Florida Guide > Hints and Tips
Things to do in Orlando in cool weather
Having been a regular traveller to Florida for the past 20 years, I find myself in the unusual situation of being here during what is the longest spell of cold weather for many years now. However, if you are planning a visit, then please remember that this is very unusual for it to remain cold for days at a time. Do not despair though, there are still plenty of things to do without it having to be hot, in fact, some things are much more pleasant to do.
First and importantly is the shopping. If you are an avid shopper like me, then there is an abundance of Shopping Malls both indoors and out. One can choose from Mall at Millenia, Florida Mall, Altamonte Mall, Lakeland Mall, Eagle Ridge Mall, Lake Buena Vista Shopping Outlet, Orlando Premium Outlets, Prime Outlets, and so many more too numerous to mention. Of course, because the weather is a little chillier than normal, they all have their heating on so do not be afraid of visiting as the shops are very comfortable to be in. They also seem to hold more sales than normal, which for me can only be a good thing. Imagine going to buy a jacket because you never thought to pack one, and picking up a fleece lined waterproof jacket reduced from $80 to $17. Yes, $17 and the icing on the cake was there was a further 15% reduction. Wow, that’s enough to send everyone to the shops. The other great thing is that although cold, the sun shines almost every day and the beautiful blue skies are very inviting. Find a sheltered spot whilst shopping and indulge in a latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate or even a good old cup of tea and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
One may expect to find no one at the Theme Parks - definitely not true. We visited Animal Kingdom this past week to find everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves and even going on the water rides. Must admit, that was taking things a bit too far for me, but then as I am a senior citizen I can be excused. The younger people just put on the waterproof capes that are on sale in all the Parks for a small fee, and really enjoyed their ride down the rapids. Again, we found a lovely sunny spot and sat and had lunch outside with a steaming skinny cappuccino. If we had been in the UK people would maybe have thought we were mad, but somehow under the clear blue sunny skies of Florida, everyone seemed to be more than happy.
If you feel the need to exercise to keep arm then Orlando boasts two scenic paved recreation trails that were built on old railway beds. Both provide opportunity for walking and jogging. The 22. 5 mile West Orange Trail can be found between the Lake/Orange county line through abandoned Orange Groves to Apopka. The other Trail is Cady Way Trail which is 3. 5 miles and connects Winter Park to Fashion Square Mall.
If you like antiques, visit the Orange Avenue Antiques District. This funky little place sells everything from 1930’s radios to 19th Century furniture to housewares from the 1950’s and ‘60s. Not particularly antique for us UK visitors but unique for Florida.
Another thing to do on a cool day is visit the Winter Park Farmers Market which is held every Saturday morning. The smells from the freshly baked bread is wonderful and you can sit and have baked pastries and hot coffee in a refurbished train depot. A visit to Winter Park would not be complete without going to Park Avenue. There you will find individual boutiques, galleries and eateries ranging from upscale to just pure funky. We keep returning to try a different restaurant each visit.
These are just a few suggestions that one may want to try out on a cool Florida day, and there are literally hundreds of other options out there.
Have a great visit if you are intending to spend your vacation in Florida any time soon.
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