5 Ways to Explore Orlando Before the Holidays

We at Tropical Villas Orlando think that the traveling world is broken into two separate and distinct demographics: those that travel during the holidays, and those that don’t. If you fall into the latter category, we understand. The holidays are supposed to be about family, about home and hearth, and for those who are lucky enough to live in colder climates, crisp and colorful fall days and white Christmases. There is a lot of stuff that needs to be crammed into days that are already full, however, and sometimes a little preparation is needed, which is why we have created this guide to five ways to explore Orlando before the holiday rush begins, giving you plenty of options on relaxation and preparation!

1. Skip the Big Parks, Head to the Local Parks While You Explore Orlando

This first idea could be quite controversial, especially as pre-holiday season is slower and less crowded, and of course, you can do both, but if you are using this time to prepare for what lies ahead, do you really want to spend all that money and exert all the energy that is standard for a day at Disney or Universal Studios? Some of our local parks, including Lake Eola Park, offer low-key ways to enjoy your peace, including picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and swan shaped paddle boats that will give you a relaxing day on the water. Lake Eola offers a beautiful fountain in the middle of its lake, walking paths, and a large number of ducks and swans, and an amphitheater that offers a wonderful concert experience.

2. Sip, Savor, and Soak at the Orlando Beer Spa

Wait, did your biggest dream just come true? The Orlando Beer Spa, located at 11787 International Drive Suite 106, is one of our most unconventional ways to enjoy a spa day, with all of its service revolving around beer. Experience a hop-soak that is created from their own proprietary beer blend and infused with minerals and antioxidants, all the while sipping an ice cold brew. Also offering an infrared sauna and private spa rooms with hay beds, TVs, and beer towers, we can assure you that this is a spa day that even your ever so masculine husband will obsess over!

3. Get in Fighting Shape for the Holidays with Seafood Dinners at These Restaurants

Halloween Candy, Thanksgiving pies and stuffing, Christmas cookies, and bottles of bubbly on New Year’s Eve, the holiday season is also the season of gluttony, and only the best survive with less than a few pounds of weight gain. If you go into the season in fighting shape, however, perhaps by eating nothing but seafood during your pre-holiday vacation in Orlando, the consequences may be fewer, and you will be able to eat without worry!

High Tide Harry’s, 4645 S Semoran Boulevard, is a laid-back child friendly restaurant serving the best grouper in town and fishbowl cocktails perhaps best indulged in when traveling without the kids. For those looking for an upscale meal, Ocean Prime, 7339 W Sand Lake Road #400, offers a fine dining experience that will certainly become the most memorable meal you will have during your stay!

4. Get a Head Start on Your Holiday Shopping

You know you are going to be out there visiting souvenir shops, cozy gift shops, and stylish boutiques anyway, shopping while on vacation is a tradition that is practically required, so why not start crossing names off your list? Finding unique gifts for family, friends, teachers, and everyone else you buy for will be easy when you take a day to explore the shops of Orlando.

Freehand Goods, 2445 Edgewater Drive features a beautiful selection of Florida focused gifts, including leather goods, perfumes, colognes, lotions, art, home goods, and so much more it may be possible to cross all the names off your list in one store! The House on Lang, located at 1308 Lang Avenue, is one of our favorite female-centric boutiques, offering clothing, shoes, and accessories all sold from the most charming 1920s bungalow.

5. Relaxing at Home with Tropical Villas Orlando

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it dozens of times: Surviving the holiday season isn’t for the weak at heart, and as you explore all the ways you can relax and get comfortable in our pre-holiday hideaways, you will prepare yourself for all these next couple of months have to throw at you. Located in the best resort communities in our state, you can spend your days on waterslides and lazy rivers, sipping Mai Tais poolside, or exploring the community you have chosen as you stroll along walking paths that cut through the area. The amenities in our homes, however, will give you even more opportunities to relax, including private pools, hot tubs, game rooms, and comfortable sofas. Reserve your favorite property today!