Fort Myers and Orlando: Sunshine State Surprises: Capybaras, Rockets, and Unexpected Roadside Stops: September 7–14, 2025
📌 Table of Contents
- September 7: Delayed Takeoff & Wawa Wins
- September 8: Needles & Good News
- September 9: Forgotten Graves, Capone’s Vault & Ice Cream Rewards
- September 10: Capybaras, Gators & Dinosaurs
- September 11: Rockets, Moon Rocks & a SpaceX Surprise
- September 12: LEGOLAND, Epic McDonald’s & Scottish Beer
- September 13: Capybara Dreams & Medieval Nightmares
- September 14: Art, Arcades & One Last Florida Adventure
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Quick Summary
This day was all about offbeat Orlando: themed eats, space history, LEGOLAND fun, capybaras, creepy museums, historic ruins, and a mini art-hopping finale before the flight home.
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For once, we actually had a daytime flight. Victory!
Our flight left at approximately 10:30 AM, so we headed to the airport, checked our bags, and made it through security without any issues. Once we boarded the plane, we settled in… only to learn we were 17th in line for takeoff. So we waited. And waited.
About an hour after our scheduled departure, we finally lifted off.
We arrived at Orlando International Airport (MCO) about 30 minutes late. I waited at baggage claim while the boyfriend went to pick up the rental car. We rented through Thrifty, and they were impressively efficient. He had the keys to the car before my bag even came out on the carousel.
Our rental was a hybrid loaded with all the whistles, which ended up being a great choice. We opted to return the car empty, and even with that option we only spent about $50 total on gas for the entire trip, making the small price increase well worth it.
Once we hit the road, we made our first stop for dinner at Wawa.
I had heard about Wawa on multiple social media sites and had been curious to try their fresh food made in-store. We both ordered sandwiches, grabbed a few supplies for the following day, and ate in the car. I’m happy to report that Wawa absolutely lived up to the hype.
After dinner, we continued the drive to Fort Myers, arriving at the Hyatt Place Fort Myers around 11 PM. The check-in process was incredibly quick. Within about three minutes, I had the room key in hand.
I got ready for bed as fast as possible and promptly passed out.
September 7: Delayed Takeoff & Wawa Wins
The next morning started early.
I had an appointment at Caring Medical Center, so we grabbed breakfast at the hotel at 6:30 AM and left around 7:10 AM to head to the clinic.
At the appointment, I had retesting done and then met with Dr. Hauser for my consultation. Thankfully, the news was encouraging. The ligaments in my neck are almost back to normal, and we don’t need to return for treatment anytime soon. I just need to get an X-ray in 2–3 months to check my cervical curve and continue working on my home exercise program to keep improving the alignment.
This may actually be our last trip to Florida for treatment.
Naturally, that means we decided we’re going to go big with the rest of the trip.
After the consultation, I had my neck injections. Thankfully, they were much less painful this time since they weren’t combined with the lower back injections like before.
Once everything was finished, we headed back to the hotel. Since my neck was pretty swollen and chewing can be difficult right after injections, the boyfriend picked up McAlister’s for lunch. I stuck with soup and half of a baked potato, which was perfect.
The rest of the day was intentionally low-key. I spent most of it napping, watching TV, and working on my blog while recovering from the injections.
For dinner, we kept things simple with McDonald’s and then turned in early for the night.
September 8: Needles & Good News
We woke up and headed down for breakfast before starting the day. We were staying one more night in Fort Myers, so we had time to explore a few spots in the surrounding area.
Our first stop was the Immokalee Pioneer Museum, located on Robert’s Ranch. Admission is free and the museum includes an indoor exhibit with artifacts and information about the history of the area. The Roberts family was one of the first four families to start the First Baptist congregation in the area in 1916. They originally met on Sundays in a schoolhouse located on the property until a church was built in 1928.
Outside, the property includes several preserved historic buildings that visitors can walk around and look into. Each structure has informational descriptions explaining its original use, including a horse barn, cane boiler, bunkhouse, maid’s house, smokehouse, and more.
Overall, the museum is well maintained and somewhat informative. Since it’s free, it’s hard to complain, and the ladies working inside were incredibly friendly and enthusiastic about sharing the history of the property.
