Places to visit other than Theme parks.

St. Petersburg
This is only about a 80 mins drive from our home.   This is predominately a tourist resort with plenty of hotels and restaurants to eat.   The beach is very wide and the sunsets alone are worth the drive!   John’s Pass Boardwalk in Madeira Beach is an interesting place to visit for unusual shops and good fish restaurants.

Caladesi Island
One of Florida's few remaining undeveloped barrier islands, Caladesi Island State Park is rich with beauty and tranquility. Warm breezes rifle through lone palms and patches of sea oats. Shore birds call above crystal waters. The soft white sand beckons you to sink in, to rest a while.  It is a peaceful area and has a boardwalk leading to a lovely beach where people are often to be found searching for shells, known as sand dollars.  Best of all, it's possible to find total peace in this paradise. If you go during the week, you're likely to find yourself virtually alone. Soak up the solitude – others have.

You don't have to do anything on Caladesi Island. That's the joy of its three-mile beachfront. But, if you choose, you can actually, oh, get up, enjoy a picnic lunch under the pavilions and go angling, kayaking, birding or hiking through several distinct habitats.

On the Beach
Half the fun of any daytrip to Caladesi is the journey,  holds particularly true for Caladesi: it is accessible only by boat, a ferry that runs hourly from Honeymoon Island. (If you're of the yachting class, enjoy the island's 108-slip marina. Boat camping available.) The 15-minute ride over increases the sense of destination, of discovery. Take in the Florida breezes during your crossing, enjoy the shade of the ferry's canopy and listen to the ferry captain wax poetic about the sights.

After you disembark, walk past the café and follow a path down to the crescent of soft white sand that forms Caladesi Island's award-winning beachfront.

If you want more activity, try some birding. Caladesi Island is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Spot terns, gulls, osprey and other shorebirds. Deeper into the island's interior, among its mangroves, you can also spot a plethora of wading birds, including herons and egrets.

If you enjoy beachcombing, you've come to the right spot. You will love scanning the sand in search of take-home treasures: sand dollars and mollusk shells abound, and the sharp-eyed can even spot the occasional sea sponge.

Despite the islands often secluded feel, it's actually equipped with its fair share of creature comforts. You'll find bathhouses and picnic tables (picnic pavilions can be reserved for a fee) as well as unexpected little touches of luxury – the café rents beach chairs and umbrellas. So all you need to bring is your towel and sunscreen.

Off the Sand
On one of the nation's best beaches, you're going to want to spend time building sandcastles and splashing around. Still, if you do step away from the Gulf, you'll find much to explore on Caladesi’s roughly 2,400 acres. A kayaking trail gives you a water view of the island's mangrove forests, while a three-mile nature trail meanders through a variety of habitats, including slash-pine forests. No surprise, opportunities for animal spotting abound. Keep your eyes peeled for gopher tortoises, armadillos and the occasional snake.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
Visitors can stroll along unspoilt nature trails and see deer, bear, bobcats, otter and cougar at close range.  Many varieties of birds such as flamingos, herons and egrets make Homosassa their home.  There is an education centre which allows you to have hands- on experience.   There is a floating observatory where you go below the waters surface to view the manatees.   Open every day from 9-5.30, ticket counters close at 4pm.   The visitor centre and main entrance is located on US Highway 19 in Homosassa Springs.  

Lake Tohopekaliga
Close to downtown Kissimmee, a boat tour here is a great way to get away from it all, and there is a good chance of spotting unusual birds such as the bald eagle and the osprey.   Boat trips depart from the marina, and there are boats and fishing tackle to hire.

Saint Augustine
St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's most charming. Known as the "Ancient City," Saint Augustine is located between North East and Central East Florida and is convenient to Jacksonville, Orlando, and Daytona airports.
North Florida boasts a year-round mild climate perfect for strolling Saint Augustine's delightful historic district, with its cobblestone streets, quaint cafes, bars, unique shops and bed-and-breakfast inns. Experience the beauty of an early morning that slowly comes alive with locals and tourists setting out on foot to explore significant landmarks such as:

Castillo de San Marcos
Throughout its history, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument has been closely intertwined with the city and the neighboring structures which served as the city's outer defenses - Fort Mose to the north and Fort Matanzas to the south. The Castillo and the town serve as outstanding reminders of the might of the early Spanish empire in the New World. Given the architectural details, it's hardly surprising that Castillo de San Marcos actually took 23 years to build (from 1672 to 1695). Fabricated of coquina, a virtually indestructible limestone comprised of broken sea shells and coral, the walls of the fortress remained impenetrable through 300 years of enemy shelling and pounding by violent storms.

