Need a break from the crowds of Cancun and Tulum? Holbox Island is calling!

Holbox, Mexico is a secluded paradise located off the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s a less-crowded island surrounded by stunning beaches, incredible wildlife, and plenty of things to do.

While small, Holbox is packed full of fun activities. So whether you’re looking to explore the island’s natural beauty, relax in a hammock, or get active, there’s something for everyone.

Things to Do on Holbox Island, Mexico

Here are eight of the best things to do on Holbox Island, Mexico.

Go Snorkeling or Scuba Diving

If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, consider exploring the depths of Isla Holbox with a snorkeling or scuba diving tour and discover the island’s crystal clear waters teeming with colorful fish and amazing coral reefs.

The best time to go snorkeling or scuba diving is during the summer months, when the water is warm and visibility is at its best. There are many great spots to explore, but some of the best snorkeling can be found in the area around Punta Cocos Beach Club. Here, you’ll have a chance to spot barracudas, turtles, and a variety of tropical fish.

Swim with Whale Sharks

One of the most popular activities at Isla Holbox is swimming with whale sharks. These majestic creatures migrate to the island between the months of May and September, making it an ideal time to come and witness them in their natural habitat. This experience offers a unique opportunity to observe these gentle giants up close and take a dip in the crystal clear waters.

When it comes to swimming with whale sharks, be respectful and safe. It’s important to note that Holbox is only safe for swimming with whale sharks when they are actively feeding. If you see the whale sharks resting or moving too quickly, it’s best to stay away and not enter the water. During this time, you can still observe the whale sharks from the boat, but be sure to keep your distance and respect their space. Make sure to not get too close or touch the whales, as this can startle them and disrupt their natural behavior.

Swimming with whale sharks at Holbox is an amazing experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Take a Holbox Boat Tour

Experience the beauty of Isla Holbox from the sea with a boat tour. Holbox boat tours offer a unique way to explore the island and its stunning coastline, mangrove forests and small islands. With a tour guide leading the way, you’ll learn about local history and culture while getting the chance to spot wildlife such as dolphins, stingrays, and sometimes even whale sharks.

The waters around Holbox are safe for swimming and snorkeling, so you can also jump in to experience the vibrant coral reef firsthand. There are a variety of boat tours available depending on your interests and budget, from sunset cruises to all-day trips that include visits to neighboring islands.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to explore Isla Holbox from the water.

Visit the Isla de la Pasión

Isla de la Pasión is a small uninhabited island located a few kilometers from Holbox Island. It is known for its stunning white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and abundant wildlife. As Holbox continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination, more and more visitors are discovering Isla de la Pasión.

Getting to Isla de la Pasión is easy, as there are several tour companies on Holbox that will take you there. You can also rent a boat at the harbor and make your own way to the island.

Once on Isla de la Pasión, visitors will find an idyllic beach paradise, with crystal clear waters and white sand beaches that seem to stretch forever. There are many places to swim, snorkel and simply relax and take in the beauty of the island. The waters around the island are particularly clear and full of sea life, making it an ideal spot for spotting dolphins and other marine creatures.

Shop Holbox’s Local Markets

When visiting Holbox, it’s worth taking the time to explore the local markets. From handmade jewelry and clothing to souvenirs, there are plenty of great finds on this beautiful island.

Holbox has all the essentials and you can find everything you need for your vacation in these markets. Be sure to check out the artisans selling their handmade items, and don’t forget to purchase some gifts for the family. If you’re looking for souvenirs, there are plenty of shops selling t-shirts, hats, and other memorabilia that will remind you of your time on Holbox Island.

Visit the Punta Cocos Beach Club

If you’re looking for a fun day out on Isla Holbox, Mexico, then you can’t skip a visit to the Punta Cocos Beach Club. Located on the north side of the island, Punta Cocos Beach Club is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

The club boasts a stunning beach and is has a lively atmosphere. You can lounge in the sun and cool off in the crystal-clear waters, sip a cocktail at the beachside bar and enjoy food from one of the local restaurants. There are also plenty of water activities to choose from, such as paddle boarding and kayaking.

Eat Delicious Food

While a small island, Holbox is packed with delicious food options from budget-friendly to upscale restaurants. There is a large number of vegan restaurants in Holbox, so conscious eating is definitely available on the island.

You can also find affordable and tasty snacks from local beach vendors and at the central markets. And while the island is generally more expensive than mainland Mexico, it’s safe to say, you won’t go hungry in Holbox.

Watch The Sunset

Nothing beats ending the perfect sun-bleached day as watching the sunset over the Ocean – and Holbox definitely serves up some incredible sunsets.