September 9: Forgotten Graves, Capone’s Vault & Ice Cream Rewards
Our next stop was a bit unusual and located in what looks like a random parking lot. Hidden there is a small historic gravesite from a long-forgotten church. The tombstones are barely legible, but a few dates can still be made out, including 1900, 1922, and 1927.
It’s a very quick stop and a little tricky to find.
Tip: Pull into the lot and look for the grassy median area in the middle. The tombstones are located there, even though at first glance it just looks like a strip of grass dividing the parking area.
After that, we attempted to visit a Mother Teresa museum, but it was located on a busy campus and parking proved difficult to find. While driving around, however, we passed a massive, ornate, yet very modern-looking church: Ave Maria Catholic Parish Church.
We decided to park nearby to take a closer look. Unfortunately, the inside was locked, so we could only admire the exterior. One of the most impressive features is the Annunciation Sculpture, which depicts the moment when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The sculpture is made from 54 tons of marble and is incredibly impressive to see in person.
Next, we stopped at Harns Marsh, but it was extremely hot with very little shade and didn’t look quite interesting enough to explore further. That said, there were several turkey vultures hanging out in the parking lot, which we watched for a while. They appeared to be attempting to eat a piece of rubber from a tire, which was both confusing and oddly entertaining.
We rounded out the afternoon with lunch at Capone’s, located in downtown Fort Myers. The restaurant has a very obvious theme: Al Capone.
They had a $19 lunch special that included an appetizer and main course. We ordered meatballs, garlic bread, baked ziti, and sausage with peppers. The food was good and honestly way too much, so we ended up having dinner from the leftovers later that evening.
So why did we pick this restaurant?
Well, during renovations they discovered a secret vault under the building that is now covered by a large piece of glass so guests can see it. The building previously operated as a bank, and since Al Capone lived in Miami but spent significant time in Fort Myers, there’s speculation that the vault may have been connected to him. Whether that’s true or not, it’s certainly an interesting quirk that drew me in.
After lunch, we stopped at The Love Boat for some homemade ice cream. I ordered a double scoop of oatmeal sandwich cookies and salted caramel pecan, and it was soooo good. Both flavors even included oatmeal cookie bits and pecans, which made them even better. Two double scoops cost about $13.50.
After that sweet stop, we headed back to the hotel, relaxed for a bit, and reheated our leftovers for dinner.
We started the morning with the free breakfast at the hotel before getting on the road toward Orlando.
Our first stop along the way was Jungle Dora’s Wildlife Park. When we first pulled in, we didn’t immediately see the main building and accidentally drove past a group of barnyard animals before eventually reaching an airboat tour area. At first we thought we might have gone the wrong direction, so we turned around and backtracked. That’s when we finally spotted the sign for Jungle Dora’s.
Curious, we decided to stop and check it out.
Inside was a large, modern gift shop, and we paid the $8 admission fee before heading outside to explore the sanctuary area behind the building. The space included a variety of animals such as lizards, turtles, alligators, and the true stars of the show: capybaras.
We wandered around the sanctuary and even got to interact with some of the animals. We happened to arrive right at feeding time, so we were able to watch the staff feed several of them.
The staff really made the experience special. They were attentive, eager to answer questions, and happy to share interesting facts about the animals. One staff member even allowed us to watch her feed baby alligators and then let us hold one, which was a really fun surprise.
The sanctuary itself was great, but the staff made the visit even better.
The gift shop sells a variety of shirts, stuffed animals, and small souvenirs, along with snacks and drinks that are perfect if you’re continuing a road trip.
This stop ended up being well worth the time and the modest $8 fee. They also offer animal encounter add-ons, so it’s worth asking about those if you visit. For example, the capybara encounter costs $30 and includes feeding them.
During our visit, the grounds were still quite wet from recent rain, so I’d recommend wearing flip-flops or waterproof shoes.
September 10: Capybaras, Gators & Dinosaurs
Our next stop was the Saint Anne Shrine, which was built in 1920 by French-Canadian Catholics. The site also once included a white chapel. The shrine was de-sanctified by the Catholic Church in the 1960s, and many of the original buildings were removed. It sits along Lake Wales and is a quick detour, as not much of the original structure remains today.
