InfoOnlineNow.com

If you've enjoyed a Lake Buena Vista vacation before and you're returning for another visit, you may be ready to consider places other than the Disney or Universal theme parks, and believe it or not, you have lots of choices. Some of the choices are smaller than the Disney parks so they only take about half a day to go through, so you can spend the remainder of the day relaxing by the pool. Let's take a look at just a few of them.

Florida is famous for alligators and if you have any interest in them you should take a trip to Gatorland. Alligators are some of Florida's oldest wildlife and date back to prehistoric times and at Gatorland you get a close-up view - as close a view as you would ever want! The Gatorland Jumparoo provides you with lots of facts about the creatures in a great encounter.

If you want to be really entertained, make sure you visit the wrestling show where the trainers take on the animals. Then you can cool off in the splash pool but of course you need a change of clothes for the rest of the day. You can reach Gatorland in about fifteen minutes from most Lake Buena Vista locations, so give it a go!

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.

One thing that sets it apart from Gatorland and makes the longer journey worthwhile is the wide range of animals you can see. Raccoons and exotic birds are side by side with the rare Florida Panther. The place also features a replica of a Native American Indian village including ancient tools and implements 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.

A key aspect of the Sanctuary is the peacefulness of the gardens. There are extensive open grassy areas and benches to relax and take in the scenery and if you take a book and a picnic lunch you can spend hours of enjoyment in a unique setting. Alternatively just stroll around and call in at the Carillon Cafe for refreshments.

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.

For the angler there is fishing access at four of the six lakes found in the Park but you will need a fishing license. If you want to cool off after a hike on the trails don't forget to take your swimming thing so you can swim in Lake Louisa. You will need to take your own food and drinks but there are plenty of picnic benches in the park especially around Lake Louisa.

And there you have it: as you have seen, a Lake Buena Vista vacation can be far more varied than even Walt Disney and the Universal attractions can dream up!