One popular spot to watch the sunset on Holbox is centrally located on Natural Pier. So, grab some beers, snacks and friends and bask in the beautiful sunset as it colors the island in a mixture of colors – maybe go for dip too.

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Have you spent endless days walking the miles and miles of theme parks and just can’t stand in line for the next ride one moment longer?

Well, this post should help you out, as we look into some of the smaller venues that take you off the well beaten path and try to offer something a bit more unique.

First a word on Orlando’s theme parks

So, how does one find unique things to do in a small city that gets 60 million visitors a year? From ghost tours to paddle boats to the largest rose garden in Florida, there is bound to be something that interests you.

Orlando Florida is known as the theme park capital of the world for a reason. Between Disney World and its many parks, Universal Studios and its many parks, plus SeaWorld and LegoLand, you can easily think that that’s all Orlando offers.

While we’re big fans of the big parks (looking at you Harry Potter World, we do love to find the quieter places to unwind and experience other things as well.

That said, Orlando is the most visited city in the US and there will always be people around no matter where you go. However, in comparison to the larger theme parks, the places on this list will generally be quieter and give you alternate things to do in Orlando.

While we’re on the subject, many places on this list aren’t in Orlando itself, but within quick and easy driving distance from your hotel so make sure to visit Official Disney Resorts Site if you’re thinking of visiting Orlando and looking for something close to all the action.

Unique Things to do in Orlando

Without further ado, here are 15 unique things to do in Orlando Florida. Hope you enjoy it.

Strain your neck at the Giraffe Ranch

Ever been licked by a giraffe, nipped at by a zebra or ridden on a camel? I’ve been lucky to do all three, and lived to tell the tale.

At Orlando’s Giraffe Ranch, you can explore wildlife via a driven safari tour, a camel safari tour or on a Segway safari tour.

What do they all have in common? They all take you on a ride to see a huge variety of African, Asian, Australian and American animals from rhinos to hippos to lemurs and ostriches. Every tour includes hand feeding some giraffes so watch out for that two foot long blue tongue, it will surprise you I guarantee it.

Go on a ghost hunt at American Ghost Adventures

Never been on a ghost hunt?

Have you ever been fascinated by the supernatural? Want to explore the darker (literally) side of downtown Orlando?

The American Ghost Adventures tour takes you on a ghost tour that includes some history, a few ghost stories and a brief investigation inside some of the most haunted buildings in downtown Orlando. When the sign says you will be provided ghost hunting equipment or you can bring your own, you know you’re in for a unique experience.

Stroll through the Bok Tower Gardens

What do acres of trees and the Singing Tower have in common?

Both can be found at Bok Tower Gardens just outside Orlando in Lake Wales. The Singing Tower is a 205 foot tall, circular pink and grey marble building with a carillon on the top floor with 60 giant bells connected to a clavier (piano like device) that fills the surrounding garden with rich reverberating sound when being played. With over 250 acres of trees, reflective pools, winding paths and a thriving bird sanctuary, there’s plenty to explore on a nice day.

Defy gravity at Spook Hill

What does gravity, illusion and roads have in common?

Spook Hill in Lake Wales (close to Bok Tower Gardens) is known as a gravity hill. While uncommon enough to warrant inspection, especially if you are already down the road at Bok Tower Gardens, this anti-gravity phenomenon puts you at the bottom of a seemingly small hill. When you put your car in neutral your car will magically start driving up the hill. Perception is a wondrous thing.

Go indoor skydiving at iFly

Never been skydiving? A little nervous jumping from a plane?

Well, you can go indoor skydiving at iFly Orlando. With state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnels, you can experience the thrill of skydiving only a few feet off the ground. It’s a great experience when you’re with a group and it’s almost guaranteed you’ll walk away with a smile whether you’re five or 105.

Visit the indie-inspired Ivanhoe Village

Love the indie scene? Want to see where hipsters dwell, art lovers peruse and wine connoisseurs congregate?

Ivanhoe Village comprises of an eclectic group of retro retailers, art museums, craft breweries, boutique wineries and savory restaurants. You can hunt for records at Rock & Roll Heaven or check out vintage clothing at Deja Vu Vintage. You can have a beer at Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company or a glass of wine at the Imperial Wine Bar. You can even stroll or bike the many lakes and pathways that call this little area of Orlando home.

Get mystified at the Orlando Science Center

Love science? Want to know the secrets of the universe and to unlock age old questions in a fun setting?