Continuing down the road, we needed a quick bathroom stop, which led us to Webb’s Candy Store along Highway 27, attached to a Dunkin’ Donuts.
The store had some very friendly ladies working there and offers traditional handmade chocolate candies, along with boxes of assorted chocolates. They also sell citrus chewy candies, goat milk fudge, fruit wines, and various gift items.
From there, we continued on to Disney Springs.
We parked in the Lime parking area, which worked out well. After parking, you walk through security before entering the main shopping and entertainment district. The architecture throughout the area is very ornate and almost transports you to different countries.
There are numerous shops and restaurants, but we had a specific destination in mind: T-Rex Café.
I’m a sucker for a good themed restaurant, and this one absolutely delivered. The theme starts outside and continues throughout the entire restaurant. Inside you’ll find moving dinosaur statues, jungle scenery, and periodic meteor showers, complete with flashing lights and animal sound effects.
The food was also pretty good, although definitely a bit overpriced. I ordered a three-seafood special that included coconut shrimp, crab and shrimp au gratin, and tilapia. It was very heavy on garlic but still delicious.
Disney Springs also has a LEGO store with some really cool sculptures outside featuring Frozen characters, Star Wars figures, dragons, and more.
After exploring the area, we headed to our hotel for the next few nights: the Marriott Courtyard on International Drive. It’s located in a busy tourist area, so it was easy to find.
The room was spacious, with a king-size bed, a round couch with an ottoman, and a desk. Overall, I was very happy with the room.
We did have one day where hot water was an issue, though thankfully it was temporary. The next day it was working better… but I’ll admit, that cold shower was not fun.
We skipped dinner that night and went to bed at a decent hour.
We woke up extra early and grabbed breakfast down the street at Burger King before beginning the hour-long drive to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. My boyfriend was especially excited for this stop and wanted to arrive before it even opened.
The parking lot opens 30 minutes prior to opening, and parking costs $15. Once we arrived, we used the restrooms located outside the paid entrance area and waited for the gates to open. When the park opened, we passed through metal detectors and scanned our tickets to enter.
We had already pre-purchased our tickets using a GovX discount, but there are kiosks onsite if you need to buy tickets there.
Why Visit Kennedy Space Center?
Located on Florida’s Space Coast, the Kennedy Space Center is one of the most inspiring destinations in the United States. It blends history, science, and interactive exhibits in a way that makes space exploration feel incredibly real. It’s not just a museum. It’s the heart of America’s space program, where the Apollo, Space Shuttle, and modern Artemis missions launched.
🌟 Top Highlights
• Space Shuttle Atlantis – Visitors can stand nose-to-nose with the real shuttle displayed as if it were floating in orbit. The exhibit also includes interactive simulators like the Shuttle Launch Experience.
• Apollo/Saturn V Center – Walk beneath a 363-foot Saturn V rocket, the same type that carried astronauts to the Moon. The recreated launch control room and moon rock displays really bring the Apollo era to life.
• Heroes & Legends – A tribute to pioneering astronauts located in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, featuring immersive storytelling and artifacts from the Mercury and Gemini programs.
• Rocket Garden – A collection of towering rockets from different eras of space exploration that visitors can walk among and photograph.
• Astronaut Encounters – Live Q&A sessions with real NASA astronauts sharing their experiences.
• Artemis & Mars Exhibits – Learn about NASA’s future missions, including plans to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
📝 Tips for Visitors
• Plan for a full day (6–8 hours) if you want to see most of the exhibits.
• The bus tour is included with admission and is the only way to reach the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
• Arrive early, as lines for simulators and tours can grow quickly.
• Check the launch calendar. If you’re lucky, you may see a SpaceX or NASA launch during your visit.
🎟️ Admission Snapshot (2025)
Adults: about $75
Kids (3–11): about $65
Parking: about $15 per car
Prices may change, so always confirm on the official website before visiting.
September 11: Rockets, Moon Rocks & a SpaceX Surprise
Once inside the complex, we headed straight toward the bus tour line, although buses don’t begin running until 9:30 AM (the park opens at 9 AM). While waiting, we spent some time browsing the gift shop located near the bus area.
