Traveling with Teens? Discover these 19 Things To Do in Central Florida – No Theme Parks

Today, let’s look at the most awesome things to do in Central Florida with teens!

Entertaining teenagers can be notoriously difficult. Even though you’ve managed to convince them to come with you on vacation to central Florida, you may still need help finding the exact activities on your itinerary. 

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There are popular theme parks here like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and Legoland Florida Resort. Yet, the area has so much more than thrill rides and roller coasters to offer families visiting here.  That’s where we come in! We’re here to help to discover the perfect family activities central Florida has to offer. Especially outdoors!

Teens get bored easily. So, here are nearly 20 things to do in central Florida for families that will ACTUALLY entertain tweens and teenagers. We hope your kids love them! You will (should, at least) have some fun too 🙂

19 Family Activities in Central Florida Outside the Major Theme Parks

Gatorland, Orlando

Just a short drive from Orlando will take you to the Gatorland, the Breeding Marsh, and millions of years into the past when the massive lizards roamed the Earth. 

A massive natural Cypress swamp is the home of the Gatorland, the largest alligator breeding and research station in the world.  

You can see the scaly monsters up close and personal from the raised wooden boardwalk that winds through the marsh.

The observation tower offers a great view and a little safer distance. Enjoy the lovely vista of the entire park, the ancient cypress trees, and the vast surrounding marshes.

You can also take the off-road vehicle excursion through the Gatorland in 12-foot-high off-road monster vehicles for a 15-minute rough and tumble adventure with sudden turns and rough drops through hundreds of alligators napping in the sun.

Another alternative is Screamin’ Gator Zip Line along 1,200 feet high flying, adventure from the zipline between seven stories tall towers over the treetops, the swamp and of course its inhabitants – about 130 giant alligators.

K1 Speed, Orlando

K1 Speed offers teens a chance to drive over 50 miles an hour – and they can do it long before they get their driving license. As long as they are over 56 inches tall.

The large indoor go-kart race track has plenty of sharp turns and enough challenge to get the kids, and parents, hearts pounding. It looks scary but it is well designed and totally safe. 

iFly Orlando

While you are still in Orlando, get your little adrenaline junkies to try iFly Orlando and get their need for danger out of their system.  iFly offers indoor skydiving without actually jumping out of a perfectly good plane. 

iFly offers real free-fall conditions inside a flight chamber using a 1,000 horsepower-powered vertical wind tunnel. It creates a wall-to-wall cushion of air for safe floating.

The experience lasts about one hour and is operated by trained skydivers. It is completely safe and for many, it will be the closest they will ever experience a free fall and feeling weightless. 

The Gypsy Gold Farm, Ocala

Gypsy Gold Farm is a thrill for any horse lover, young or old. This lovely 40-acre farm in Ocala, surrounded by ancient granddaddy oaks covered in Spanish moss is home to a very special breed of horses – the Gypsy Vanner horses.

The Gypsy Vanner, also called Gypsy Cob, is a breed of domestic horse from the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, where they were used by travelers in the 19^th century to pull their caravans. 

The Gypsy Gold Farm includes a 14-stall show barn and a 12-stall bedding-free barn. It is surrounded by 19 lush paddocks. The property also has private trails, wonderful hilltop views, and gorgeous backdrops for the horses to enjoy.

A two-hour tour of the farm includes meeting the Gypsy Vanner horses and learning the history of this unique breed. Your guide will be Dennis Thompson, who discovered it and brought it to the States. 

The best part is, of course, getting close to these beautiful animals- mares, stallions, foals and many other animals that live on the farm. Feel free to bring some carrots, apples and other horse treats. 

Rainbow River, Dunnellon

Rainbow Springs State Park is a great spot to cool off on a hot summer day. The crystal clear, natural spring-fed Rainbow River slowly flows through lush Florida nature. 

Rightly named Rainbow River, its glowing turquoise blue and verdant green waters are so clear that you can see the fine sandy bottom as you are floating in a tube about a mile an hour. 

The current is slow and allows you to enjoy bird watching and see other wildlife on both banks, or just drink beer and soak up the sun.

This family-friendly park is very beautiful and it has a rich history worth checking out. The area was used by native peoples for thousands of years. Then it was used by a mining company and private owners. They left behind a lovely garden and artificial waterfalls.

Besides popular tubes, you can also rent a canoe or a kayak.

Visit Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island

Visiting the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is something you cannot experience anywhere else: get up-close to the world of humans who travel to space for a living. 

There are a number of different zones with interactive exhibits. Heroes and Legends tells the story about space pioneers. Behind the Gates is a bus tour that will take you to the launch sites. Race to the Moon will teach you about what was involved in the Apollo Era and you will be able to see a Saturn V rocket.

Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other takes you to the inside of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. There is a chance to view a real rocket launch if your timing is lucky.

