Orlando for Grown-Ups - Part 1

We have enjoyed many happy holidays in Orlando and over the years we have enjoyed the usual child and family friendly attractions that Orlando has to offer. Now that we are all older we still enjoy visiting the parks however we have also discovered additional things to do that are more 'adult friendly' and we really wanted to share them with you! So if you love Orlando but feel the need to escape from the kids sometimes read on!
 

Eating & Drinking:

Orlando has some fantastic restaurants and bars that many people never get to experience as they are not well known to the crowds of tourists who visit each year. Some are a little off the beaten track but some are bypassed by the crowds every day and maybe you have never thought to go in them! Here are some of our favourites:
 

Emerils Universal Citywalk: We enjoyed an amazing meal here this summer! We first heard of chef Emeril Lagasse as we are big fans of USA TV show Top Chef and he appears quite regularly on the show as a guest judge. We wanted to book a more 'upscale' restaurant for a bit of a fancy dinner and as we were staying on site we got a reservation here. The meal was fantastic and the service second to none! We were even given free desserts as we were celebrating the night we went. If you are looking for a restaurant to book for a celebration or a romantic dinner then you can't go wrong with Emerils.
 

  



Emerils at Universal Citywalk

Teak Neighborhood Grill: Teak is a rustic bar/restaurant that serves the most AMAZING burgers. They also have a famous cocktail and beer menu that would keep even the most fussy drinker happy! They are open daily until 2am and regularly have live musicians playing while you enjoy the great food and drink on offer. It is situated North of Universal Orlando Resort and well worth a visit. We had The Pig and it certainly lived up to its name!

 

Teak Neighborhood Grill

Yellow Dog Eats: Situated in a fantastic old historic building in the area of Gotha, Yellow Dog Eats is an experience as well as an eaterie. With a menu serving such delights as Hot Diggity Dawg, The Holy Crap and Drunken Pig you know you are in for something a bit different. As the name would suggest it is a dog friendly establishment and when we visited many cute pups were in attendance! The owners encourage their customers to pin dog photos to the wall of the bar and it is fun to check out the snaps of beloved pets while you await your order.

 Pat O'Briens: You will find Pat O'Briens at Universal Citywalk and it comes alive at night! An authentic reproduction of a New Orleans’ bar it is home to our favourite duelling pianos and the famous Hurricane cocktail (once you have finished the drink you can take the glass home!) The duelling piano players will play any request you jot down on a serviette and wrap in a couple of dollars - believe me we have tested them! A great spot for cocktails, live music and a sing-along.

Shopping:

We always make time for shopping when we are in Orlando as they have some great malls and outlets where you can bag a bargain! These are our favourites:
 

Mall at Millenia: Only 3 miles away from Universal Orlando Resort, Millenia is our favourite shopping mall in the area and home to Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and many high end designers such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton. It also houses the Cheesecake Factory which is very popular with the tourists and always has a queue! We really enjoy the pace of this shopping centre as it is usually quieter than the nearby Florida Mall. Even if you do not make a purchase it is a lovely place to browse the designer stores and people watch.

Winter Park: This is an upscale town North of Orlando and has a beautiful feel of Southern charm. It is slower paced than the busy tourist areas and has the most beautiful park and shopping street called Park Avenue. Park Avenue is the home of many independent boutiques and perfect if you are looking for something a little bit different.

Winter Park

Premium Outlets: There are two main shopping outlets in the Orlando area; one is just off the I4 on Vineland Road and the other at the very top end of International Drive. These outlets offer many different outlet stores where you can pick up pretty much anything including clothes, accessories and beauty items. Both have lots of parking and a food court where you can grab a refreshment while you spend your money! You can pick up some great bargains from stores such as Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Guess, Saks off Fifth and Guess. We always visit the outlets multiple times when we are in Orlando as some of the handbag bargains are unmissable!

 

 



We hope this gives you a few ideas of some things to do and places to go if you are an adult visiting the Orlando area. However, don't forget that the parks are not just for kids! We have spent many fun times at the Disney and Universal parks as grown-ups and continue to enjoy visiting the parks as big kids too!

Do you have any tips for adults visiting Orlando? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!