Our Trekaroo KidsMobile has pulled into one of American’s most visited destinations:
Orlando, Florida
Just about every family who visits Orlando will make a pilgrimage to Walt Disney World. Some will not see anything else in Orlando besides their Disney resort and theme parks. Whether you’ve got eyes only for Disney or you’re hoping to explore all the other kid-friendly attractions in Orlando, we all want to know what real families say is worth it in Orlando.
First up, Trekaroo families have cast their votes and have decided that they simply love these attractions in Orlando.
Top Activities for Kids in Orlando, Florida – voted by parents
Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando, Florida – voted by parents
Next, here’s what some local Floridian mom bloggers and Orlando aficionados recommend to visiting families. They’ve been there, done that, and now they’re giving you their inside scoop.
Kicking us off with a list of the 5 Tot-friendly Restaurants Favorites in at Disney in Orlando is Jen who lives in Florida and has spent lots of time at Disney World. She’s an adventurous mom of two kids (ages 2 and 4) who has not allowed having kids to slow her down. She writes in depth about their family’s exciting adventures on Two Kids and A Map.
Mary shares her favorite Disney Hotels for Teens and Tweens. She loves thoroughly researching and planning their family’s trips and we all get to benefit from her road-tested recommendations. You can follow her travel trips and tips on Travel with Teens and Tweens . Although they live in Boston, they’ve visited Disney World in Orlando every year since their kids could walk.
Amanda brings us her Top 5 “Must Do” Walt Disney World Attractions with Teens. She been a Disney fanatic since she was a wee one and has even been a Disney cast member. Being local to Orlando has made it possible for her to visit every Disney attraction, event and restaurant. If you’re heading to Walt Disney World, this is THE mom you want to talk to for the inside scoop. Heading to Disney, stop over at her blog Disney Everyday.
Melanie brings us a prized list of Free and Low-Cost Activities in Orlando for Preschoolers. She’s the mom behind the well-written and thoughtful blog modernmami where she gives ink to topics such as being a working mom and parenting a preschooler. Lucky for us she’s sharing the inside scoop on her home town of Orlando.
Other Resources for Walt Disney World and Orlando, Florida
- All 71 Activities for Kids in and around Orlando, Florida
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Orlando, Florida
- Water Parks in Florida – Cheerio Family
- More Disney, Less Waiting – A review of RideMax – Li Er Hanson
Next stop, Memphis, Tennessee – Jump on board the KidsMobile!
The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while
1) expressing their unique point of view
2) getting a web of link exchanges.
Join us for one of our next stopovers.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA
Trekaroo families have the inside scoop, and the word on the ‘roo is that the Orlando area has a slew of magical adventures for the little ones. Cities within the city were even specifically built for youngsters (and their wallet-toting parents, of course). Orlando boasts Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, gigantic water parks as well as thematic journeys through Medieval Times and the Holy Land. Yet, Orlando is not all leg-achingly gigantic parks, it’s a city growing fast in may directions with unique venues for locals and tourists alike. It is also in the midst of vibrant natural areas with diverse wildlife. Trekaroo parents have given us an inside look to the best of the best in the Orlando area.
#1 Activity and Best Amusement Park for Kids: Disney’s Magic Kingdom
“You can’t skip Disney. You MUST visit Disney at least once in your life.” There’s not much room for disagreement with this imperative from Lilkidthings. With 73 Trekaroo families giving unanimously positive reviews, it’s clear as the crystal that Disney is an amazing destination. “You don’t go to Dinsey unless you plan to have a fun filled day,” says bukosker. Even a skeptic will believe in magic by trip’s end. Take bejolly65′s comment: “I was so hesitant and cynical when we decided to go to Disney World. [...] But I guess there is a reason that Disney World is so popular. They really know what they are doing.” The kids need no such convincing. Many a trekaroo family speaks of how enchanted their child was seeing Cinderella or taking a magic carpet ride. “The girls loved Magic Kingdom, because as we all know Cinderella’s Castle is there,” says Trekaroo family metro927. While kids will be excited just being in the Kingdom, Trekaroo parents all agree that a day at Disney needs to be planned for maximum magic to occur and they have left a goldmine of suggestions. Keebz, an iPhone equipped mom, downloaded the Disney app and scoped out wait times. Don’t be alarmed if the plan falls apart, it’s only natural as parents and kids alike get lost in the atmosphere. As Travelingmom says, “This place can make an infant out of a grown man!”
Photo Credit: flickr/ninjapoodles
Best Museum for Kids to Explore: Orlando Science Center
From hurricanes to space shuttles, the Central Florida area is one of the most interesting places for science and the Orlando Science Center works hard to capture the creative energy of the area. Trekaroo family apalanza says that the Science Center is great for all ages, but suggests packing your own lunch to save some cash. For locals, WE3REEDS suggests the annual membership that allows unlimited access throughout the year. “Imax is included as well as all their special events.” For denizens of more distant lands, the Orlando Science Center is a great excuse to get away from the parks and explore the town.