The Astronaut Training Experience zone shows what astronauts have to go through during their training.

This is really hands-on – you will be invited to do a spacewalk with the help of the “immersive microgravity simulation technology”. You might even take part in NASA’s Space Launch System rocket launch. 

Go to St. Petersburg for some great art, and for the beaches

There are some great museums in Central Florida, but if you are traveling with teenagers you have to limit yourself to just a few that will grab their attention. 

Absolutely must-see is the world-famous Salvador Dali Museum, which holds one of the largest collections of Salvador Dali’s art outside of Spain. 

The Chihuly Collection of mind-blowing out-of-this-world glasswork will impress even the most hard-core teenagers.

St. Petersburg is very beautiful, so take a stroll around and see amazing street art, enjoy a nice restaurant and relax at the beach after the museums. The beaches in St Pete’s and nearby Clearwater Beach are among the best beaches in Florida.

Read Next: How to See The Best of Tampa/St Pete in 4 Days With a Tampa Bay CityPASS (CityPASS is a multi venue attractions ticket that saves you $$$)

Manatee Springs, Chiefland

Manatee Springs is a state park and offers the whole family a great opportunity for outdoor activities and see manatees.

Manatees are large marine mammals sometimes called sea cows. During the winter months, they travel into the Gulf of Mexico through Florida’s springs searching for warmer weather. 

The water in the Florida springs stays a pleasant 72º F throughout the winter, just perfect for manatees to spend a winter break. In addition, the river bottom is covered in kelp, a manatee’s preferred food. 

Springs are also home to other native Florida animals such as speckled perch, largemouth bass, and an occasional alligator.

Swimming is permitted in summer, but not in winter when manatees need privacy, peace and shelter. Kayaking is allowed year-round and manatees often swim near the boats and allow people to pet them. 

If you are lucky, you may even see a baby manatee since the warm spring waters serve as a nursery as well.

Read Next: 5 Animal Experiences You Won’t Want to Miss in Tampa, Florida

Devil’s Den, Williston

Devil’s Den was formed when the roof over an underground river collapsed, exposing the cave water to the surface. It is privately owned and is today a scuba diving training and sports facility. 

Visitors are allowed only if they are going to participate in diving or snorkeling activities.

The temperature of 72 degrees remains pleasant year-round, allowing comfortable diving in all seasons. During the winter you can see steam rising like smoke from the cave’s chimney. Early settlers thought this unearthly and named the place Devil’s Den.

No children under 6 nor pets are allowed. Children under 18 have to be accompanied by their parents.

Bring your snorkeling mask, fins and snorkel. No free diving is allowed.

Whimzeyland, Safety Harbor

Whimzeyland can prove to be dangerous if it inspires your teens to redecorate your home when they go back. It is a quirky, whimsical private home made of bottles, bowling bowls and tile mosaics.

It has taken artists Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda two decades to turn their home into this explosion of color. 

The house was originally called the “Bowling Ball House” for the 500 painted bowling balls that are scattered all over the yard in various artistic formations. 

You will see pyramids, walls and stacks of bowling balls on the grounds. They are surrounded by a riot of other works of art made of recycled materials.

Gardens look otherworldly, filled with colorful mosaic paths, colored bottles, and bright, lovely ceramic sculptures.

The atmosphere inspired other artists to paint an odd bowling bowl or two. You can see them in a small gallery.

Monkey Island of Homosassa, Homosassa

Monkey Island is a tiny island in the middle of the Homosassa River. A small family of monkeys is its only inhabitant. The island owner, the Homosassa Riverside Resort, feeds the monkeys and takes care of them.  

You can see the monkeys and the island from a boat or the resort, or from the nearby boat ramp.

There is an interesting story about how monkeys ended up on the island. Originally used to improve a polio vaccine by Dr. John Hamlet, when they were not useful anymore, they were brought to the then-new Homosassa Wildlife State Park. 

Monkeys kept escaping and pestering tourists, so the developer G.A. (Furgy) Furgason brought them to the small island he created out of a bunch of dangerous rocks in the middle of the river. He thought that it could serve as ‘monkey Alcatraz”. There are only five spider monkeys on the island at the moment.

Read Next: 4 Places to Swim with Otters in the US

Pirate & Treasure Museum, St. Augustine

Many kids believe that Florida used to teem with pirates so it will thrill them to find out that one of the biggest collections of pirate artifacts in the world is located in Florida.

Pirate and Treasure Museum has 48 individual exhibits, the real, true pirates’ ill-gotten booty. 

Among them are Blackbeard’s blunderbuss, pieces of gold from his ship the Queen Anne’s Revenge; one of the last two authentic Jolly Roger flags; and the original treasure chest that belonged to Thomas Tew.

The exhibits include all sorts of pirate weapons, piles of treasure, buccaneer life stories, and art and literature describing pirates.

