There are few places as pleasant during North American winters than Orlando, Florida. If you have recently retired to this area, you’re not alone. Over 3.5 million people over 65 call this state home, and on average, every day another 1,000 people are relocating here. The mild winters and relatively long, sun-filled days also make it the perfect destination for hosting a family get together during the holidays. But when the grandchildren arrive, how will you keep them entertained? Fear not, as Orlando is packed with events, activities and attractions to awe and delight children of all ages.
While your first thought may be to take the grandchildren to the theme parks, there are numerous other options you may not have considered. Here are seven suggestions to make new memories with your grandchildren this season.
1. Channel Their Creativity at the Crayola Experience
Tucked into the Florida Mall is the Crayola Experience, where your grandchildren can unleash their creativity. Explore 70,000 square feet of kid-friendly, interactive attractions together. You can even collaborate on the design of a custom crayon color and give it a unique name to commemorate your visit.
2. Explore Outer Space Together at the Kennedy Space Center
Space is inspiring at any age, and the Kennedy Space Center offers many hands-on, kid-friendly exhibits at the new Gateway: Deep Space Launch experience. After exploring the exhibit, you can even take a virtual ride in the spaceport to explore one of four unforgettable planets.
3. Plunge Into Adventure at the SEA LIFE Aquarium
The SEA LIFE Aquarium in Orlando features the state’s only 360 degree ocean tunnel, giving visitors a truly immersive underwater experience. Take your grandchildren to meet the aquarium’s rescue sea turtle or get up close and personal with starfish and anemones in the touch pool. Visitors even have an option to peek behind the scenes at how the aquarium is run and managed.
4. Share the Thrills and Spills of Gatorland
If your grandchildren are looking for an up close and personal wildlife experience, look no further than Gatorland. This Central Florida landmark has been around since 1949, and remains immensely popular with families. More than 2,000 alligators reside here. Grandchildren will love seeing the baby gators in the nursery, and older ones can even ride a zipline over alligators!
5. Paddle the Day Away at the Orlando Watersports Complex
The Orlando Watersports Complex is designed for family water fun at every age. This boat and cable park offers a floating aqua park playground for younger children and cable and boat wakeboarding experiences for all. If your grandchild is older and you’re feeling adventurous too, you can even sign up for a wakeboarding class together!
6. Museum of Illusions
A unique and mind-bending experience for all ages, the Museum of Illusions presents an array of optical illusions (including great photo opportunities), many of them hands-on and interactive. It’s a memorable way to learn more about vision, perception and brain science while having an awful lot of fun. The playroom also includes an array of educational games and puzzles for the younger set.
7. Explore Kidstown at the Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center offers an expansive, interactive Kidstown area that caters to children’s curiosity and sense of adventure. This hands-on science center lets kids splash, climb and explore their way through exhibits designed just for them. Perfect for little ones seven and under. Older grandchildren can stay just as engaged exploring the rest of what the science center has to offer, too!
Enjoy the Holiday Season at Village on the Green
At Village on the Green, our 80-acre campus is perfectly situated to take advantage of the region’s major attractions and activities. Here, residents immerse themselves in long-held passions, enjoy celebrating the seasons together and forging new relationships.
Contact us to learn more about how we’re spending the holiday season at Village on the Green, and come visit us to see the community for yourself.
