There's family fun, and plenty of attractions, away from the theme parks.
By BRIAN ORLOFF
Published July 17, 2003
[Publicity photo]
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show
When you think Orlando, do you think buffalo? Probably not. The bobble-headed souvenir is from Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show.
ORLANDO - Looking for a quick getaway?
Try Orlando.
Oh, quit groaning.
There is more to our eastern neighbor than the Mouse. More than Universal Studios. More than Sea World. Even more than the Holy Land Experience or Florida Splendid China.
Keep going east on I-4 beyond Walt Disney World and there's another Orlando, with upscale shopping (no, not just those outlets), boutique hotels, art and culture.
Too la-dee-da? Take a spin down International Drive and you'll find lots of family-friendly fun and good 'ol schlocky Florida charm, too.
On a recent day trip, we hit a variety of attractions, from Dolly Parton's new dinner theater to Skull Kingdom, and had a ball.
But it made us wonder: How can these comparative little guys compete with the giants of Orlando?
"We have a lot of Florida residents that come," said Danielle Courtenay, vice president of public relations for Orlando/Orange County's convention and visitors bureau. The offbeat spots "give everybody an opportunity to see something new, try something new. Maybe they only want an attraction for a couple of hours. Most of these smaller attractions are very specialized.
"We have 95 attractions including all the theme parks. . . . If you did all those 95, you'd have to be here 45 days," Courtenay said.
Only have one day? Better get a move on.
Here's what we managed to see during our whirlwind day in Orlando, mostly staying on and around International Drive.
Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show
Orlando's newest attraction is a riveting combination of history lesson and dinner theater, bursting with thrills as big as Dolly's, um, wig collection.
Smell the authentic farm odors and check out the horses pent up in stables lining the entrance. But don't touch. As the sign warns: "Horses can bite." Inside, feast on a Civil War-themed musical spectacle, as well as dinner, while learning about the conflict between North and South. 8251 Vineland Ave., off I-4 at Exit 68. Call to make reservations and to verify show times, usually 6:30 and/or 8:30 p.m., but times change according to demand. Adults $43.99, children 4-11 $28.99. (407) 238-2777 or www.dixiestampede.com
WonderWorks
It's not every day that you'll see an upside-down building, never mind one that creaks and groans. Illusions thrive at the mad-scientist-themed play center that offers (parents take note) insight into scientific wonders and plenty of spine-tingling thrills.
Literally.
Lie on the bed of nails and feel yourself lifted and pricked. Play the interactive video games, or check out the hurricane and earthquake simulators. There's also laser tag and an evening magic show. 9067 International Drive. Open 9 a.m. to midnight daily. Adults $16.95, children (4-12) $12.95. Rates and times vary for laser tag and magic show. (407) 351-8800.
Titanic: the Exhibition
Sink with the Titanic every day. Well, not quite. But you can take a guided tour through an exhibit devoted to the doomed luxury liner, receiving a card with the name of a passenger as you embark. The exhibit includes salvaged debris and artifacts from private collections. After you're finished navigating the museum, which includes a real iceberg you can touch, check the list of passengers on the 1912 voyage to learn your fate.
But it's not just a museum. The venue can be rented for events such as weddings. Imagine how glamorous it would be for a bride to glide down the replica of the grand staircase. 8445 International Drive. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (first guided tour at 10:30). Adults $16.95; ages 6-11 $11.95 and free for those 5 and younger. (407) 248-1166.
Hard Rock Vault
Why travel to Cleveland to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Revel in rock star memorabilia on the Total Immersion guided tour and explore five galleries of music history, starting in the '70s punk room with a peek at the Sex Pistols' guitars. The informative tour wraps in salutes to the Beatles, Rolling Stones and an Elvis shrine. Guided tours take about an hour and are fact-filled. Note to parents: Younger children might get restless amid all the history. More recent music is featured in the self-guided section; the guided tour doesn't get much beyond 1980s pop (the clothes of Madonna and Michael Jackson are on display). 8437 International Drive. Open 9 a.m. to midnight daily. Adults $14.95, children (5-12) $8.95. (407) 599-7625.
Skull Kingdom
Not for the faint of heart (and not necessarily because of the terrifying ghouls on the inside).
Skull Kingdom's show starts as you enter; talk to the cashier, who has black eye makeup and lipstick, and listen as she changes her voice, from wispy, comforting Southern accent to a witchy bellow as she corrals visitors in a semicircle around the "fortress" door.
Walk through the pitch-black, industrial scare house, and ghouls and monsters jump out from the walls wielding phony chainsaws and other tools. You're greeted by a tour guide who helps summon the spirits, but soon your group is left to meander.
