Orlando's abuzz with big changes this year, and the upcoming summer months are sure to be electric. We're speedily approaching the perfect time of year for exploring the outdoors, planning new things to do with the kiddos, celebrating with friends and eating out around town. This summer is bringing major new theme park additions, new places to eat, revitalized events and major sporting events plus all the classic to-do's: shopping 'til you drop at a new-to-you farmers market, hiking nature trails, exploring new eats, getting out on the water and more. Here are 25 essential things to do around Orlando this summer. Orlando is home to an abundance of hiking trails and natural paths perfect for explorers of all abilities. Twin Oaks Conservation Area, for example, cuts across a boardwalk along the Lake Apopka shoreline before twining into a shady oak hammock. Hikers have a good chance of spotting animals in the adjacent wildlife preserve. Largely considered a hidden gem, this 150-acre preserve and its network of trails is nestled between Clermont and Winter Garden. Discover more hiking trails and nature preserves supported by your tax dollars at orlando.gov , orangecountyfl.net and floridastateparks.org . And then make use of them while we still can! Orlando is set to host matches during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at two popular city venues. Orlando's Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium have been selected to host part of the competition, as the 32-team tournament tours the U.S. next summer at 12 venues across 11 different cities in the nation. Central Florida is host to a variety of weekly farmers markets, perfect for spending a day in the summer sun while shopping and stocking up on fresh produce. The Winter Garden Farmers Market, one of the best, happens every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 104 S. Lakeview Ave. The Lake Eola Farmers Market, Winter Park Farmers Market and the Audubon Park Community Market are also all popular market destinations. Grab a bite from any of the anticipated new restaurants opening this summer. Or taste history at one of Orlando's oldest restaurants. Or eat at all the new Michelin-approved restaurants in the area. Whatever your culinary Everest, use Orlando Weekly to help you research it. We publish articles and slideshows every day on Orlando's ever-expanding culinary landscape. New? Just this summer, we're looking at new restaurants, bars, coffee spots and more. Old? The city's culinary impact runs deep with dozens of restaurants that have been serving the community for at least 25 years, from High Tide Harry's to Linda's La Cantina to Hot Dog Heaven, we let locals and tourists know where to get a taste for the city. Unique? The city's hungriest can find medieval dinner shows, stand-up sushi bars, '90s-era Korean pubs and even a meal aboard the Titanic. Head to the one of the many local outdoors screenings for an evening with the crew (kiddos are almost always welcome; doggos, you'll want to check the specifics online): the Wednesday Night Pitcher Show at Enzian Theater, Movie Night at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Popcorn Flicks in the Park at Winter Park's Central Park, Kaleidoscope 360 at Luminary Green in downtown Orlando's Creative Village and many, many more. Some allow alcohol; some offer food trucks; at others you'll want to bring your own upgrades by packing a picnic. Make sure you get there early to claim your spot. The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a relatively cheap spot appealing to all ages, with scads of animal habitats and tons of educational opportunities. Besides the many wild encounters, the zoo also offers its Wharton-Smith Train Depot, home to a one-quarter-scale model of an authentic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad streamliner, The Champion. Skip the steps and ride around the zoo's property in style. Take a breezy tour through the Orlando Museum of Art
2416 N. Mills Ave. Immerse yourself in the annual Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition, consistently a source of mind-opening inspiration. Founded in 1924, the museum is home to a rotating series of temporary exhibitions and traveling shows complemented by mainstay works from the permanent collection, but the summertime Florida Prize show is always the highlight. Guests can also take advantage of workshops held on site, like art appreciation classes, lectures, films, guided tours, kids' events and more. Go classic over-the-top Florida with Kissimmee Swamp Tours ( kissimmeeswamptours.com ), a roadside stop in Kenansville where you can hop on an airboat for a firsthand look at all the flora, fauna and outright weirdness that makes the Sunshine State what it is. The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour may not sound like the most thrilling activity to do around town, but these tours draw crowds for a reason. Tourists and locals alike stand to learn something from these slow-traveling vessels and their bold and entertaining guides. You'll get to see all the flora and fauna in the area, plus you'll get a front-row seat to see the biggest, fanciest homes Winter Park has to offer. And it's all out on the watery network of the Chain of Lakes, with a nice (kinda) cool breeze to keep the mosquitoes away. Speaking of cool