Charlotte Blanton
Charlotte Blanton, a Central Florida native and mom of three, holds a business degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After a career in corporate finance, she pivoted to stay home with her kids and found her passion for writing through Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring local theme parks and discovering fun activities for families in Central Florida.
Latest posts by Charlotte
In honor of Black History Month, we’ve rounded up a list of black-owned businesses and historical sites and museums you can visit to learn more about African American history in Central Florida. From the first all-black incorporated city in the U.S., to the field where Jackie Robinson played his first professional baseball game, Central Florida has many historical sites and landmarks to explore.
We’ve also included a list of black-owned restaurants and shops near Orlando. Many local businesses have been impacted by the pandemic over the last couple of years; your family can support these establishments not just in February, but all year. While this is a spotlight of some amazing black-owned businesses, it by no means encompasses everywhere worth visiting.
ICON Park is an entertainment destination in Orlando featuring 40+ rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants. This 20-acre, open-air complex is conveniently located on International Drive, just a hop, skip, and jump from the theme parks. In fact, USA Today named it the #1 Attraction in Orlando For Tots, Teens & In-Betweens!
Get up close to more than 5,000 sea animals at Sea Life Orlando Aquarium; strut alongside the stars at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum; and of course, ride The Wheel at ICON Park! With several more fun attractions, it's easy to spend a full day exploring this family fun spot.
We all know that raising kids can get expensive —between summer camps, birthday parties, childcare, and more, it all adds up quickly! Many families may not have the funds available for extracurricular activities. To help ease the financial burden and ramp up the fun, we’ve rounded up a list of FREE classes for kids in the Orlando area.
Be sure to bookmark our activity calendar and filter for FREE events and activities happening all around town. To get more free fun at home and in your town delivered to your inbox sign up for our newsletters and discover all the free events and activities near you in our Orlando Free Things To Do With Kids Guide.
For many Orlando families, visiting local Christmas lights is a treasured holiday tradition. It’s a great way to get in the Christmas spirit, and Orlando has no shortage of options. From dazzling displays at the theme parks to lighted boat parades, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to see Christmas lights here in Central Florida.
Get an exclusive view of Give Kids the World Village as it's tranformed into a wonderland of lights at Night of a Million Lights; stroll through illuminated forests and watch dancing light displays at Leu Gardens' Dazzling Nights; or venture to Mount Dora for the town's amazing seasonal lights. Read on for the very best holiday light displays around Orlando and Central Florida.
Ahoy there, mateys! Legoland Florida’s newest fully immersive hotel–Pirate Island Hotel–opened to the public just last year. My family recently got a chance to visit for my son’s birthday, and we had a blast. It is a great addition to the other two onsite hotels: the attached Legoland Hotel and the nearby Legoland Beach Retreat. Read on to discover all the cool details about Legoland Pirate Island Hotel, and how to squeeze as much fun in your hotel stay, brick by brick (get it)!
Gainesville, Florida, may be known as a college town, but there are so many other things to do in this city north of Orlando—and much of it is perfect for families and kids. As a Florida native and a University of Florida graduate (Go Gators!), I love to take the trip to Gainesville, FL, with my kiddos whenever I get the chance.
Here are some of our favorite activities and attractions in and around Gainesville, FL. From outdoor activities and sports, to museums and festivals, you are sure to find something that peaks your family's interest.
For more fun destinations for families around the Sunshine State, visit our Florida Family Travel Guide.
Enjoy an afternoon of indoor family fun at one of these Orlando escape rooms! Put your inner Sherlock Holmes to the test with puzzles, riddles, and challenges to work together as a team and beat the clock in these themed experiences. These Orlando escape rooms are great entertainment for tweens and teens, but some are kid-friendly to ages as young as 7! Many of these locations offer birthday party options as well.
Dance classes for kids in Orlando are fantastic extracurricular activities to get boys and girls moving while having fun. Dancers from 18 months to 18 years can choose from a host of dance classes in Orlando and around Central Florida to bust a move. Whether your child wants to learn the fundamentals of ballet, hip hop, jazz, or tap, or even cultural dance styles such as Irish step dancing, Latin salsa, or Bollywood, there's an option for in Orlando. Several of the businesses listed even offer a free trial class!
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