An outdoor lover’s guide to Orlando

Sure, Orlando is famed for its theme park attractions, but for me, Central Florida is all about the great outdoors.

Did you know that you can visit manatees in crystal clear springs, paddle a kayak along a prehistoric cypress-lined creek, and even go tubing along a gurgling spring-fed river, all within a 30-mile radius of downtown Orlando? Seriously, and that’s just the tip of Orlando's incredible, and incredibly affordable, natural attractions. Plus, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s easy to get outside pretty much year-round.

Follow my lead to some of the best natural (and nearly free) experiences you can have outdoors in Orlando and you'll have a whole new perspective on a city made famous by manufactured fun.

One of my favorite Florida attractions is the Caribbean-hued, crystal clear Wekiwa Springs State Park, just 16 miles north of downtown Orlando. 43 million gallons of natural spring water surge to the surface at the Wekiva River’s headwaters here everyday. The emerald and turquoise spring stays a constant (and delightfully chilled) 72 degrees year round, and there’s a wide, open, dedicated swimming area to dive into the refreshing waters.

And if you forget your bathing suit, don’t worry. I also highly recommend exploring the river itself from a rental canoe or kayak, available at a kiosk within the park.

Tip: Paddle beyond the springhead and out into the river and set your sights on Wekiva Island, home to riverfront Without a Paddle craft beer bar and cafe. (You can access this spot via road, too).

Tubing is one of my favorite Orlando activities-–especially during the sweltering summer months when Florida’s rivers are usually far more refreshing for a dip than the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. Happily, the natural tube course and spring at Kelly Park/Rock Springs Run stays a brisk 68 degrees year round.

Rent a tube or bring your own then get ready to drift through the fun, three-quarter-mile-long run through the shaded woods. While you float, you might spot turtles, pileated woodpeckers, and wading birds like great blue herons and snowy egrets. Once you get to the end of the run, drag your tube behind you for the short walk back to the spring head to do it all over again.

Don’t want to tube? You can stay high and dry while exploring along the park’s Kelly Loop Trail, which runs for 2.6 miles through a forested area thick with oaks and pines.

Tips: Arrive in the early morning during the popular summer months when capacity usually maxes out long before midday. As you approach the park you’ll find several vendors lining the road with tubes for rent, including at Rock Springs Bar & Grill, located right before the park entrance (the restaurant does a great burger, too).

Have you really been to Florida if you haven’t seen state's marine mammal? I mean the manatee, of course. One of the best places in all of Florida to see these gentle, lumbering giants in the wild is Blue Spring State Park, just 30 miles north of downtown Orlando.

Hundreds of manatees gather at the springhead here, where the water stays 72 degrees all year long, to warm up in winter. You can watch them from a boardwalk that winds a third of a mile from the St. Johns River to the headspring. During the summer months, you may see manatee mothers with just-born calves, too (they come to these sheltered waters to give birth).

During manatee season, from mid-November to March, the park is closed to water activities like snorkeling and kayaking (call ahead during other times throughout the year, as restoration projects may have the waterways temporarily closed to access, too). Year round, you can explore the park’s hiking trails, including the Pine Island Trail, along which you might spot Florida’s only endemic bird, the adorable Florida scrub jay.

Tip: While you’re in the area, make for one of Florida’s most eccentric attractions in the peaceful and lake-lined town of Cassadaga, where you can get a reading from a medium at the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp.

Lined with lakes and with a wide, paved bike path shaded by towering oak trees, the West Orange Trail is one of my favorite places in all of Florida to set out for a leisurely pedal. There’s plenty to see along the way and virtually no cars to slow your roll.

You can rent a sports comfort bike, road bike, or eBike at Mile 0 on the trail at West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades. Then explore as much as you like of the nearly 21 miles of the trail that unfurls east from there, riding along Lake Apopka for much of the way and through adorable downtown Winter Garden, brimming with breweries, restaurants, and boutiques along Plant Street and surrounds.

Tip: One of Florida’s most bountiful and busy farmer’s markets takes place every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. along South Lakeview Avenue in historic downtown Winter Garden at the Winter Garden Farmers Market. There’s everything from seasonal Florida citrus and strawberries to European-style breads and pastries to smoothies you can grab for breakfast. The market is dog friendly and it’s free to park in a garage nearby, so bring the whole gang.

When I lived in downtown Orlando shortly after graduating from the University of Florida, Harry P. Leu Gardens was one of my go-to ideas for a casual date on a budget. The gorgeous semi-tropical and tropical gardens are spread across 50 acres next to Lake Rowena just minutes from downtown Orlando’s highrises. The gardens are particularly gorgeous (and primed for a picnic) when azalea season peaks, usually from the end of February into March.

If you’re not here for the azaleas, there’s still plenty to see. In December, I make a special trip for the camellias and return for May’s abundant crepe myrtles and roses. But whatever time you visit, you can count on something beautiful to catch your eye. There are also BYOB outdoor movie nights scheduled several times throughout the year (just check the event calendar for the latest happenings).

Tip: Just a few minutes’ drive from the garden’s gates, East End Market is the perfect spot to pick up gourmet picnic supplies, including French cheeses from La Femme du Fromage and fluffy (vegan) biscuits from Winter Park Biscuit Company.

Clock some steps in a beautiful stretch of woodlands with lake views and no entry fee located just 10 minutes north of Walt Disney World Resort at Tibet-Butler Preserve. I love scouting for gopher tortoises in the preserve—the only tortoise found east of the Mississippi River and commonly seen along the trails here—as I stroll along easy trails along a lakeshore lined with towering cypress trees and a longleaf pine forest.

Stop for views of Lake Tibet-Butler along the Osprey Overlook Loop—one of roughly 4 miles of trails that leave from the onsite Vera Carter Environmental Center. Pop inside to browse information about the native flora and fauna.

Tip: During the warmest months, in spring and summer, a pollinator garden near the environmental center is great for spotting butterflies.

You can get a little taste of the Everglades almost 200 miles north of the national park right in Central Florida at Shingle Creek Regional Park.

This is the northernmost headwaters of the Florida Everglades, part of Shingle Creek, which flows 23 miles south from Orlando into Lake Tohopekaliga in Osceola County. It’s fascinating to see this cypress-lined piece of real Florida nature snaking through an area with so much manmade development surrounding it.

If I don’t tow my own kayak with me, I’ll rent one from The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek in Kissimmee, which also has standup paddleboards for rent. Put in on a sandy creek bank right in front of the rental center and paddle out through the shallow waters of Shingle Creek (there are guided eco-tours available here, too). If you’re lucky, you may spot lurking alligators, as well as more commonly sighted creatures, like softshell and redbelly turtles and wading birds.

Tip: Schedule your visit to time with the full moon when you can paddle out on a guided tour with naturalist guides into the insect and amphibian-filled soundscape of a silky Central Florida night.