Downtime Adventures in Central Florida

Oakland Nature Preserve

West of Orlando, just 30 minutes from the attractions and nestled between Winter Garden and Clermont in the beautiful town of Oakland, lies a "hidden gem": a 128- acre preserve offering environmental education and ecotourism activities for visitors of all ages. The preserve includes miles of trails through hilly, forested uplands and wetlands, some of which used to be citrus groves and planted pines. You’re likely to see gopher tortoises, alligators and many types of birds.

www.oaklandnaturepreserve.org

Modernism Museum

David Bowie, mourned by the world on his passing in 2016, was one of the most radical figures in recent popular culture. Memphis, founded under the leadership of Ettore Sottsass in Milan in 1981, was the most radical of all design groups. The exhibition Space Oddities: Bowie|Sottsass|Memphis brings them together. Bowie built up an extensive body of Memphis work over the years — iconic works by Sottsass and his colleagues, including Michele De Lucchi, Nathalie DuPasquier, Shiro Kuramata and Martine Bedin. This exhibition, the largest gathering of Memphis objects ever presented in an American museum, includes more than 75 examples, many from Bowie’s private collection. It is a fabulous opportunity to see a large collection of Memphis — and to experience the private world of a great pop visionary.

www.modernismmuseum.org

Garden Theatre

As an award-winning regional performing arts venue, the Garden Theatre inspires discoveries through theatrical experiences that are innovative, impactful and inclusive. The Garden produces seven live professional plays and musicals each season, and also hosts entertaining concerts and interactive movie experiences. From Tony Awardwinning musicals and holiday classics to edge-of-your-seat thrillers and light-hearted comedies for all ages, there is something for everyone at the Garden Theatre.

www.gardentheatre.org

Gatorland

Gatorland originally opened as a roadside attraction in 1949. Now celebrating its 70th year, it provides affordably priced family fun featuring thousands of alligators and crocodiles, one-of-a-kind reptilian shows and the world’s largest collection of white leucistic alligators, which have blue eyes. An incredible breeding marsh and bird rookery where thousands of birds flock naturally to nest each year provides amazing opportunities to photograph wildlife. Popular adventure experiences inside the park include the Screamin’ Gator Zipline, a favorite for groups and team-building experiences, and a unique and fun ride through real Florida wetlands on the Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure.

www.gatorland.com

Safari Wilderness

Take a camelback tour while marveling at wild boar, galloping gazelles and bouncing lemurs in a natural setting. A Florida agritourism project licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Safari Wilderness Ranch offers a variety of experiences including kayaking tours, camel rides and customized off-road safaris. Here you can experience grazing animals surrounded by cypress domes, watersheds and bay trees. Observe the complex social workings of wild and endangered animals in a natural habitat. On this exclusive, fun and educational journey, you can learn about Florida’s natural and human history while encountering animals that are endangered or extinct in the wild.

www.safariwilderness.com