Family Day Out Ideas near me in Orlando, FL
Need an idea for a family day out in Orlando? This list mixes year-round favorites with seasonal events. The Orlando Science Center is the top rainy-day pick, Gatorland is a classic Florida outing with gator shows and a petting area, and free county parks like Barber Park and Dr. P. Phillips Community Park have splash pads for hot afternoons.
25 picks · Updated October 2026
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- 1
Orlando Science Center
Entertainment spot in Loch Haven Park, Orlando
Four floors of hands-on exhibits in Loch Haven Park, with KidsTown for younger children, a giant dome theater and laser concert shows. It is the easiest all-ages pick when it rains or the heat is too much.
- Family
- Kids
- Indoor
- Rainy day
- 2
Gatorland
Attraction in Orlando, $$
A long-running alligator park on South Orange Blossom Trail with gator shows, a barnyard petting area and add-on zip line and off-road rides. It is open daily 10am to 5pm, rain or shine.
- Family
- Kids
- Outdoor
- Visitor favorite
- 3
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Park in Maitland, $
A raptor rehabilitation center in Maitland where you walk a paved path past resident eagles, owls and hawks. A visit takes about an hour, which suits short attention spans. Closed Mondays.
- Family
- Kids
- Outdoor
- Nature
- 4
Nona Adventure Park
Outdoor activity in Lake Nona, Orlando
Best for active kids and teens, with cable wakeboarding, a floating inflatable obstacle course and a 60-foot climbing tower. Tot Town gives little ones their own playground, and hours change by season.
- Family
- Kids
- Teens
- Outdoor
- 5
Barber Park
Outdoor activity in Orlando
A free 81-acre county park with a splash pad, a standard playground and an inclusive playground for kids of all abilities. Teens can use the skate park, and the splash pad runs in timed sessions with a 2 to 3pm break.
- Family
- Kids
- Free
- Toddlers
- 6
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
Outdoor activity in Dr. Phillips, Orlando
A free splash pad and playground in Dr. Phillips, handy for families staying near I-Drive or Disney. It also has a dog park, picnic pavilions and walking trails.
- Family
- Kids
- Free
- Toddlers
- 7
Fort Christmas Historical Park
Museum in Christmas (east Orange County), Orlando
A free county park in Christmas with a replica 1837 fort, pioneer homes, a schoolhouse and a sugar cane mill. Free Barnyard Banter history programs and a playground make it an easy half-day trip.
- Family
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoor
- 8
Abracadabra Play & Café
Entertainment spot in Hamlin, Winter Garden
An indoor play cafe in Winter Garden for babies through age 7, with soft play, pretend-play zones and sensory areas. Parents get coffee and snacks, and walk-ins are accepted.
- Family
- Kids
- Toddlers
- Indoor
- 9
Barnett Park
Park in Pine Hills, Orlando
A large free county park on West Colonial Drive with a splash playground, an inclusive playground, a skate park and disc golf. There is also a dog park and an indoor gym.
- Family
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoor
- 10
Capehart Park
Outdoor activity in Orlando
A small east Orlando park with a splash pad and a tot lot built for ages two to five. It is a quiet, free choice for toddlers, with splash sessions through the day.
- Family
- Kids
- Free
- Toddlers
- 11
Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens
Event in Audubon Park, Orlando, $$
A ticketed holiday light walk through Leu Gardens with a poinsettia light tunnel, falling snow, a 50-foot snowman and the Yeti Mine Adventure play area. Children 3 and under get in free.
- Family
- Kids
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- 12
Club Lake Fall Festival
Event in Apopka, $$
A fall weekend festival on a 43-acre ranch venue with a corn maze, hayrides and a pumpkin patch. The pumpkin patch, country store and parking are free.
- Family
- Kids
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- 13
Painted Oaks Academy Pumpkin Patch
Event in East Orlando, $
An October pumpkin patch at a riding academy with pony rides, a petting zoo and hayrides. Weekdays are quieter, while weekends add music, food trucks and carnival games.
- Family
- Kids
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- 14
Festival of Trees
Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $$
Dozens of designer-decorated trees and gingerbread displays fill the Orlando Museum of Art each November. Families can book Breakfast with Santa or the Reindeer Romp kids' party.
- Family
- Kids
- Christmas
- Festival
- 15
City of Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration
Event in Downtown, Orlando
Orlando lights its big Lake Eola tree in early December with a stage show, holiday market, Santa visits and a Florida snowfall experience. The tree then runs a nightly light-and-music show into early January.
- Family
- Kids
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- 16
Dinos In Lights
Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $$
A short holiday light-and-music show starring the Science Center's T. rex skeleton, included with general admission during the holidays. It is a simple add-on for young dinosaur fans.
- Family
- Kids
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- 17
Central Florida Fair
Event in Pine Hills, Orlando, $
Orange County's annual fair runs about 11 days in late winter with midway rides, fair food, livestock shows and live entertainment at the West Colonial Drive fairgrounds.
- Family
- Kids
- Festival
- Ticketed
- 18
Fireworks at the Fountain
Event in Downtown, Orlando
Orlando's July 4 celebration at Lake Eola Park, with a family activity zone, food vendors, a concert band and fireworks over the lake.
