Winter Garden. The path features four main stations each providing parking, restroom facilities, bike racks, and drinking fountains. The southern trailhead is anchored by Killarney Station, a modern take on an old-time train depot from which the trail leads through the quiet, wooded community of Oakland before hitting downtown Winter Garden. All stations have picnic tables and playgrounds, and the Chapin Station has a basketball court and tennis courts. Some have concession stands, and there is parking located in between the stations.
5. Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center is a private science museum that features interactive exhibits and experiences that encourage an interest in science and technology and aims to promote a deeper understanding of the world we live in. The museum is home a variety of fascinating exhibits, including NatureWorks, which explores the richness of the natural world; KidsTown, - a miniature town that boasts hands-on interactives and imaginative role-playing; DinoDigs – a fossil-focused display with real, fossilized dinosaur eggs; and Our Planet, which explores the universe. The Orlando Science Center also features two theaters – the 300-seat Dr. Phillips CineDome with an 8,000 square feet giant screen, and the Digital Adventure Theater, which presents award-winning films in 2D and 3D digital formats.
777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803, Phone: 407-514-2000
Orlando Attractions for Kids:
6. Orlando Repertory Theatre
The Orlando Repertory Theatre (also known as Orlando REP) is a professional theatre that produces and presents a variety of experiences to enlighten, entertain, and enrich families and young audiences. Housed in a three-theatre complex in Orlando’s Loch Haven Park, the Orlando Repertory Theatre also hosts the award-winning REP Youth Academy, which presents classes and workshops for children and provides professional development opportunities to classroom teachers. The Orlando Repertory Theatre also offers a base for the University of Central Florida’s MFA in Theatre for young Audiences graduate program.
1001 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803, Phone: 407-896-7365
7. SunRail
The SunRail is a commuter rail system in the Greater Orlando area and Central Florida's first passenger rail system. The 61.5-mile commuter rail service travels through Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties, and consists of one locomotive, and three cars with the capacity to carry more than 150 passengers in each. Running parallel to Interstate 4, SunRail serves 12 stations between DeBary and Orlando and five stations between DeLand and Poinciana.
SunRail Customer Service, 801 SunRail Drive, Sanford, Florida 32771, Phone: 855-RAIL-411
8. WonderWorks
WonderWorks is a unique amusement park and entertainment center for the mind that offers hands-on exhibits attractions that aim to get children excited about science. Based in a building that is built upside down, WonderWorks features five locations around the country and works around the principle of letting kids’ imaginations run wild through a variety of exhibits and displays that experiment with light and sound, space and natural disaster simulators. The 35,000 square feet center boasts more than 100 exhibits, including the Imagination Zone, allows visitors to make their modern art, play with gears, and defend the world from aliens, Space Discovery, and the Light and Sound Zone. Other attractions at WonderWorks include a glow-in-the-dark Indoor Ropes Course, a fast-paced, black-lit Laser-Tag arena, and a 4D XD Motion Theater.
9067 Intl. Drive, Orlando, FL 32819, Phone: 407-351-8800
9. Orlando Circus School
The Orlando Circus School was founded in 2008 with the aim of bringing the circus culture to the Orlando and the surrounding communities. Owned by Victor Bryndine and Pavel Roublev, the Orlando Circus School provides superior, professional coaching in a variety of circus disciplines, as well as teaching the basics and core skills for physical development in young individuals. The school offers a range of classes and workshops for all ages, with the aim of developing physical and emotional creativity in everyone. The Orlando Circus School also offers circus camps which focus on various skills on objects such as Aerial Silks, Lyra, and static trapeze, along with basic tumbling and trampoline tricks to children of all ages and skill levels.
6809 Visitors Cir, Orlando, FL 32819, Phone: 407-965-1552
📔 I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
- Q: What are some popular attractions in Orlando?
- A: Orlando boasts tried-and-tested favorites like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, the Orlando Science Center, and the Orlando Aquarium.
- Q: What are some lesser-known destinations in Orlando?
- A: In addition to the popular attractions, Orlando has lesser-known destinations such as WonderWorks, the Harry P. Leu Gardens, the Orlando Circus School, and Lake Eola Park.
Map:
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