An Orlando vacation is an unforgettable experience, but with so many exciting things to do and parks to visit, it can easily become an expensive experience as well. Introduce some variety into your Disney vacation and save some money while you’re at it with these fifteen fun and free things to do in Orlando.

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1. Downtown Disney Marketplace & Boardwalk
Downtown Disney is a great place to experience the magic of Disney without the steep price of theme park tickets. Depending on when you go, you might catch additional free festivities taking place on the boardwalk. With it’s variety of entertainment, shops and places to enjoy a good meal, a visit to the Disney boardwalk is one of the most popular free things to do in Orlando.

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2. Harry P. Leu Gardens
The beautiful Harry P. Leu Gardens offers a wide variety of attractions, including a butterfly garden, bamboo and palm gardens and a house museum dating to the 1880’s. Free admission to the park is available from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Monday of every month!

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3. Universal Orlando Resort’s City Walk
Similar to Disney’s boardwalk, City Walk is a free part of Universal where you can enjoy sidewalk attractions, entertainment and dining without having to enter the amusement park. The only thing to pay for is parking, but if you come early enough, you can find it for free!

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4. Wekiwa Springs State Park
This Orlando-area nature park offers a variety of outdoor activities and a natural history museum. Admission is free in September if you bring a book, library card or library book.

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5. Ocala National Forest
Ocala National Forest is a great place to experience natural Florida. The Florida trail is a popular hike, where you can view forests, swamps, springs and prairies. You can also canoe, picnic, hike and more.

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6. Kelly Park
This park offers over 248 acres of outdoor fun and excitement. A crystal clear spring is the focus of the park, where you can enjoy water sports like tubing as well as rock climbing.

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7. For Christmas Historical Museum and Park
Visit the full-size replica of Fort Christmas, including seven restored pioneer homes and exhibits showcasing pioneer life from the 1870s through the 1930s. Key themes are homesteading, cattle citrus, hunting, fishing and trapping, all things unique to Florida life in the late 19^th century.

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8. The Mall at Millenia
A wide selection of international stores makes the Mall at Millenia one of the Orlando area’s most popular shopping destinations. The exceptional collection of retailers comes together with beautiful architecture and upscale amenities.

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9. The Town of Celebration
The town that Disney built is a place where you can admire beautiful homes, finely-manicured lawns and the magic of Disney-living. Come during the fall and you’ll see the beautiful colors of falling leaves, and visit during the winter and you’ll have the chance to see falling “snow” in the city center.

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10. Old Town
If you’re a fan of classic cars, this is place to be on a Saturday night. Every Saturday night, you can catch a free rock-n-roll concert and a parade of 300 beautiful vintage vehicles.

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11. Winter Park’s Park Avenue and Farmers Market
Park Avenue is home to some of the area’s nicest locally owned shops and best restaurants and, on most days, patrons dine at sidewalk tables in pleasant weather. On Saturdays, a farmers market is held at a restored brick train depot featuring produce, pastries, cheese, bagels and more.

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12. Fleaworld and Funworld
Fleaworld is the largest flea market in the United States, with over 1,700 different vendors. Funworld offers attracting like a circus, magic acts, acrobatic shows and more depending on the day you visit. Fleaworld opens Friday to Sunday and Funworld is open just on weekends.

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13. Snowhill Mountain Bike Trail
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll love the mountain bike trail in the Little Big Econ State Forest. Snowhill trail has many different varieties of trails, including sandy trails, trails layered in pine-needles and areas with suspensions bridges and exciting, steep drops.

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14. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art offers free admission on Friday’s from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., and admits children under 12 years of age for free every day. The museum boasts the largest collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany and guests can explore dozens of exhibits of late 19^th and early 20^th century American art. A visit to this popular area museum is one of the must-see free things to do in Orlando.

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15. Uptown Altamonte
Uptown Altamonte recently added an entire shopping, dining and entertainment complex along the lake. On just about any evening, you can find free entertainment including live music, karaoke, comedians and street performers. This newly redesigned lake-side gathering spot is quickly becoming one of the most popular free things to do in Orlando.

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Are you planning an Orlando vacation soon? Do you have any questions about more fun and free things to do in Orlando? Post in the comments below, or contact VillaDirect Vacation Rentals toll free at 877.259.9908.