There's nothing high-tech about it, but it manages to get the pulse racing.
5933 American Way, off International Drive. Open noon to midnight daily. $14.95. (407) 354-1564.
Feeling arty?
There are restaurants and drive-throughs of every description along International Drive. We enjoyed Cafe Tu Tu Tango (8625 International Drive), adjacent to both Titanic: The Exhibition and Hard Rock Vault. The tapas-oriented menu is innovative for a chain restaurant, and menu items peak at a budget-friendly $8. Best of all: a revolving crew of 25 local artists works day and night, right before your eyes. Their art (which is for sale) adorns the walls. Evenings feature live music and, sometimes, belly-dancers.
Another unexpected but neato art find on International Drive is Iggy, barely noticeable amid the chain restaurants and touristy shops. The industrial-looking space features a loft that, in about a month, will allow customers to sip coffee and enjoy performances by local musicians. Owner Ignacio Velez plans to bring in performers on weekends.
Velez sells his modern paintings on wood panels for affordable prices ($45 to $97). He also crafts handmade pencils, a steal for $3.50.
Iggy is in the Mercado, Suite 145, 8445 International Drive. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. (407) 924-8249.
What, more fun?
Here are some of the lesser-known attractions in the area:
ARABIAN NIGHTS: Who doesn't love a hearty meal along with tales of gypsies on horseback? The dinner theater attraction promises that and more. 6225 W U.S. 192, Kissimmee. Reservations required. Call toll-free 1-800-553-6116.
FLORIDA SPLENDID CHINA: Travel to China might be discouraged right now, but you can have the experience with glimpses of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and replicas of 60 other landmarks, plus stage shows and dining. 3000 Splendid China Blvd. off W U.S. 192, Kissimmee. Call toll-free 1-800-244-6226 or www.floridasplendidchina.com
GATORLAND: Floridians know gators can sometimes sneak into our back yards. Better to learn about the reptiles at the zoo. 14501 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando. Call toll-free 1-800-393-5297 or www.gatorland.com
HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE: Biblical characters come to life in this re-creation of ancient Jerusalem. Corner of Conroy and Vineland roads, Orlando. Call toll-free 1-866-872-4659 or www.theholylandexperience.com
MEDIEVAL TIMES: Up for a joust? Eat your meal (with your hands!) and watch knights battle on horses. 4510 W U.S. 192, Kissimmee. Reservations required. Call toll-free 1-800-229-8300 or www.medievaltimes.com
RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE: Don't just dream about NASCAR race cars, drive them at the Walt Disney World Speedway in the Disney complex. Reservations required, and the cost can high: a minimum of $89 for a ride-along, up to $1,200 for the "Experience of a Lifetime." Call toll-free 1-800-237-3889 or www.1800bepetty.com
RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! ORLANDO ODDITORIUM: A museum for the record books, impress your friends with knowledge of the world's wonkiest facts. Attraction is open until 1 a.m. daily. 8201 International Drive. (407) 351-5803 or www.ripleysorlando.com
SKYVENTURE: Sky-diving sans parachute? That's right. This indoor wind-tunnel allows you to experience the feeling of falling. 6805 Visitors Circle, Orlando. Reservations suggested. (407) 903-1150 or www.skyventureorlando.com
Nearby Winter Park
Just to the east of Orlando is a city noted for its grand old homes, arts community and boutique shopping along historic Park Avenue.
The 12-mile Scenic Boat Tour, Morse Blvd., (407) 644-4056, takes you through the surrounding lakes, "through the canals and by all the big homes," says Danielle Courtenay of Orlando/Orange County's convention and visitors bureau.
On the campus of Rollins College, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, 1000 Holt Ave., (407) 646-2526, until Sept. 14 features "double vision," a collection of local artists' interpretations of pieces from the museum's permanent collection. "There's everything from sculpture to installation," says artist Paul Horan, whose piece, Herzog's Echo, based on a small painting by Herman Herzog, is featured. Horan's abstraction, which measures 6 by 9 feet (much larger than the tiny original), is painted in molten beeswax.
The museum's permanent offerings include a "heavy Renaissance collection and they do have some great modern pieces as well," Horan said.
Winter Park has one of the best city Web sites we've seen to help visitors plan a visit: www.ci.winter-park.fl.us
For information
You'll find more small attractions at a variety of Web sites.
A helpful resource is Orlando's convention and visitors bureau's home page, www.orlandoinfo.com where you will lists of attractions, restaurant recommendations and more.
When you think Orlando, do you think buffalo? Probably not. The bobble-headed souvenir is from Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show.