Orlando, Florida Attractions

Unusual landmarks, museums, roadside attractions, and hidden wonders in Orlando and the surrounding area.

This city would be a big land-locked nothing -- not even much of a city -- were it not for the sucking draw of Disney, Sea World, and Universal Studios. Every other attraction within 25 miles battles for the spare half-day of glassy-eyed theme park escapees, while offering a rich bed of swampy Florida muck for you.

Popular in-town ticking-clock attractions recreate the last days of an ocean liner and Jesus, while veteran draws like the Walk of Fame and the Cypress Methuselah suggest that there were tourists here long before The Mouse arrived.

Even more oddball thrills can be found in the towns surrounding Orlando, with a Citrus Tower to the west and a giant alligator to the east. Kissimmee -- a sprawling haven of opportunistic dinner theaters and garish gift complexes -- hosts the majestic (for Florida) Monument of States, and is home to Gatorland, which has some of the best reptile wrasslin' shows in the state.

Sights for Oddball Excursions

Gatorland
Kissimmee, Florida
The world's slickest, most entertaining alligator attraction. Wresting shows, Jumparoo feeding shows, a "Screaming' Gator" zip line over the pits...
Swampy: World's Largest Alligator
Christmas, Florida
A 200-foot-long alligator-shaped building named "Swampy" serves as the entrance to a gator farm attraction.
Monument of States
Kissimmee, Florida
A towering monument assembled after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor using rocks from every state. All 48 of 'em.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Orlando, Florida
Orlando's tourist attraction tribute to the doomed ocean liner. 17 galleries; guided tours led by actors; and "Little Big Piece," a three-ton section of the ship's hull.
Chocolate Landmarks: Mount Rushmore
Orlando, Florida
Also Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, a Dutch windmill, an Aztec pyramid, the Statue of Liberty, two Easter Island heads, and the Taj Mahal (in white chocolate). All considerably smaller than full-size, but still impressive.