Then the Orlando Science Center is your ticket to happiness. With four floors of interactive exhibit halls, an observatory, theaters, labs and workshops, there’s no better place to learn as you play than a science center. With ever changing exhibits, 3d films on giant screens, a hands on dinosaur exhibit and huge playrooms for the little ones, it also makes a great indoor rainy day activity and is located in Ivanhoe Village.

Walk around Lake Eola

What do swans, ducks, turtles and an amphitheater have in common?

They all can be found around Lake Eola in Orlando. With a mile-long walking trail skirting the pretty little lake, you can easily walk it in an hour. Between the artisan markets, the local wildlife and the nearby restaurants, it’s easy to spend a few hours here.

If you want to go the tourist route, take an electric swan boat out for a ride at night, but if you want to chill with the locals, sit down on one of the many benches and watch the real swans swimming and walking around.

Take a paddle boat out on Lake Fairview

Have a fear of land and speed?

Then taking out a paddle boat on Lake Fairview is a sure way to put a smile on your face. There are actually a large variety of boats you can rent to spend the afternoon on Lake Fairview in Orlando. You can rent everything from kayaks and canoes to pontoon boats and fishing boats.

Strike a pose at Madame Tussauds Orlando

Have you ever wanted to stand next to your favorite superstar? Wondered just how tall a particular famous person was or just how round their belly really was?

Well, you can likely see their doppelgangers at Madame Tussauds in Orlando.

Gimmicky? Yes. Quirky? Definitely. Unique? Well, unless you happen to be a world class wax carver or painter with uncanny skills at making true to life replicas, the answer is definitely yes. While there are wax museums found across the world, Madame Tussauds Orlando is worth checking out if your celebrity curiosity knows no bounds.

Sink your blues away aboard Titanic Orlando

Ever wondered what life aboard the Titanic was like?

Whether you love history or just loved the movie, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is a great step backwards to the beginning of the last century with exhibits highlighting the wonder of that fateful ship.

This two hour romp gives you a replica boarding pass as you become a passenger aboard the historical ship. Featuring more than 300 artifacts as well as full room recreations, if you loved the Titanic, this should be placed on your list of things to do in Orlando.

Tackle the unbelievable at Wonderworks

Ever walked into an upside down building?

While I tried to step away from amusement parks, this place leaves a lasting impression. Complete with over 100 hands on exhibits, Wonderworks is more entertainment than education, but it doesn’t mean you won’t learn something along the way.

From walking through a 100 mph hurricane to experiencing a 5.1 earthquake there’s a few other activities that are worth checking out including playing a giant piano, sleeping on a bed of nails and experimenting with a giant Tesla Coil.

Go for a hike in the Tibet-Butler Preserve

What does the worlds largest amusement parks and a preserve have in common?

Nothing, except they’re both found in Orlando. If you need to get away from the chaos known as theme parks, there’s not much better place in Orlando than the Tibet-Butler Preserve.

With raised boardwalks, numerous trails, marshes, trees, plenty of birds, turtles and small animals, the preserve is a great free way to get away from the crowds and back into nature. With a small visitors center complete with clean bathrooms, it’s a great way to spend a quiet morning after a day battling the crowds.

Walk among the roses at Harry P. Leu Gardens

Ever been in a rose garden so large you’re not sure which direction you came from?

The largest rose garden in Florida can be found at the Harry P. Leu Gardens. This sprawling 50 acre estate, only minutes from downtown Orlando, comprises over 40 different plant collections and different dedicated gardens from a butterfly garden and herb garden, all the way to a bamboo garden. If you love camellias, this is one place you don’t want to miss as they also have one of the largest camellia collections in North America.

Glide through the bogs at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures

What do huge fans and small flat bottomed metal boats have in common?

They can both be found together at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures. Whether you take one of the personal tours or go on the larger 16 person boat, going for a swamp ride on an airboat is a unique adventure.

As you cruise along you’ll see everything from huge alligators to wading cranes to piles of turtles basking in the sunlight. You might be able to convince yourself you’re going there to experience nature but the truth is, those airboats are a ton of fun to ride on.

Have any other unique places in Orlando that are worth sharing? We’d love to the hear about them!

More Fun things to do in and around Orlando

• 10 Fun Things To Do at ICON Park Orlando
• Harry Potter Souvenirs from Universal Studios Orlando That are Worth the Money (and Where to Buy Them)
• Universal Orlando Tips to Save You Time and Money
• The Best Road Trips in Florida
• 21 Best Things to do in Destin Florida Bucket List

What to do in San Diego

Here are our top picks for family things to do in San Diego. First here’s a little history on the city.