Find out about a treasure hunt that the museum organizes for the kids in each room, kids would get kick out of it.

Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Augustine

Fort Matanzas is an 18th-century Spanish tower made completely of seashells and concrete. It was declared a national monument in 1924.

The monument includes Fort Matanzas, a  Spanish fort built in 1740, a salt marsh as well as barrier islands at the Matanzas River on Florida’s northern Atlantic coast. 

There is a lovely beach nearby as well as a few wonderful hiking trails.

Turtle Mound, New Smyrna Beach

Turtle Mound is a 50-feet tall prehistoric garbage dump. What is so fascinating about it is the fact that it was created almost a thousand years ago by the Timacuan culture.

The waste disposal (or midden as is its official name) tells scientists a lot about the ancient people and their lives.

It consists of 35,000 tons of oyster shells and not much else. It tells a story about the Timacuans and their lives and that oysters were a big part of their diet.

Since then, Timacuans, who have been occupying most of Florida for centuries, have been decimated by slavery, diseases and wars. Their midden has been used by mariners as a landmark. Today, it is a fascinating glimpse into the past.

There is a boardwalk among the trees growing from the midden, as well as an observation platform, with spectacular views of Mosquito Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Also worth visiting nearby is Eldora, a ghost town of an early European settlement.

Read Next: Florida Packing List: 10 Essentials to Pack For Your Next Beach Vacation

RV Camping

RV Camping offers unlimited freedom and a real spirit of adventure. Florida has a lot of RV camping sites that are located inside its state parks and are specifically designed to provide an awesome RV Camping Experience.

Sometimes it’s just necessary to reconnect with nature, change the scenery, or just get away from the busy city life, and Central Florida offers a lot of options for RV Camping.

The options range from 5-star RV camping sites to more budget-friendly options, and there’s a wide choice of locations – from forests to beachside sites.

To explore these camping options further, check the Florida National Park Service website or the best Florida state parks list of RV camping sites. You can also check out Campspot for private campground and RV park listings in the area you plan to visit. 

Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales

The historic Bok Tower Gardens is one of the most popular things to do in Central Florida. It is voted “Florida’s Best Garden” and it is a great place to unwind and quietly stroll outdoors.

There are 50 acres of gardens with native plants, 2 hiking trails, outdoor kitchen with edible garden, and an impressive 205-foot tall art deco tower, known as the Singing Tower was built in 1929. The Singing Tower has a 60-bell carillon which plays for 30 minutes at 1 pm and 3 pm every day.

Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden provides families the opportunity to experience nearly three acres of nature play with cooling water features and delightful interactive art and music discovery areas.

Airboat Rides

Airboat rides are a popular tourist activity in Central Florida, and there are a number of companies that offer them.

The airboats are powered by large propellers which enable them to travel at high speeds over relatively shallow water. They’re great for getting close to wildlife, and you might even see some alligators!

I recommend booking tours and activities like this through Viator. Their website makes it easy to research and book with local tour operations, and offer guest reviews, and free cancellations if you need it. Check out their Central Florida Airboat Rides as well as other attractions tickets, activities, and tours.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, there are also companies that offer airboat rides with a difference – like night-time rides or rides with a BBQ lunch included. 

Orlando Science Center, Orlando

The Orlando Science Center is a great place to visit with kids of all ages. It has four floors of interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a giant screen theater. Teens won’t want to miss Science Live! shows held daily.

The Orlando Science Center also offers a range of courses, workshops, and events for families, adults, and children.

Safari Wilderness Ranch, Lakeland

Safari Wilderness Ranch is a great place to see some of the amazing wildlife that Florida has to offer. You can take a safari tour in your own vehicle or in one of the open-air safari vehicles, by kayak, on ATVs, or on camelback. Pick your adventure!

This 260-acre ranch is voted one of the best US safaris by Fodors. Touring through this ranch, guests might see include zebras, warthogs, antelopes, lemurs, and even alpacas!

The ranch also offers Safari camping if you want to make a weekend of it. Ten safari tents are available seasonally and offer amazing views of the animals.

Final Thoughts
Central Florida may be best known for thrill rides and roller coasters, but the area offers up a wide variety of things to do for families here. The Sunshine State is certainly fascinating.  It is both old and new, with lush nature and interesting people that live there.

This is our round-up of the top 19 things to do in Central Florida for parents with teens. We hope that you’ve got some great ideas that will help you and your kids enjoy your time in Central Florida.

If you have any recommendations of things to do in Central Florida for families with teens, please share them in the comments below.

About the Author: This post was contributed by Lorena Maia. Lorena was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since then, she has lived in several countries in Europe and traveled to the United States and Asia. At the moment she lives in Sydney, Australia. She loves traveling and she started her travel blog, TravelCroc.com, to share her travel experiences with others.