Employees told us not to worry about standing in line early since they run many buses throughout the day and it’s usually easy to get on one.
Just before 9:30, we joined the line. Guests take a photo before boarding, which was actually the main reason for the short wait. From there, we were directed onto a bus within about five minutes.
The bus tour works by dropping visitors off at different stops. You can explore each area as long as you want and then join the line for the next bus when you’re ready to move on.
There are two stops on the tour:
• Gantry at LC-39
• Launch Pad 39-A
Altogether, it took us about 2.5 to 3 hours to explore both stops.
We also grabbed lunch at the Moon Rock Café at the second stop. The food was decent and reasonably priced for a tourist attraction. We spent about $30–35 for two people, which included a hot sandwich, fries, and a drink.
Our visit happened to coincide with a unique moment. A used rocket was being transported back to SpaceX, which temporarily shut down the roadway. This left us stranded at the first bus stop for several minutes, but it also meant we got an up-close look as the rocket rolled right past us.
Back at the main visitor complex, we explored the Rocket Garden, the Space Shuttle Atlantis building, Gateway, Journey to Mars, and another gift shop.
The gift shop at the main complex is quite large, though there are additional gift shops at each bus stop as well. They sell all kinds of NASA and space-themed merchandise, including collaborations with well-known brands for higher-quality items.
The visitor complex also includes several rides and interactive experiences, making it a very hands-on and kid-friendly destination.
We ended up leaving around 3:00 PM, stopping at Wawa for a quick caffeine fix before making the hour drive back to the hotel.
After relaxing for a bit, we decided to head out again and visit the Orlando International Premium Outlets. We walked around the shopping area and grabbed dinner from the food court, where we shared a poke bowl and pepperoni pizza bites.
Afterward, we returned to the hotel, relaxed for a bit, and called it a night.
I had found some great discounted tickets to LEGOLAND directly on their website for about $60 per person.
The park doesn’t open until 10 AM, and since we had about an hour drive to Winter Haven, we left the hotel just before 9 AM.
On the way, we made a stop at the World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s, also known as “Epic McD.”
This massive two-story building covers 19,000 square feet and features multiple ordering kiosks along with menu items you won’t find at most McDonald’s locations. They offer brick oven pizzas, gourmet waffles, a dessert counter, and more.
Interestingly, they still carry my favorite breakfast item: the egg, cheese, and bacon bagel sandwich, so that’s exactly what I ordered.
The second floor includes additional seating, an old-school kids playground, and an arcade area. Even if just for the nostalgia of that breakfast bagel, I’m glad we stopped.
September 12: LEGOLAND, Epic McDonald’s & Scottish Beer
The drive to Winter Haven was otherwise uneventful.
When we arrived at LEGOLAND, standard parking was $35. However, since they were doing work on the parking lot that day, we received a free upgrade to the close parking area, which normally costs $55.
After parking, we walked through a metal detector and scanned our tickets to enter the park.
What You’ll Find at LEGOLAND
• LEGO-Themed Lands – Areas such as LEGO Kingdoms, LEGO NINJAGO World, LEGO Technic, LEGO City, and MINILAND USA, where famous U.S. landmarks are recreated using millions of LEGO bricks.
• Thrill & Family Rides – Kid-friendly roller coasters like The Dragon, along with driving schools, boating experiences, and interactive rides.
• Water Park – A seasonal add-on featuring a wave pool, lazy river where you can build your own LEGO raft, tube slides, and splash areas.
• Shows & 4D Movies – Live entertainment and rotating LEGO films combining humor and action.
• Botanical Gardens – A peaceful walking area that preserves part of the historic Cypress Gardens, including towering Southern cypress trees.
• On-Site Hotels – Themed accommodations such as the LEGOLAND Hotel and Pirate Island Hotel, located right at the entrance.
During our visit, quite a few rides were unfortunately closed due to “technical issues.” Staff mentioned we could potentially visit guest services for return passes through the LEGOLAND Satisfaction Promise.
The main gift shop was also closed for renovations, scheduled to reopen on September 19, 2025, so we didn’t get to see that either.
Even so, the park still had plenty to enjoy. Many of the rides are designed for kids, but the LEGO sculptures throughout the park were incredibly impressive, which I really enjoyed.
We rode the safari ride and the wooden dinosaur roller coaster, and spent time walking around the entire park.
For lunch we ate at The Dragon’s Den, where we ordered a 12-inch hot dog and bratwurst.
They also sell souvenir refill cups for $21, which allow unlimited refills at multiple freestyle drink stations throughout the park. While $21 feels ridiculous at first, it actually ended up being comparable to what we would have spent on drinks anyway, and it saved time waiting in lines.
Overall, we had a really good day. The crowds were small, and we could have walked onto nearly every ride if we wanted. The weather cooperated as well. We only had a small drizzle, but the overcast skies kept the temperature comfortable and the park itself offers a lot of shade.
They also had Halloween decorations up around the park, which I loved.
After leaving LEGOLAND, we stopped at Grove Roots Brewing Company in Winter Haven. The brewery has a glass wall behind the bar that lets visitors see directly into the brewing area where the beer is made onsite.
The beer was very good. My favorite was their Scottish Ale. I ordered a cider as well, which was actually a guest tap from Blake’s, but I appreciated that they had a cider option available.
On the way back, we opted for another Wawa dinner since we didn’t feel like spending much and still had an hour drive back to the hotel.
I ordered basically the same thing as before: a turkey and cheddar hoagie on wheat and an Oreo s’mores shake.
It rained for most of the drive, so once we got back to the hotel we just relaxed for a bit before heading to bed.
We started the morning with another stop for my breakfast bagel sandwich, then hit the road toward St. Augustine. The main objective of the day was clear: the Capybara Café.
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche (Mission Nombre de Dios)
Our first stop was the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios. This site was claimed in 1565 for Spain, and Our Lady of La Leche is documented around 1609.
The original chapel was destroyed over time and eventually rebuilt in 1875. The current ivy-covered church was constructed sometime between 1914–1915, and it became a national shrine in 2019.
The property is located near the water and is beautifully manicured. There are also gravestones in the cemetery on the grounds, which gives the whole place a quiet, historical feel.
September 13: Capybara Dreams & Medieval Nightmares
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
From there, we headed into historic downtown and found a paid parking spot. We walked to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, where the parish was founded in 1565 by the Spanish. This is where the first Mass was held in what is now considered the continental U.S.
Over the next several hundred years, churches were built and destroyed repeatedly due to fire, decay, and conflict. A more permanent church was completed in 1797, and it was elevated to a cathedral in 1870. The interior was later destroyed by fire but has since been renovated.
Admission is free, and the inside is intricately decorated.
Peace, Love and Little Donuts (Caffeine + Restroom Strategy)
We needed a restroom, so we stopped at Peace, Love and Little Donuts of St. Augustine for a quick sweet treat and caffeine fix. Their restrooms are only accessible after purchase, so we grabbed mini donuts.
They sell mini donuts with different flavors and toppings. They weren’t mind-blowing (Pinkbox, I’m looking at you), but they definitely hit the spot.
Capybara Café
As our pre-booked time slot approached, we headed to the real reason we were in St. Augustine: Capybara Café.
It costs $50 for 30 minutes.
We arrived and waited in the “café” area first, where they have guinea pigs and a rabbit you can pet. Then they take guests into small rooms in groups of about 10 people.
In our room, we had three five-month-old capybaras.
Our host gave us kale, and the capybaras came right up to eat out of our hands. That’s also when you can pet them. The capybaras were named after beans, and Pinto was our favorite. Pinto even rolled over for my boyfriend and clearly loved the belly rubs. Later, he jumped up on the bench behind us and just hung out for a few minutes.
While we fed and petted them, the host explained how he acquired them and how to care for them. These capybaras belong to a sanctuary and were rescued.
It was a glorious 30 minutes, and my boyfriend, who is from the capital of wild capybaras, got to touch his first one. His city literally has them all around town. Check my instagram for the whole reel of this whole experience.
Jack’s BBQ and Brewery
At that point we were hungry, so we headed to Jack’s BBQ and Brewery.
This place has a lot going on: a tiki bar onsite, an active brewery, and even a pool available to patrons. There’s also an interesting story about the pool, so make sure you ask when you go.
We went straight to the brewery area. I ordered a black cherry cider, and the boyfriend got a flight. The cider was amazing.
We ordered BBQ too: a turkey sandwich on Texas toast and a pastrami sandwich. Both were fantastic. Our bartender, Amy, was incredible and engaging, and I’d highly recommend stopping here if you’re in St. Augustine.
St. George Street + Medieval Torture Museum
After lunch, we headed back downtown, and the foot traffic had really picked up. We parked again and walked down St. George Street, which is pedestrian-only.
There are tons of shops and restaurants, but we had a specific destination: the Medieval Torture Museum.
This museum focuses on torture, punishment, and execution methods from medieval times and other eras. Displays include the rack, iron maiden, torture chair, Spanish boot, pillory, barrel for drunkards, scales for determining witch status, and more.
The 100+ items are replicas or recreations, but they’re life-size and historically accurate. The museum is part of a chain with locations in Chicago and LA, and admission includes an audio guide for your phone.
I found tickets for $21 through GetYourGuide.com, which was cheaper than the in-person rate.
It was interesting, but definitely dark and not for everyone. They also use wax figures to show how the devices worked, which makes it feel even more intense. I personally found it fascinating. Not because I’m twisted, but because I think we need to know what we’ve done in order to be better.
With the growing crowd downtown, we decided to head out of town and keep moving.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Next up was Fort Matanzas National Monument.
It’s free, with a decent-sized parking lot and restrooms. There’s also a nature trail and an old building on the mainland site.
They offer free ferries to the monument, and they typically run most hours on the half-hour. You still need to sign up and get a ticket even though it’s free, and staff inside the mainland building can help with that.
Unfortunately, many ferry trips were canceled that day, and we didn’t want to wait 30 minutes just to possibly get canceled again, so we moved on.
Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park
Our next stop was Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, established in 1821 on 4,675 acres.
Slaves were used to clear the fields for crops and sugar cane, and the plantation became one of the most profitable. During the Seminole Wars, it was abandoned in 1836 and burned shortly after.
The biggest ruins onsite are the sugar mill and a spring mill.
It’s located off a narrow dirt road and has a big parking lot. You can either walk to the ruins (about ¼ mile) or drive a small loop that has parking right near the ruins. We didn’t realize driving was an option, so we parked and walked.
I like ruins because they feel like a place paused in time. This one has a truly awful history due to slavery, so it’s definitely a darker artifact of history. It’s in disrepair but still has informative signs.
Rain Wall + DeLand Brewery Stop
Shortly after leaving, we got trapped in a literal wall of rain. It was impossible to drive the speed limit, and traffic slowed down significantly.
We stopped in DeLand at HyderHead Brewery Inc. I had an elderberry cider, and the boyfriend got a flight. It’s a Scottish-influenced brewery, and we also ordered a Bavarian pretzel and haggis for dinner. Both were good.
Once it dried out a bit, we continued back to the hotel and relaxed for the remainder of the night.
We had a 7 PM flight, but we still had most of the day to explore. We decided to keep this day cheap, but since it was Sunday, we ended up hanging at the hotel until 10:45 AM because our first stop didn’t open until 11.
Dezerland Park Orlando: Car Museum, Arcade & Indoor Attractions
Our first stop was Dezerland, an 850,000-square-foot space opened by real estate developer Michael Dezer. It was previously a mall, but now it’s used for entertainment and massive car displays.
There are antique cars lining the walkways that are free to see, and there’s also a paid car museum inside (about $30 per person). The building also includes a go-kart track for kids and adults, pool tables, an arcade, axe throwing, and fast food.
We decided to try the arcade and loaded a card for $15 plus a $2 activation fee before even testing the machines.
Each game cost over $1 per play, and some were $2+. A lot of the games were out of order or not working. We played a few since we already bought credits, but I was disappointed by the small number of working games and the outrageous pricing.
We managed to spend all but $0.01, but it was frustrating because some of the prices weren’t even numbers, making it annoyingly difficult to fully use the amount you loaded.
On the bright side, it’s free to enter Dezerland, but basically nothing else is free once you’re inside.
September 14: Art, Arcades & One Last Florida Adventure
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens (Winter Park Art Stop)
Next we went to the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, and we arrived on a perfect day.
They were celebrating Czech heritage, so admission was free, and they also offered free snacks and free tours. We wandered through the art gallery and enjoyed a lovely mosaic display, then headed outside for a Czech snack and explored the sculpture garden.
They even had a Czech sculpture scavenger hunt, which was fun, and the garden itself was beautifully maintained with many impressive statues.
The Ravenous Pig– Popular Winter Park Gastropub
After that we stopped at The Ravenous Pig, a bougie gastropub-style restaurant with a brewery. It was pretty busy, but they had a large parking lot.– Popular Winter Park Gastropub
We ordered a chicken cordon bleu sandwich and a Dutch baby (a fluffy pancake topped with huckleberry, lemon cream, and ricotta). The service was excellent.
Since we were dressed in uber casual clothes for the flight later, I did feel a bit underdressed for this place. The bar area seemed more casual, but we only noticed that as we were leaving and used the restroom.
Rollins Museum of Art at Rollins College (Free Winter Park Museum)
Next we backtracked slightly to the Rollins Museum of Art on Rollins University’s campus.
Admission is free, and there’s limited parking out front. It was full at first, but when we passed through a second time we got lucky and found a space.
They had some interesting art on display, including a Picasso.
Mennello Museum of American Art in Orlando
Afterward, we headed to the Mennello Museum of American Art, and once again we lucked out with timing. It was the second Sunday of the month, when a local credit union sponsors free admission.
They had a rotating pool party exhibit that I found underwhelming, but there were some interesting pieces in the permanent section, including a large driftwood horse.
I can’t complain too much since it was free, but this was my least favorite museum of the day. If I were doing it again, I’d skip this one and choose another museum (admission is typically $8).
Orlando International Airport Art Exhibits Before Our Flight
Since we only had a little time left before our targeted airport arrival time, we decided to head to the airport next.
We walked around the airport, which actually has a lot of art exhibits throughout, including a small room with art on the walls. After that, we passed through security and waited for our flight home.
🗺️ Orlando Trip Map
✨ Trip Summary — Orlando & Space Coast
This part of the trip blended space exploration, quirky animal encounters, and classic Florida roadside stops. Between interactive museums, wildlife sanctuaries, and theme restaurants, Orlando delivered a mix of big attractions and unexpected discoveries. From holding a baby alligator to petting capybaras and standing beneath massive Saturn V rockets, the days were packed with memorable experiences.
Highlights included:
- Kennedy Space Center — standing beneath the Saturn V rocket and seeing the Space Shuttle Atlantis 🚀
- Capybara Café in St. Augustine — feeding and petting rescued capybaras 🐹
- Jungle Dora’s Wildlife Park — interacting with animals and holding a baby alligator 🐊
- Exploring Disney Springs and dining inside the dinosaur-filled T-Rex Café 🦖
- Walking through LEGOLAND’s detailed miniature cities and Lego sculptures 🧱
- Road trip surprises like Webb’s Candy Shop and the massive “Epic McD” 🍬
- Historic stops in St. Augustine including the Cathedral Basilica and Mission Nombre de Dios ⛪
- Breweries and casual food stops that made the long driving days easier 🍻
💡 Tips for Orlando & Central Florida
🌦️ Weather & Packing
- Expect heat, humidity, and sudden afternoon rain showers.
- Comfortable walking shoes are essential for theme parks and large attractions.
- Lightweight clothing and sunscreen will make long outdoor days much easier.
🚗 Driving & Getting Around
- Plan extra driving time — Orlando traffic can be heavy around theme parks and outlets.
- Parking fees at major attractions can range from $15–$35.
- A rental car is the easiest way to explore beyond the main tourist areas.
🎟️ Attractions & Planning
- Arrive early at the Kennedy Space Center if you want time for the bus tour and exhibits.
- Book experiences like the Capybara Café in advance — spots fill quickly.
- Some smaller wildlife parks and roadside attractions are hidden gems worth stopping for.
🍽️ Food Strategy
- Theme park food can be expensive, so mix in casual stops like Wawa or local spots.
- Disney Springs has fun themed restaurants like the T-Rex Café if you enjoy immersive dining.
- Breweries and local eateries outside the main tourist zones often have better prices and shorter waits.