Believe me when I tell you that the Orlando Auto Museum at Dezerland Park is a must-see.
From there, you can get up close and personal with more famous cars from TV and film, including the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo, the Batmobile from the original Batman TV show, the Ectomobile from Ghostbusters and the Buick Grand <a t sure what to expect.
It’s hard to imagine that something that fast and loud (we donned noise-protection headphones) could be peaceful, but it was. Surprisingly, the airboat didn’t scare the wildlife, which has grown accustomed to the boats. As Captain Dave skillfully maneuvered our boat through the water, he paused to point out osprey and bald eagles. Yep, we saw the promised gators too—from a safe distance, of course.
And there’s more than just rides at Boggy Creek’s 32-acre park. Kids can mine for gems, and everyone can visit the butterfly garden. My 11-year-old daughter particularly loved feeding the Highland cows, which are a new addition to the park. The shaggy cows were everything on traveling solo, now that I have kids who run me ragged—and who occasionally get tired themselves—I appreciate a nicer hotel. On our trip, we stayed at two fantastic options, and they were perfectly located for all the things we wanted to do in Orlando.
Caribe Royale
The resort has an on-site waterpark, but it has limited food options, including poolside dining and a 24-hour market. Because we had a rental car, we picked up our own groceries for breakfasts and snacks and got take-out sushi one night when we were too tired to eat out. It’s centrally located, just under two miles from Universal Orlando Resort.
Where to eat
Speaking of dining options, when you think Orlando and restaurants, you may think of the world’s largest McDonald’s or picture a Rainforest Cafe overrun with loud children. But Orlando’s food scene has really come into its own, and as of 2025, the city was home to nine Michelin-starred restaurants, beating out other well-known Southern foodie cities such as Charleston and New Orleans.
That’s not to say there’s nothing in between fast food and fancy restaurants. We loved our evening at the local eateries. Another fave was a spot where we could relax by the pool.