Free Things to Do in Orlando

More than 75 million people visit Florida each year, and many of them visit Disney World in Orlando. Planning a trip to Orlando can be expensive, especially if the vacationing parties plan to visit areas of high tourism. A family can take alternative measures by participating in some free activities that Orlando has to offer. Frugal customers can discover that Orlando has much more to offer than Disney World.

The following are some suggestions for free activities and for saving money on an Orlando trip:

Visit the Children’s Library

Families can always stop by the children’s library if they would like to take their children to partake in a free event. The Orlando children’s library has a wide variety of events in which children can participate. The library’s Kid Connect program has programs and events such as mascot games, crafts, gaming and other fun events. Parents can take their children to the library just to read books, as well, since it’s always a good idea to plan a chill out day in the middle of your holiday.

Stop at the Flea Market

The largest flea market in the United States is located near Orlando, Florida, and people refer to it as Flea World. Visitors can pick up a wide variety of inexpensive clothing, food and goods from more than 1,700 vendors.

There’s also the Winter Park farmer’s market if they want to experience more than one flea market. The Winter Park farmer’s market offers a haven for foodies, and families who want to eat well, despite being on holiday.

Walk Around in the Gardens

One of the best things about vacationing in Florida is that the state contains a great deal of beauty. Visitors can stop by the Harry P. Leu Gardens, which is a huge park that offers beauty as well as historical components. Access to the gardens is free, but the area is only open between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the first Monday of every month of the year.

Visit Wekiwa Springs State Park

Wekiwa Springs State Park is another place that a family can visit free if they visit during the month of September. The park provides free access to anyone who shows up with a library book – although it doesn’t say which library, so you could probably take your books from home too! The park offers a natural history museum as well as outdoor activities.

Additional Ways to Save Money on an Orlando Trip

Planning ahead can make travel more affordable too. Here are a few tips:

• Use social media to see what’s hot and happening around where you’re going.
• One thing that savvy travels do well, is to compare hotel rates in Orlando before planning the rest of their trip. Affordable hotels in Orlando all appear on comparison sites that will show a hotel’s prices as compared to other hotels in the area – and helpful reviews to help you make your decisions too. The Hipmunk site is an example of one website that provides a side-by-side comparison of hotels.
• Another tip for saving money on an Orlando trip is to search for package deals, coupons and promotional codes. Promotional codes can offer discounts on rental cars and other accommodations, saving often hundreds on your travel. Credit cards and special membership cards may provide you with access to discounts too.
• Start planning your trip to Orlando at least 60 days in advance to maximise the savings too,from your local trainfare to the airport, to your flights and accommodation.

This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, a complete travel platform that allows you to do everything from comparing charter flights and train rides, to finding the best resort hotels and Airbnb rentals.*