Best Things to Do on Orlando’s International Drive

Theme parks aren’t the only attractions in Orlando. International Drive is a one-stop-shop for entertainment, with rides, museums, golf courses and shops. So, if you want a break from the parks and some more budget-friendly attractions, this is the place. Here’s our guide to the best things to do on International Drive… 

International Drive, or I-Drive to locals, is basically Orlando’s answer to a ‘strip’. It’s a go-to spot for wining, dining, shopping and playing. At over 11 miles long, there’s a lot of ground to cover and things to see and do. What’s more, it’s in a best-of-both-worlds spot, so you’re only a few minutes’ drive from Universal and 15 minutes from Disney.  

The I-Ride Trolley makes it easy to get about on International Drive, stopping all the way along. Plus, when you book with Ocean Florida, we throw in a load of freebies, so you can make the most of I-Drive’s family-friendly sights and attractions. Our Choose Your Explorer package gives you five free experiences worth up to $549, including I-Ride Trolley tickets for 7 days. 
 

Admire the views from The Orlando Eye 

Take your holiday to new heights with a trip on The Orlando Eye at ICON Park. Orlando’s equivalent to the London Eye stands tall at 400 feet. It’s decorated with 64,000 colour-changing LEDs, so you can expect super cool light shows. And there’s air-con in every pod, meaning you can take in the 360-degree views in comfort. What’s more, your visit to ICON Park doesn’t have to end there. You can snap selfies with Superman at Madame Tussauds, or meet rescued turtles at Sea Life. 


 

Experience the weird and wonderful at WonderWorks 

You only have to take one look at WonderWorks to know it’s going to be fun. This amusement park-meets-museum looks like an upside-down house from the outside. Inside, there are different themed zones, from extreme weather to physical challenge and space. To give you an idea – you can lie on a bed of nails, experience a hurricane or zero gravity, and make life-sized bubbles. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a glow-in-the-dark ropes course, laser tag and a 4D cinema to check out.  
 

Journey back in time at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition 

You probably didn’t think you could step aboard the Titanic in Orlando. Well, you’d be wrong. This museum whisks you back to 1912 with re-creations of the ship and its rooms, costumed actors and over 300 artifacts. You’ll be welcomed on board as a passenger, with your very own replica boarding pass. Highlights include touching an iceberg the same temperature as the sea on that ill-fated night, or seeing a 2-tonne section of the ship’s hull – the largest piece ever recovered. 
 

Shop ‘til you drop in the outlets 

I-Drive isn’t just about attractions, the shopping’s top-notch, too. ICON Park and Pointe Orlando pack in a load of shops alongside their family-friendly experiences, restaurants and bars. And, if you like designer goods without the hefty price tag, you’ll be in heaven. There are outlets galore. The biggest and best is Orlando International Premium Outlets®. Here, you can shop in over 180 stores, snapping up gear from Adidas to Armani, or Ted Baker to Tory Burch.  


 

Ride a wooden rollercoaster at Fun Spot America  

This place is a cross between a theme park and a good old-fashioned British fairground. As well as the bigger rides and Orlando’s only wooden rollercoaster, you can look forward to a fun house, dodgems, an arcade, go-karting and a multi-lane slide. There are smaller rides for toddlers, too, like the tea cups and spinning swings. It’s the budget-friendly alternative to Disney on I-Drive – you can pay as you ride, or get a day pass for under $60.  
 

Head for some indoor fun at Dezerland Park 

When the Floridian heat gets too much, Dezerland Park’s the remedy. This 800,000 square-foot indoor amusement park is the perfect place to retreat for an afternoon. Go karting, trampolining, bowling, pinball, axe throwing – you name it, this place has it. Plus, petrolheads will love the huge Auto Museum, which houses over 2,000 vehicles – including the world’s largest collection of James Bond cars and aircraft.  
 

Dance the night away at Mango’s Tropical Café  

International Drive really comes alive after dark, so the drinking hole options are endless. There are classy piano and martini bars, a bar carved from ice, and comedy clubs. There’s even a cowboy bar, opening for 2024, with a mechanical bull. And then there’s the legendary Mango’s. This two-storey venue channels Vegas with its spectacular dinner shows. You can watch magicians, dancers and singers do their thing, before hitting the dancefloor yourself.   
 

Practise your swing with swashbucklers at Pirate Cove mini golf 

This 18-hole mini golf course has been voted the ‘Best in Orlando’ by Orlando Magazine. Need we say any more? You’ll enter a world of 18th-century buccaneers and scallywags, with a seriously impressive course inspired by all things ‘pirate’. Think sunken ships, caves and dungeons, and cascading waterfalls.  



And remember that all our Florida holidays come with an Explorer Package, offering bundles of free experiences worth up to $549 per family. The package is part of The Big Sale, and is perfect for wildlife lovers, holiday shoppers and taking everyone out for dinner.

So what are you waiting for? Get your Florida holiday in the bag today with a bespoke quote from our Orlando experts.