How do you plan an Orlando trip that everyone will love and yet won’t leave you feeling as if you’ve had an overdose of rides, character breakfasts and expensive souvenir shops? We’ve got some wonderful alternatives designed to give you and your family a breather from the theme park crowds, lines and general craziness.

Something for everyone:

Take a breather and enjoy a visit to the Orlando’s 45 acre Loch Haven Park. Here you’ll find plenty of family-friendly venues & activities combined with a beautiful city park setting surrounded by three lakes. The shaded central lawn is a great spot for a picnic or just chilling while the kids run around. The park is also a hub for a variety of arts and culture venues, including:

Orlando Shakespeare Theater ~ for classic, contemporary and children’s plays.

How I Became A Pirate Photo by RumorsofmyDemise (cc:flickr)

Orlando Repertory Theatre ~ for family audiences, with productions like Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space, Curious George: The Golden Meatball and Nancy Drew and Her Biggest Case Ever.

Orlando Museum of Art ~ Contemporary Art and Graphics, African Art, American Art, Ancient American Art

  ~ showcasing twentieth century American Folk artist, Earl Cunningham, the museum also highlights work by other American traditional and contemporary artists

Orlando Ballet ~ Central Florida’s only resident professional ballet company performing a mix of classical and contemporary ballet

P9274775paddle-boats Photo by Sharif47 (cc:flickr)

Another place you’ll find a fun variety of things to do with the family is downtown’s Lake Eola Park. Take a leisurely stroll and see unique, beautiful sculptures along the way. You can download a walking tour pamphlet for a map and description of these outdoor works of art. The park is also home to one of Central Florida’s best farmer’s markets, paddle boats for rental, outdoor movies, concerts & festivals, and Walt Disney Amphitheater.

For Space and Science Lovers:

Kennedy Space Center ~ At less than an hour east of Orlando, this is a very doable day trip. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is organized into Mission Zones that group attractions and experiences into specific periods of time and achievements. 

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also offers the closest public viewing of launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Check their   to see if a launch may be happening during your Orlando visit. Or, if you really love the idea of seeing a rocket launch live, use it to plan your Orlando trip dates.

CBC Partnership_Roberto Gonzalez (8) Photo by Orlando Science Center (cc:flickr)

~ Head here for an indoor break from the sun while you explore four floors of exhibits, giant screen movies and live programming. Exhibits include topics like dinosaurs, our planet, physics & kinetics and KidsTown, an interactive exhibit designed for younger children.

Now that you have some good ideas on what to do in Orlando, it’s time to think about  how to pay for your family getaway…

 Let’s face it — it’s just too easy to pull out a credit card when you’re on vacation. And, unfortunately, it’s also easy to let a bigger statement balance linger (or grow) once you get home. That’s never a good idea, but especially now with interest rates on variable rate cards likely to increase in the coming year.

Then there’s the hope that a tax refund can help pay for a spring or summer trip. But, here’s what usually happens with that — either your refund isn’t as much as you hoped, or those dollars are already spoken for with another planned purchase or bill you may have overlooked.

What’s the best answer? Check out a LendingPoint loan and see how much you qualify for. Our personal loans can be a smart way to finance travel. The online application is quick and easy and you could have travel funds deposited in your vacation account as quickly as within one business day after completing our approval process.

Mickey, Harry, the princesses and a fabulous time in other can’t-be-beat Orlando destinations await!