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As a born and bred Orlandoan, I have watched Baldwin Park blossom from a vast military plot of neglected overgrowth into a bustling community home to restaurants, parks, and residences. As a young girl, I remember riding my bicycle past the enormous, landlocked Naval warship that towered hauntingly over the grounds. It’s name? The Blue…
Complete with beautiful beaches, tropical cocktails, a chill vibe and proximity to Orlando, Cocoa Beach is optimal for a weekend getaway. The city is also known for their killer waves, so much so that Cocoa Beach is the home of the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame. From hitting the Cocoa Beach Pier for drinks and…
Written by Kendra Lott Foodies in Orlando know that finding Orlando’s best restaurants often requires a bit of sleuthing. In her new book, Unique Eats and Eateries of Orlando, local author and Edible Orlando publisher Kendra Lott offers up a comprehensive guide that will take you on a journey through the best of Orlando’s culinary scene. With…
Presented by Jane.com, our hugely popular Girl’s Club series gives ladies the chance to gather for an exciting and connective night out. Aren’t girls’ nights the best?? The laughter, the camaraderie, the commiserating! Women are just so darn good at connecting and having fun together, aren’t we? That’s why our new Girl’s Club Presented By Jane.com…
Known to Orlandoans as the unofficial “dessert district,” the Audubon Park Garden District is home to a number of the city’s most decadent desserts. We love a good food tour, so what better way to to savor all the goodness than by embarking on the most epic DIY dessert crawl of Audubon Park! Dessert Crawl…
This article was originally written and published by Arlene Laboy on September 13, 2019. It was updated by Nancy DeVault on April 5, 2024. St. Augustine Beach is just over the Lion’s Bridge, off the Historic Downtown District of St. Augustine–aka the Ancient City. Once you’ve crossed over this short bridge—atop of the Matanzas River—it…
Savvy Orlandoans know how to experience Disney local style, from taking advantage of happy hour deals to checking out the live music scene and planning for the occasional date night splurge. Today we’re offering up a new experience for locals: a DIY Disney Springs brunch crawl to taste some of this tourist hotspot’s best brunch…
When’s the last time you declared a Sunday funday? If you’re long overdue, consider heading to Historic Downtown Sanford for a day of diversions designed to fill your Sunday with fun, food and new experiences. Over 25 participating bars, restaurants, and retailers have come together to offer everything from special brunches, live music, and food…
How fun is it to victoriously shout “BINGO!” when you finally fill your card? We all know the feeling that comes along with having one spot left, waiting anxiously for the caller to say exactly what you want to hear. Lucky for us, the classic game is making a resurgence in the nighttime scene as…
The Winter Park Institute (WPI) at Rollins College recently announced the schedule for its 12th season. Each year, WPI brings preeminent scholars, artists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, writers, and world-renowned speakers to Rollins students, faculty members, and the broader community. Guests of the speaker series have won Academy Awards, Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, Presidential Medals…
What to do when you’re craving an Italian holiday but can’t spring for a pricey plane ticket? Orlando isn’t Italy, but it does have a few notable places where you can play pretend for the day, especially if it’s fresh pizza, pasta, cheese and charcuterie you crave. A new addition to International Drive and sister…
Hankering for a romantic getaway to Key West? How about St. Augustine or the Florida Everglades? If a romantic escape isn’t in the budget, we’ve found the next best thing. Just park your car and crawl your way through the gargantuan atrium at Gaylord Palms, themed after some of Florida’s most distinct destinations. As an…
When most locals hear of Disney Springs, they may associate it with large crowds and expensive food and drinks, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. A little planning could provide you and your boo with a number of options for date night that has the magic of Disney without a hefty price…
Win one of 11 two-night summer staycations at some of Florida’s best resorts and boutique hotels. Beat the heat this summer with a staycation at one of the many resorts and hotels across Orlando, Tampa and beyond. Now offering spectacular summertime rates, these sprawling properties provide the perfect elements of a getaway for two. We’ve…
We know what you’re thinking, and no, you don’t have to invite your friends on this double date. Instead, we’re breaking you out of the traditional dinner date to bring you some meal deal and activity pairings for your “double date.” When the conversation’s going great and you want to shake up the date, try these…