breezes, from traditional fish camps to upscale bistros, the Orlando area is home to a variety of restaurants with waterfront views. So forget driving all the way to the coast — set out for one of these picturesque but closer-to-home eateries instead. You'll catch lovely views and elevated fare at Canvas Restaurant in Lake Nona, for one, or one of the many "lake"front restaurants around Disney, like Summer House on the Lake or the Boathouse. Relax Grill in Lake Eola Park is a casual hang with a super-central location. Or feast at the Pinery in Ivanhoe Village. Check out our dining section online for more suggestions. Dive into the 44 restaurants participating in this year's Bite30 ( bite30.com ), a city-wide festival of prix-fixe menus at upscale restaurants all over Orlando. Or sip your way through Tacos and Tequila ( tacosandtequilaorlando.com ), Orlando's favorite tequila-fueled party, which heads back to town on Saturday, July 26. Expect home-grown handhelds, live music and dancing, and endless drink samplings. Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve located right here in Orlando, along South Orange Blossom Trail. The spot was founded 73 years ago by Owen Godwin on former cattle land, and has ever since been a wildlife adventure and adventure park. Guests can watch the gator feeding shows, hold baby gators or hang out in the petting zoo. We highly recommend taking a change and holding a tarantula, boa constrictor or baby alligator! Ride a swan, picnic at or just walk through Lake Eola Park
512 E. Washington St. Right in the heart of Orlando is Lake Eola Park, a glistening body of water surrounded by ample space for picnicking, sightseeing and taking a breather just outside of the bustle of downtown. It's an essential spot for Orlandoans to know — and you get locals-only bonus points for actually pedaling around the fountain in one of those tourist-adored swan boats. Just don't feed the (real, live) swans that occupy the shore!
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2416 N. Mills Ave. Immerse yourself in the annual Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition, consistently a source of mind-opening inspiration. Founded in 1924, the museum is home to a rotating series of temporary exhibitions and traveling shows complemented by mainstay works from the permanent collection, but the summertime Florida Prize show is always the highlight. Guests can also take advantage of workshops held on site, like art appreciation classes, lectures, films, guided tours, kids' events and more. Go classic over-the-top Florida with Kissimmee Swamp Tours ( kissimmeeswamptours.com ), a roadside stop in Kenansville where you can hop on an airboat for a firsthand look at all the flora, fauna and outright weirdness that makes the Sunshine State what it is. The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour may not sound like the most thrilling activity to do around town, but these tours draw crowds for a reason. Tourists and locals alike stand to learn something from these slow-traveling vessels and their bold and entertaining guides. You'll get to see all the flora and fauna in the area, plus you'll get a front-row seat to see the biggest, fanciest homes Winter Park has to offer. And it's all out on the watery network of the Chain of Lakes, with a nice (kinda) cool breeze to keep the mosquitoes away. Speaking of cool breezes, from traditional fish camps to upscale bistros, the Orlando area is home to a variety of restaurants with waterfront views. So forget driving all the way to the coast — set out for one of these picturesque but closer-to-home eateries instead. You'll catch lovely views and elevated fare at Canvas Restaurant in Lake Nona, for one, or one of the many "lake"front restaurants around Disney, like Summer House on the Lake or the Boathouse. Relax Grill in Lake Eola Park is a casual hang with a super-central location. Or feast at the Pinery in Ivanhoe Village. Check out our dining section online for more suggestions. Dive into the 44 restaurants participating in this year's Bite30 ( bite30.com ), a city-wide festival of prix-fixe menus at upscale restaurants all over Orlando. Or sip your way through Tacos and Tequila ( tacosandtequilaorlando.com ), Orlando's favorite tequila-fueled party, which heads back to town on Saturday, July 26. Expect home-grown handhelds, live music and dancing, and endless drink samplings. Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve located right here in Orlando, along South Orange Blossom Trail. The spot was founded 73 years ago by Owen Godwin on former cattle land, and has ever since been a wildlife adventure and adventure park. Guests can watch the gator feeding shows, hold baby gators or hang out in the petting zoo. We highly recommend taking a change and holding a tarantula, boa constrictor or baby alligator! Ride a swan, picnic at or just walk through Lake Eola Park
512 E. Washington St. Right in the heart of Orlando is Lake Eola Park, a glistening body of water surrounded by ample space for picnicking, sightseeing and taking a breather just outside of the bustle of downtown. It's an essential spot for Orlandoans to know — and you get locals-only bonus points for actually pedaling around the fountain in one of those tourist-adored swan boats. Just don't feed the (real, live) swans that occupy the shore!