Fort Matanzas
Built 1740-1742, represents a well-preserved masonry watchtower fort built by the Spanish. By providing a perch to observe enemy vessels approaching from the south, the fort played a strategic role in warning St. Augustine of potential enemy advancements from the south via the Matanzas River.

Lightner Museum
History buffs will adore the many museums in the area. The Lightner Museum is among the most unique, featuring an intriguing array of items, from shrunken heads and mummies to stunning collections of stained glass and crystal. When it opened its doors in 1889, Henry Flagler's Alcazar Hotel delighted guests with its gigantic indoor pool and retractable roof, casino, spa, and movie theater. O.C. Lightner jumped at the opportunity to live in the hotel when it became available for purchase and house his unique collections here.
 If you love to golf or play tennis, then this is the place for you! There are many golf courses and tennis resorts located in the area. Ponte Vedra, home of The Players Association (PGA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), is a 20 minute drive from the Down Town historic district.
The many marinas dotted around the area make boating access ultra convenient by sea, river or Intracoastal waterway. Fishing, diving, surfing, parasailing and other water sports are abundantly accommodated.
The town also boasts 43 pristine miles of beaches. There's the right type of beach for everyone: some permit vehicles and dogs while others allow only pedestrians. Some of the area beaches produce abundant shelling opportunities, while others are covered only in luxurious fine, golden sand.
From single vantage points in town, you can experience both the joy of the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean horizon and the peacefulness of the sun setting beyond the salt marsh along the intracoastal waterway.

Harry P. Leu Gardens & BokTower Gardens
They are just outside Downtown Orlando, tucked away in a quiet residential area on North Forest Avenue.
The gardens are almost 50 acres with sweeping lawns down to the edge of Lake Rowena. It is well known for its wonderful collection of Camellias which were in full bloom in February when we visited. There are many other areas set out with palms, bamboo, a rose garden, floral clock, tropical stream garden and a very colourful butterfly garden with several species of large butterflies swooping around.
The garden house which is where you enter the gardens has facitities for conferences and banquets and small parties. Whilst we were there a bride and groom were having their photos taken around the gardens, a wonderful setting for such a special day. There is also a guided tour around the Leu House Museum 
A very relaxing time for an adults day out, who appreciate the variety of plants in Florida and are looking to do something different.
 South of Orlando, on the 325 S Scenic Highway to LakeWales, are the shady woodlands of the BokTower gardens. The tower has a world-class carillon and is perched on top of IronMountain, the highest point of the Florida peninsular. There are 157 acres of gardens, containing thousands of azaleas, camellias and magnolias.

Celebration
Follow along the 192 and you will see signs to Celebration. There is also a large old fashioned water tower on the corner.
This is a nice town to visit, the houses are very traditional and well-kept though modern, and there are various nice walks around the lakes. There are several good places to eat and admire the view, or just have a coffee and visit some interesting shops.
During the fall, there are hourly “leaves falling”, and at Christmas there is “snowing nightly” on the hour.

Winterpark
 A smart northern suburb of Orlando which can be reached by taking the I4 North towards Orlando and exiting at Junction 87, Fairbanks Avenue. Then turn right. Carry on down this road and turn left on to Park Avenue. There are scenic boat trips on the lake here where you will be shown luxury lake-side properties and some wildlife to spot. The boats leave on the hour between 10.00 and 4.00 every day but Christmas. In the summer you would need to take some sun cream, as the boats are open to the elements and it can get extremely hot on the lake. There is a farmers market on Saturday mornings on New England Avenue where there is a good choice of fruit and vegetables, fresh baked goods and good browsing!  

Mountdora
 A pretty lakeshore town set in gently rolling countryside and citrus groves; MountDora is renowned for its Victorian architecture and antique shops and is a good place just to browse.
Take the Orange Blossom Trail / US441north, direction Ocala, to MountDora and follow signs for downtown.

BlueSpringState Park
On the St John’sRiver, a 45 minute drive from Orlando, this is one of the prettiest state parks in central Florida with walking, boating and swimming opportunities. From November to March, the manatees swim to this area as the springs are at a constant 72 degrees. From the boardwalk, there is a birds-eye view of them and dozens of different fish and turtles as well. Canoes are available and there are boat trips through the state park which point out the many different birds and you often spot alligators basking on the river bank.

Take the I4 East, direction Daytona, to Exit 114. Follow US17-92 for 2 1/2 miles south to OrangeCity. The park is signposted off to the right at the junction with W French Avenue.