Fun options: 21 awesome Orlando attractions outside of Disney and Universal
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Magical Midway Thrill Park7001 International Drive, 407-370-5353, magicalmidway.comElevated wooden go-kart tracks, a ginormous slingshot ride, bumper cars and boats, a carousel and an arcade, all in one plaza right on I-Drive.
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Gatorland14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail , 407-855-5496, gatorland.comGatorland is a roadside attraction turned eco-preserve. The flesh-eating beasts roam (almost) free, along with many more scary things.
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Flickr user pgoldman
Orlando Science Center777 E. Princeton St., 407-514-2000, osc.orgHow can you not love a museum that's home to SimMan, a life-sized simulated sick person whose vital signs you can follow until he flatlines? The science center also has Florida's largest refractor telescope and all sorts of hands-on learning experiences that'll appeal to kids and adults alike.
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Expedia
Ripley's Believe It or Not!8201 International Drive , 407-354-0501, orlando.ripleys.comYou've probably seen Ripley's Believe It or Not "odditoriums" at pretty much every tourist trap you've ever visited. This one is home to a full-sized car made out of matchsticks, a portrait of Beyoncé made out of candy and an actual human shrunken head, all housed inside a building that looks like it's falling into a sinkhole.
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Today's Orlando
Fun Spot America5700 Fun Spot Way, 407-363-3867, fun-spot.comGo-karts, bumper boats, carousels, slides, an arcade and an awesome wooden rollercoaster make this park worth checking out. Pay by the ride or buy an armband for unlimited fun.
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Willie Allen, Jr. on Flickr
Kennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexState Road 405 east of Titusville, 321-449-4444 , kennedyspacecenter.comSpace junkies, this complex is worth the drive to Titusville: Take guided tours of launch areas, see historic rockets, ride the Shuttle Launch Experience and see the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
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Orlando Sentinel
WhirlyDome6464 International Drive, 407-212-3030, whirlydome.comPlay a game that's a combination of hockey, jai alai, basketball and bumper cars at this unusual I-Drive attraction. There's also an arcade, lazer tag, lazer frenzy, a restaurant and bowling, which makes it the perfect one-stop attraction for days when it's too rainy to take in the parks.
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WonderWorks9067 International Drive, 407-351-8800, wonderworksonline.comHoused in an upside-down building, this attraction has high-tech effects that simulate earthquakes, hurricanes and a hang-gliding experience; plus indoor zip lines, a 4-D theater ride and more.
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Today's Orlando
I-Drive 360 Entertainment Complex8445 International Drive, 407-601-7907, i-drive360.comThey say that on a clear day, you'll be able to see the Kennedy Space Center from the top of the Orlando Eye, a 400-foot-tall observation wheel that's the centerpiece of the newest of I-Drive's entertainment destinations. Catch the breathtaking view, then check out one of the other attractions: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the Sea Life Aquarium or the Skeletons museum. The complex is scheduled to open on May 4, 2015.
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