- Family
- Kids
- Fireworks
- Summer
- 19
Winter on the Avenue
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
A free early December evening on Park Avenue with tree and menorah lighting, snow slides, s'mores and an outdoor movie. Santa arrives by fire truck for photos.
- Family
- Kids
- Christmas
- Free
- 20
Gatorland's Holiday Ho, Ho, Ho-Down
Event in Orlando, $$
December weekends at Gatorland bring photos with Gator Claus, costumed characters and holiday music, all included with regular park admission.
- Family
- Kids
- Christmas
- Ticketed
- 21
Winter Park Christmas Parade
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
A morning parade down Park Avenue on the first Saturday of December, billed as Central Florida's oldest continuous holiday parade, with marching bands, first responders and Santa at the end.
- Family
- Kids
- Christmas
- Parade
- 22
Winter Park 4th of July Celebration
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
A free small-town Independence Day evening in Central Park with a children's bike parade, a kids' zone and free pie, cake and ice cream while they last.
- Family
- Kids
- Summer
- Festival
- 23
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
A free November art show of Florida artists in Central Park and along Park Avenue, with a children's art workshop area and live music.
- Family
- Kids
- Art festival
- Festival
- 24
St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch
Event in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, $
A church-run pumpkin patch in Dr. Phillips with carving pumpkins, minis and a fall photo spot. It is a quick, low-key October stop.
- Family
- Kids
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- 25
Tom West Blueberries
Outdoor activity in Ocoee
One of the few u-pick farms inside Orange County. It is closed for 2026 and expects to reopen in March 2027, so call ahead before visiting since dates depend on the crop.
- Family
- Kids
- Seasonal
- Outdoor
Year-round family outings
For a dependable day out in any season, start with the Orlando Science Center, Gatorland or the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. The Science Center is indoors and works for all ages, with KidsTown for younger children. Gatorland is open daily 10am to 5pm, rain or shine, and has gator shows, a petting area and add-ons like a zip line for older kids. The Audubon Center takes about an hour and is closed Mondays. Fort Christmas Historical Park is free and pairs history with a playground. For toddlers, Abracadabra Play & Café in Winter Garden is indoors, air-conditioned and accepts walk-ins.
Free splash pads and parks
Orange County runs several free parks with splash pads, which are the easiest way to cool off on a hot day without buying tickets. Barber Park and Capehart Park run their splash pads in timed sessions from 10am to 6:45pm with a break from 2 to 3pm. Dr. P. Phillips Community Park keeps its splash pad open 9am to 7pm in summer and 9am to 5pm in winter. Barnett Park adds a skate park, disc golf and an inclusive playground. Park hours are generally 8am to 8pm in summer and 8am to 6pm in winter. Bring towels, water shoes and sunscreen.
Seasonal outings worth planning around
Many of the best family days are tied to the calendar. Fall brings pumpkin patches at Club Lake, Painted Oaks and St. Luke's. In November and December, look at Festival of Trees, Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens, the Lake Eola tree lighting and Winter Park's free holiday kickoff and parade. The Central Florida Fair arrives in late winter, and July brings fireworks at Lake Eola and Winter Park's 4th of July evening. Tom West Blueberries is closed for 2026 and expects to reopen in March 2027. Dates change every year, so check each event's official page for this year's schedule before you go.
About this list
Every place here is a locally run business in Orange County with its own website, which we checked for hours, menus and contact details. We leave national chains off our best-of lists and favor places with a clear specialty.
This page covers 25 family outings in Orlando. You'll find them in Park Avenue, Loch Haven Park, Dr. Phillips and Pine Hills, spread across Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland and Winter Garden.
Where menus list prices, most of these sit in the $$ range, with a handful at $.
What comes up again and again on their menus and websites: Dog park, Inclusive playground, Skate park, Splash pad and Pumpkin patch.
Frequently asked questions
What can families do in Orlando besides theme parks?
The Orlando Science Center, Gatorland, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey and Nona Adventure Park are popular non-theme-park outings. Free county parks such as Barber Park and Dr. P. Phillips Community Park have splash pads, and Fort Christmas Historical Park offers free history programs.
Where are free splash pads in Orlando?
Barber Park, Capehart Park, Barnett Park and Dr. P. Phillips Community Park all have free splash pads run by Orange County. Barber and Capehart run timed sessions from 10am to 6:45pm with a break from 2 to 3pm, and hours at Dr. P. Phillips change with the season.
What is a good rainy day activity for kids in Orlando?
The Orlando Science Center is the top rainy-day pick, with four floors of hands-on exhibits and a dome theater. For toddlers, Abracadabra Play & Café in Winter Garden is an indoor play cafe for ages 0 to 7. Gatorland stays open rain or shine if your family does not mind getting a little wet.
Are there free family events in Orlando?
Yes. Winter on the Avenue, the Winter Park 4th of July Celebration and the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival are free. Fort Christmas Historical Park offers free history programs, and Orange County parks with splash pads are free to visit.
Is there u-pick fruit near Orlando?
Tom West Blueberries in Ocoee is one of the few u-pick farms inside Orange County. It is closed for 2026 and expects to reopen in March 2027. Season dates depend on the crop, so call ahead before you go.
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