Note: This post is sponsored by Hotels.com. As always, all opinions are my own.

For many, the city of Orlando is synonymous with Disneyworld, and outside of exploring the theme parks you wouldn’t know what to fill your time with. But I’m here to tell you there is soooo much more to do in Orlando than Disney.

As locations start to open back up with safety measures in place, and there is still uncertainty regarding the world of travel going back to the way it was, always keep in mind that when you do plan your adventures to do so safely and responsibly. This means, wearing your mask and carrying hand sanitizer, always checking official government websites and the social media accounts for the businesses you want to visit for travel updates (as they can change at the drop of a hat), and making sure your accommodations have free cancellation policies in place. This is particularly good to keep in mind if you are looking to avoid crowds — traveling during the week and road tripping to your destination can also help with your “people-free” experience.

Orlando is full of hidden gems: beautiful gardens, water activities, cute streets full of shops and cafes, gorgeous sunset views, street art, bright and bold architecture, fabulous coffee shops, and all of the dog friendly locations you could ever dream of. Seriously, I have never been to a more dog friendly place!

THE BEST COFFEE SHOPS IN ORLANDO

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a plethora of cute and Instagrammable coffee shops around the city. Yes, you will have to drive to get to all of them but they are well worth it!

My favorite was Deeply Coffee, located in Downtown Orlando (near Lake Eola). Not only is the interior ambiance putting off the perfect Scandinavian Hygge vibes, but they allow dogs inside, the breakfast sandwiches are to die for, and the coffee/espresso is some of the best quality I’ve had in the States!

Vanessa’s Coffee Shop (Lake Nona)

Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. (Winter Park)

Deeply Coffee (Downtown)

Craft & Common (Downtown)

THE BEST PLACES TO GET A SWEET TREAT IN ORLANDO

I have always been someone with a sweet tooth. Whether it’s French toast for breakfast, a donut in the afternoon, or a bit of ice cream after dinner, I will never say no to a sweet treat. That is why I had to find some of the best places to get a little something during my trip to Orlando. Side note: There were multiple places whose names came from Norse mythology…which seemed like a very random trend for Central Florida but is still pretty cool.

Valkyrie Doughnuts (near UCF)

Valhalla Bakery (in between the East Central Park and Lake Como areas – neither of which are the places you are actually thinking of)

Blended Bistro & Boba (Winter Park)

The Glass Knife (Winter Park)

BEST ORLANDO RESTAURANTS FOR LUNCH AND DINNER

Lunch is always the hardest for me when I am traveling. I tend to get wrapped up in seeing and doing all the things and before I know it, it’s 5pm. So safe to say I rarely eat lunch when I am traveling solo. When I am traveling with other people it’s completely the opposite, since apparently I am an anomaly and everyone else has to eat lunch.

I’m all about dinner, more specifically dinner at happy hour time. I find that at happy hour it’s more affordable, if you’re traveling solo there’s less “pressure” when it comes to sitting by yourself, and because you’re sitting at the bar you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll have people to talk to and you may even make some new friends.

Even though we didn’t visit any of these restaurants during happy hour, I can guarantee the food is so good you won’t even mind paying full price – not that full price will kill the budget.

BurgerFi (various locations)

JINYA Ramen Bar (Thorton Park/South Eola)

Oudom Thai & Sushi Orlando (Thorton Park/South Eola)

Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine (various locations)

Poke Hana (near Colonialtown South)

Winter Park Biscuit Company (inside East End Market)

BEST ACTIVITIES & PLACES TO VISIT IN ORLANDO

As I mentioned earlier, Orlando is basically on the same level as Anaheim, California – it is always going to be associated with Disney theme parks. But the great thing about Orlando is that you can visit, have an amazing time, and go nowhere near the “happiest place on earth”. Plus, I’ll save all things Disney for another post!

Now that you know that you don’t need to go to, or even think about, Disney when visiting Orlando here is what you must make sure is on your itinerary.

Walk around Lake Eola

Check out the art in Lake Nona Town Center

Explore Park Avenue in Winter Park

Take an evening walk and watch the sunset at Lake Baldwin

Go on a kayak tour of Winter Park’s canals

Get lost in two of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in Winter Park’s Kraft Azalea Gardens and the Mead Botanical Garden

Get one of the best views in town on The Wheel at ICON Park

THE BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND IN ORLANDO (aka the transportation topic)

When planning your trip to Orlando, be prepared that if you don’t drive to the city, you are going to have to rent a car. There are some exceptions to this rule (see below), but in general in order to save time, make it easier to see all of the places on your bucket list, and potentially make a last minute decision to go to the beach, you’re going to need a vehicle at your disposal.

If you are downtown: Uber

There are two things to know about Uber when visiting Orlando. If you are staying in, and doing most of your activities, in the downtown area or near the theme parks you’ll have no problem getting an Uber.

If you decided to stay even 10 minutes outside of these areas getting an Uber is going to be a massive pain. Case in point, after I moved my sister and I were at our apartment, and the friend who drove down with me was staying in a hotel south of the downtown area (maybe 20 minutes walking). We met up with her for dinner in the Thorton Park area of Downtown. At the end of our meal we all called for Ubers and each of us had more than one Uber cancel on us. It ended up taking both of our parties over 30 MINUTES just to get an Uber! And then it was another 10-15 minute drive back to our places. This wasn’t the first time getting an Uber delayed us 20-30 minutes. And it was all because we weren’t staying in an area “convenient” for the local drivers.

So if you are planning to visit Orlando without a car, just know if you aren’t staying somewhere that is convenient for the local drivers, throw being “on time” out the window.

If you are sticking to the central area of the city: the Sun Rail

I haven’t ridden the SunRail yet, but I did look it up and it conveniently (and affordably) takes you right through the middle of the Greater Orlando area, across 16 stations in four counties! It even stops in my neighborhood of Winter Park which is great. In a pinch (aka you can’t get an Uber), or for a fun adventure it’s a great way to get around, but keep in mind it is nowhere close to being like NYC’s subways so don’t expect it to be your main mode of transportation. Think of it as more of an experience to do while you’re visiting.

When you compare the cost to trying to take Ubers everywhere (including your time) the SunRail is considerably more economical! You can buy one-way (starting at $2 for one person) and round-trip (starting at $3.75 for one person) tickets day of at the stations, as well as reloadable SunCards (think of that like the reloadable MetroCards in NYC) — the SunCards (one-time cost of $5) are definitely the better way to go if you’re planning to take the SunRail more than once or twice.

Anywhere and everywhere else: rent a car

It may seem like a no brainer, but Orlando is a city you definitely need a car (as evidence by my experience with Uber above).

Normally, I tend to go for a smaller/economy vehicle because I’m just using it to get around town. But in the times we currently live in, having a bigger vehicle is something you will not regret. It can double as a place to chill out if you head to the beach, or a park for a picnic, or for a drive in movie. And with a trunk that is big enough to fit an entire mattress in it, you’ll be put right into that “van life” category (albeit in a little more style) by driving to all of your Orlando adventures in a GMC Yukon Denali (hosted rental).

Our Denali was an upgraded 2021 model so we were able to experience all of the bells and whistles, and it was massive inside! You did not feel cramped at all, the panoramic sunroof really opened up the interior to the light (it seriously was the biggest sunroof I have ever seen), and as I mentioned above, when you put the middle and back seats down, the trunk area is so big you could literally put a mattress in there and have a glamping experience.

I’m pretty sure it was the interior and smooth drive that convinced my sister to buy an SUV after moving here.

There were 14 speakers (Bose to be specific) which made our music sound amazing while cruising around. The display screen was touchscreen (which has pretty much ruined me for all other cars since I try to now touch their screens and nothing happens). Heated power seats (and even the second row seats are heated!), which made it perfect for my puppy to see out the window while he was sitting on my lap. And the center console was enormous! It slid back 10 inches, which is bigger than any other car I’ve ever seen.

In addition to all of this, the tech (including the safety tech) of the car was amazing, and even included a rear view camera mirror which could provide different views (vs the standard mirror we are all used to), and in total there were 9 different camera views you could switch between! There was even a camera view from the top down of the car (like an aerial view!). How the magic of that worked, my sister and I still cannot figure it out.

Now I’m not saying everyone needs to go out and buy the brand new Denali with the Ultimate Package, but these “amenities” are all something to seriously consider when renting a car during your travels.

BEST HOTELS TO STAY IN WHEN VISITING ORLANDO

One of the amazing things about visiting a city like Orlando is the opportunities are endless when it comes to finding the best hotel to stay in. No matter your budget, design style, itinerary plan, or amenity preference, you can be sure the city has got you covered.

As you know, because I am someone who likes to discover the hidden gems of a city I chose to base myself in the suburb of Winter Park for the majority of my stay. I had heard a lot about it and done ample research on the gram, and ended up finding out the area covered two of my main requirements: it is super Instagrammable and there are a ton of things to see and do.

The Alfond Inn (Winter Park)

Because I wanted to base myself in Winter Park (the hotel is 15 minutes from downtown and 30 minutes from Walt Disney World and Orlando International Airport), and it was the first time I was traveling with my puppy, The Alfond Inn (hosted stay) was the perfect place for us to stay. I am also a big fan of boutique hotels rather than chains so I knew immediately I would love The Alfond.

Not only is the architecture amazing, it gave me serious Southern California vibes, but the staff is amazingly friendly and helpful, the food is ah-maze-ing, the pool and grounds have all the Instagrammable vibes and the hotel actually cares about being a part of and giving back to the community.

When you first walk in you immediately notice the art all over the property. Which is another fun factoid about The Alfond, it’s an integrated art hotel! The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art is not only an impressive collection, it presents you with a unique and poignant point of view and lesson surrounding the times we live in and our social and cultural history. You can peruse the collection at your leisure during your stay, and the hotel even offers happy hour tours the 1st Wednesday of every month.

The collection is not only a massive bonus to staying at the hotel, and something you really should take some time to walk through, but you’ll also walk away from your stay actually learning something new.

In addition to the cool art, the hotel is actually owned by Rollins College, a private coeducational liberal arts college in the area, and puts all of its operating profits back into The Alfond Scholars program, the which provides scholarships for students.

Now on to the pool and the grounds! To say the pool is Instagrammable would be an understatement! But not only is it Instagrammable, it’s heated, so I actually swam around in it for a little bit.

Last but not least, the food! OH EM GEE the food. It was super delicious. The onsite restaurant is Hamilton’s Kitchen and we experienced breakfast, multiple dinners, happy hour and a multiple course Valentine’s menu. Every meal was more delicious than the next, and it’s one of my favorite (dog-friendly) happy hours in the area.

Don’t forget, the hotel is dog-friendly! This was the main reason we knew we needed to stay at this hotel (vibes + puppy friendly). And one of the best things about their dog policy, which is completely opposite from most of the hotels I have found through my research, is that they don’t have a size restriction! The pet fee is $50 per night (which is common), and they even provided my puppy with a welcome basket: including washcloth toy, treats, bowls and a mat. The hotel is also so dog friendly he could literally walk around the entire hotel, join us for happy hour in the bar area, and came to all of our meals with us (out on the patio). Brodie definitely loves The Alfond – I’m pretty sure it’s his favorite place.

Grand Bohemian Hotel (Downtown)

The way our schedule worked out we ended up staying in Downtown Orlando for one night, and chose the Grand Bohemian Hotel due to the fact it was walking distance to Lake Eola and the two coffee shops I had on my list (Deeply Coffee and Craft & Common), and it’s pet friendly.

In full disclosure I would not stay in this hotel again. Not because it wasn’t nice, because it definitely was. The décor was interesting, the pool was really pretty, and the fact that it’s pet friendly is a bonus. The reason I would not stay here again is because we visited during the pandemic and the hotel seemed to have very lax protocols put in place: aka they had full on hotel parties for Valentine’s Day the entire weekend we stayed, I saw numerous people without masks, the noise (at midnight, 1am, 2am, etc.) was unbearable, and there was zero social distancing. That to me, says a lot about what the hotel cares about.

When you’re looking to stay in other areas of Orlando

A great way to help you plan your trip, because you can filter out exactly what you are looking for so the headache of researching for hours or days on end is eliminated, is by looking through third party booking websites first. Many times I have actually found hotels I didn’t even know existed from a simple Google search just by going to hotels.com, so even in the planning (pre-booking) stages it can be super helpful!

As you can see, there is so much to do in Orlando outside of the theme parks! Let me know if I hit all the spots you would want to see or if I missed something that should be included in the comments. There is so much to do in this area, I can’t wait to get out and explore even more of this city, and I’m sure I will be adding to this blog post in the future.

Orlando is perfect to do on its own or as part of a larger and longer trip to Central Florida (think St. Petersburg, St. Augustine, etc.).