Photo Credit: OSC
Best Place to See Animals in Action: Sea World
While Disney may have your kids singing “Under the Sea”, Sea World journeys under and over while riding on the back of an orca whale. Trekaroo parents concur that Sea World magnifies the wonders of ocean life with spectacular shows. ”All the shows were great and VERY entertaining,” said akotash. But it’s not all just high-flying whales, mischievous sea lions and acrobatic dolphins. ”The last time I was at SeaWorld, we were able to get up close and touch the dolphins as we fed them,” commented Kat569. Sea World offers many opportunities to get close to the animals and for some extra greenbacks, you can take behind the scenes tours. Younger kids will certainly be amazed by the high-energy shows and every child will love the massive playground area in Shamu’s Happy Harbor. What parents love most, though is seeing the look of amazement on their child’s face as the animals show their power.
Photo Credit: flickr/Big C Harvey
Best Natural Experience for Kids: Kelly Park
With an amusement park on nearly every corner, it’s easy to forget that Orlando is set among natural wonders of its own. Kelly Park is a great place to get away and experience Florida’s abundant flora and fauna without having to drive too far from the city. Shauna, a Trekaroo mom, commented that Kelly Park is “a great family outing for next to nothing!” With a cost of ONE dollar, it will be by far the cheapest activity of any Orlando vacation. Shauna also suggests renting a tube and floating down the river as a great way to eco-tour Central Florida. Even without the aquatic journey, there are plenty of reasons to pay the park a visit. Volleyball courts, picnic tables, nature trails and even camping make the park a relaxing destination that is close enough to escape to on a whim.
Photo Credit: flickr/systemslibrarian
Wonder what Trekaroo Families voted as the Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando?
Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando, Florida - voted by parents
More Resources for Orlando
- All 71 Activities for Kids in and around Orlando, Florida
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Orlando, Florida
- More Disney, Less Waiting – A review of RideMax
- 5 Tot-friendly Restaurants Favorites in at Disney
- Disney Hotels for Tween and Teens
- Top 5 “Must Do” Walt Disney World Attractions with Teens
- Free and Low-Cost Activities in Orlando for Preschoolers
- Water Parks in Florida
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Stephen Wanta is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA
Trekaroo’s goin’ to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine,
Can’t you just feel the moonshine,
Ain’t it just like a friend of mine,
To hit me from behind
Yes, we’re goin’ to Carolina with our KIDS!
(To the tune of James Taylor’s “Carolina in my Mind”)
Why North Carolina? Because Trekaroo families have been taken it upon themselves to build a fantastic list of activities and hotel reviews that just had to be released to the public. From the famous sunny beaches of North Carolina to the winter fun in High Country, families love it in North Carolina. Looking for some indoor fun? There’s plenty to enjoy in North Carolina from a world-class zoo in Asheboro to exhibits of fascinating sea life in our three coastal aquariums. We’ve got family-friendly summer fun at minor league baseball games and Nascar races.
Photo by: Flickr/Texas_mustang
So, what have Trekaroo families shared?
- Over 650 activities for kids throughout North Carolina
- Activities and hotel reviews in all 4 regions: Piedmont Triangle, The Coast, Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Great Smokey Mountains.
- A list of kid-friendly hotels in NC waiting to be rated by parents
- Lots of fun lists like:
- Places to Hike with Kids Around Charlotte, North Carolina by PrincessTrioMom
- Cheap Things to Do in Charlotte, NC with kids by JodyMace
- Kid-friendly Hotels in Charlotte, North Carolina by SpencerSpellman
- Fun for Dudes, Both Kids and Bigs Near Charlotte, NC by rjones64
- Snow Tubing and Sledding Hills in North Carolina by thelees3
- Ski Resorts in North Carolina with Kid Programs by thelees3
- Best Activities for Kids in the Piedmont Triangle – voted by Trekaroo families by Stephen Wantas
In celebration of our launch, the Trekaroo KidsMobile Blog Carnival stopped in Charlotte, NC and invited local bloggers on board to share their local tips on kid fun around Charlotte. Check out what they had to share.
Special thanks to christinembyrd, PrincessTrioMom, jamierippy, Grandma Adele, summerbreeze, Olgabow, jrhammlett, allison, frogsandladybugs for their love of North Carolina and sharing more than most about their adventures with kids with the Trekaroo community. And of course, thanks to team Trekaroo who work around the clock to make get all the details in place.
Going to Carolina with my kids,
Esther Lee (thelees3) – CEO
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Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA
