Spring break is finally upon us, but if you didn’t plan a trip, don’t worry! Central Florida has so many amazing day trips and stays that are just a couple of hours (or even just 30 minutes) away from Orlando.
- St. Augustine
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Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 45 minutes
St. Augustine is the oldest European settlement in the United States. If you’re a history buff, this is definitely a must-see city. One of the most popular attractions in St. Augustine is the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. This national monument is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, and from the deck, you can get panoramic views of St. Augustine.
Other popular attractions include the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, the Lightner Museum, which features antiques from the 1800s, Flagler College and the St, Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum.
- TAMPA
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Distance from Orlando: 2 hours
Tampa has so many things to do; everyone is guaranteed to find something they’ll enjoy. If you’re looking to switch up your theme parks, Tampa is home to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, with six major roller coasters. The Florida Aquarium is also close by, the eighth largest aquarium in the U.S. and the largest in Florida, featuring over 7,000 aquatic animals and plants.
Some other attractions include Oxford Exchange, Ybor City, ZooTampa at Lowry Park and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
- COCOA BEACH & CAPE CANAVERAL
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Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
The beach is always a favorite thing in the spring and summer months. Cocoa Beach features beautiful beaches with many opportunities for surfing. There is also the Cocoa Beach Pier which has restaurants and shops.
Cape Canaveral’s main attraction is the Kennedy Space Center, which has been NASA’s main launch center for human spaceflight since the 1960s. The Kennedy Space Center features attractions such as the Space shuttle Atlantis, the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Rocket Garden, and the bus tour where you can see some of the restricted areas and launchpads.
- St. Petersburg
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Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 15 minutes
St. Petersburg is also known for its beaches, but another very popular attraction is the Salvador Dalí Museum, which features nearly 1,500 of Salvador Dalí’s works. The building itself is also breathtaking with its glass dome, known as The Enigma, stands over 75 feet tall at the highest point and features 1,062 triangular pieces of glass.
Another popular attraction is the St. Pete Pier which recently opened in 2020. This pier has stunning views of the beach, various art pieces, restaurants and shops.
- Natural Springs
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Central Florida features some of the best natural springs, and luckily there are many to choose from!
Wekiwa Springs State Park is located in Apopka, which is just over 30 minutes away from Orlando. This 7,000-acre park has beautiful water to swim or relax in, picnic areas, biking and walking trails, hiking, campsites, kayaking and more.
Blue Springs State Park is located in Orange City, which is about 45 minutes from Orlando. This park is known for its manatees, which you can view from the boardwalk, and spring is the best time to see them! Blue Springs State Park also has boat tours, hiking, walking and biking trails, picnic areas, and more.
Staycations and day trips can give you and your friends an amazing spring break close to home!