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When you book a second (or third or fourth) Lake Buena Vista vacation, you might start to think about spreading your wings beyond the first and obvious choices of Disney World or Universal or Sea World. If you’re looking for some variety, there is a lot to choose from and some of them only take up about half a day, so you can use the rest of the day to relax by the pool. This article gives you some brief details about just a few of the alternatives.

If you want to see some of Florida’s oldest wildlife residents then a trip to Gatorland will enable you to get up close to the alligators that can be found all over the State. Here you will learn fascinating facts about these prehistoric creatures when you visit the Gator Jumparoo and be able to have a close encounter with gators and other animals.

For more excitement you can watch in awe as the trainers wrestle with these huge animals. Remember to take a change of clothes for when you want to cool off in the splash park. You will find Gatorland at 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida 32837 about 1 mile north of Osceola Parkway.

In a similar vein but slightly smaller is Jungle Adventures, a nature park and a zoo. It’s situated at Christmas, a town that’s about twenty miles east of Orlando on Highway 50. Like Gatorland it has lots of alligators (about 200) and you can have a very close encounter with baby alligators, snakes and other creatures.

The park is also home to a number of other animals such as the Florida Panther, raccoons, and exotic birds. You can also take a guided tour through a replica Native American Indian village and learn about the ancient tools and artifacts on display that were made by present day Native Americans.

In contrast to the more aggressive wildlife, you may prefer a trip to Historic Bok Sanctuary, south of Lake Buena Vista near Lake Wales. It consists of about 250 acres of extensive gardens with paths and walking trails to explore where you have the opportunity to see birds and butterflies.

The Sanctuary is loved by its many visitors for the peace and tranquility available throughout. Take a stroll and experience the calmness of the place, bring a picnic and rest on the grassy areas or the benches or enjoy a meal at the Carillon Cafe. It’s all just very relaxing.

Every hour from the superb marble and coquina bell tower you can hear beautiful carillon music. There is also an opportunity to step back in time with a tour of the Pinewood Estate which was built as a winter retreat for Charles Austin Buck and still contains most of the original furnishings and decorations.

And if the natural environment and a peaceful spot to relax are what you’re looking for, try Lake Louisa State Park, about thirty minutes from Lake Buena Vista and just a few miles south of Highway 50 on Highway 27. Wildlife is abundant, including butterflies, deer, opossum and wild turkeys plus lots more. Full enjoyment requires use of the mature trails hiking so bring your hiking boots and you’re also likely to need lots of sunscreen and lots of insect repellent.

There are six lakes in the Park with fishing available in four of them (as long as you make sure to get a license). It is possible to swim in Lake Louisa so make sure you bring the right clothes and towels and take note of the warning signs advising you to steer clear of those parts containing dangerous wildlife (alligators anyone?). You will need your own food and drink because no catering facilities are provided, although there are many benches and tables to use.

I hope this has given you some alternative ideas of places to visit during your Lake Buena Vista vacation.

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