SPONSORED – Support local businesses and enjoy free live music while strolling the streets of Winter Garden’s picturesque downtown during the upcoming Summer Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, June 8, 2019. From 11am-7pm, Downtown Winter Garden will be transformed into a lively market featuring special deals and raffles from dozens of unique local retailers, restaurants, bars…
Winner: Chelsea Davis (entry on 4/23/19 15:36) We’ve recently relaunched our Orlando Date Night Guide mobile app, which is packed with ideas, events and tools to make planning your Orlando date nights easier than ever. Available for download on iPhone and Android devices, our mobile app puts the best of our city right at your…
Pizza isn’t just for casual nights at home spent snuggled up on the couch binging on the newest Netflix series. Trade in your sweatpants, beer, and takeout pizza for a night out at one of our local restaurants or pizzerias. Each specializes in affordable handcrafted pies ranging from NY-style to Neapolitan and wood-fired, which pair…
One of my favorite things about being married is when my wife surprises me with a date night. It might be something I mentioned in passing and totally forgot about, or an idea that she knows has been on my radar for a long time (such as going to see the new Avengers movie next…
A multitude of high-quality restaurants, fun monthly events, and proximity to Lake Eola Park make the Thornton Park District a no-brainer for date night. But if you’re on a budget, happy hour is an affordable alternative to a fancy dinner. And at Menagerie, happy hour is a daily affair. Reasons to love this relative newcomer…
Ready to explore the zoo without the kiddos? Central Florida Zoo recently announced a hilarious new event to their lineup of adults-only events. Held on February 21, 2019 at 5:30pm, Zoolarious is a one-night only comedy event including exclusive zoo access, a cocktail hour with animal encounters, and a special improv comedy show from SAK…
Whisk your date away to a new locale this Valentine’s Day. From sightseeing and food tours to lakefront views and some of Central Florida’s coolest bars, restaurants and breweries, Historic Downtown Sanford has quickly become a hot spot for couples. – SPONSORED – Easy to get to on the unclogged 417 or by SunRail ride,…
Updated September 2019 2019 is underway, how are your resolutions holding up? If you and your sidekick have committed to keeping healthy habits, chances are jogging or running together is on your radar. We’ve sorted through hundreds of running events in the Orlando area and located some weekly run clubs too. This guide to running…
From a romantic and free outdoor concert to a specialty food tour and several artsy couples’ workshops, here’s the best of what’s happening for Valentine’s Day in Winter Garden. – SPONSORED – We’ve been longtime fans of Winter Garden and its charming tree-lined streets, picturesque West Orange Trail, and dozens of quality restaurants lining…
A progressive dinner is defined as “a dinner party in which each successive course is prepared and eaten at the residence of a different participant.” To plan your own, pick an area of Orlando where there’s a cluster of yummy restaurants within walking distance. Then, stop by three or four places eating one dish at…
Instagram is undoubtedly our favorite social media platform. (Follow us @orlandodatenightguide!) This year, we shared hundreds of photos and date night ideas plus a few epic giveaways for couples. To showcase the best of what we shared this year, we combed through our account to compile this list of our 25 most popular Instagram posts…
Holiday lights, cocoa, caroling and Santa – you can find all of these things throughout the Rosen Hotels properties in Orlando. This year, they are featuring many holiday activities for locals and guests to enjoy. One of the biggest perks is that you don’t need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy these activities….
The first time I dined at Bulla, with a steady stream of tapas arriving at the table to be shared amongst new friends, I was hooked. It’s since become one of my go-to destinations for everything from weeknight book club meetings to hours-long girls’ brunches. After two memorable brunch experiences, a return trip for “research”…
Admittedly, we’re kind of obsessed with Pulptown, a new daily email newsletter that’s dedicated to keeping you in the loop about all things Orlando. It covers everything from history tidbits to day trip itineraries and weekly events, plus the latest Orlando news stories. It’s truly an amazing resource for celebrating life in Orlando. So, we’re…
What could be better than spending a few hours strolling through a quaint, historic town with regular stops for great food and drinks in interesting, off-the-radar places? That, in a nutshell, is exactly the experience that awaits with Sanford Food Tours. Launched in 2016 but completely redesigned this year, Sanford Food Tours aims to give…
You and your girls are ready to explore the town, but you don’t want to break the bank. You’ve come to the right place! We’ve rounded up 25 affordable ideas for your Orlando girls’ day out in and around town. From free to $50, take a break from work and enjoy a girls’ day out. You…