About San Diego

San Diego was founded in 1769, making it the oldest city in California. There’s a lot to love about San Diego, including its virtually perfect weather throughout the year. It also has more than its fair share of attractive tourist spots, including 31 lovely ocean beaches along 25 miles of shoreline from Sunset Cliffs to La Jolla, and a whopping 340 parks. The city is also culturally rich, with almost too many museums, galleries, and art studios to list in one place.

If your kids are up for it, Old Town San Diego Street Historic Park is a great place for a stroll and unique shopping. Kids will love learning about the natural world and varied wildlife in the expansive San Diego Zoo.

Feeling peckish? San Diego has a thriving food scene, with plenty of options for kids. Be sure to try San Diego’s own Cali-Baja cuisine, and the adults can try some of the hundreds of craft beer options.

Planning a relocation to San Diego? Thanks to it’s great locale near the Baja Peninsula and it’s fantastic weather, the city has been continuously growing for over 200 years.

San Diego, though it’s only a few hours south of LA, has a much chiller vibe than it’s famous neighbor and unsurprisingly hosts some of the best tourist spots in California. People from all around the world have had the time of their life here and in this article we’ve picked 5 of those places that you can visit on your next trip to San Diego.

The San Diego Zoo

Situated north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is one of the largest and most famous zoos in the United States and is known the world over for it’s inhabitants. It’s a non-profit wildlife sanctuary that houses more than 3,500 animals, which represent more than 650 species and subspecies. If your kids are plant lovers, there’s also a botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants.

This enormous zoo and safari park is home to rare, endangered, and vulnerable animals. Some of the most famous animals residing in the zoo currently are the giant pandas, which, thanks in part to the San Diego Zoo team, is now listed as vulnerable (rather than endangered).

Other kid-pleasing animals in the zoo include kangaroos, koalas, rhinos, leopards, polar bears, sloths, and bonobos. You can even sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour to get a closer view of the day to day responsibilities of the caretakers as well as have up close animal experiences.

The Zoo also has fun activities for it’s visitors, like the Kangaroo Express Bus and the Skyfari Aerial Tram, along with plenty of free-roaming animals that make the experience all the more real.

USS Midway Museum

Permanently docked at Navy Pier, the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway is open to visitors. During it’s heyday, It was one of the largest ships in the US Military.

Along with the USS Midway, the museum also has 30 restored Navy aircraft to see, plus incredible views of San Diego Bay. Kids will keep plenty busy with over 60 exhibits, including hangar, flight deck, and below deck exhibits. If you have time, there’s an incredibly popular audio tour that brings the history of the ship to light (bring your own headphones, if you can).

Balboa Park

San Balboa Park is much more than a green space. It’s home to 17 museums, theaters, as well as the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park is an open space urban cultural park, with enough to keep the kids (and adults) busy for days. There are dance classes, gardens, performing arts, museums, shopping, tours, and plenty to eat and drink.

Looking more closely, there are a dizzying number of attractions here, including the Balboa Park Carousel and miniature train, the Cabrillo Bridge, California Tower, El Cid stature, Escape The Nat escape room, the impressively large Moreton Bay fig tree, the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, the Photographic Arts Building, the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society, Sefton Plaza, the Spanish Village Art Center, and of course the San Diego Zoo.

The Casa del Prado, often just called del Prado, is made of several reconstructed buildings first built for the Panama–California Exposition in San Diego’s Balboa Park. It’s a working site, and often home to weddings, events and activities.

The Casa del Balboa is a single building in Balboa Park. It was originally called the Commerce and Industries Building, and later called the Canadian Building, the Palace of Better Housing, and the Electric Building. Today, Casa del Balboa houses the Balboa Art Conservation Center, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, and the San Diego History Center.

Gaslamp Quarter

Built-in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the Gaslamp Quarter takes up 16 and a half blocks in San Diego’s downtown. It’s a recognized historic district, with plenty of character and charm. It’s also known for being one of the most visited places in the city.

The Gaslamp Quarter is probably best known for city nightlife, and it’s the place to go to catch the latest theatre, comedy or jazz performance, see the trendiest clothes and people or eat the best cuisine. That said, there’s plenty for kids to do here.

The Gaslamp Quarter is easily walkable, but the kids may enjoy taking a bike taxi. It’s likely the most kid friendly during the day.

The Beaches of San Diego

San Diego is easily the city of the beaches, so visiting the beach is an absolute must when you visit. Some of our favorite San Diego beaches for kids are Coronado Beach, Del Mar City Beach, Moonlight Beach, Mission Bay, Cardiff State Beach, South Ponto Beach, La Jolla Shores, and Silver Strand State Beach.

Mission Beach is a great choice for families that want to relax, with great spots to sunbathe, and a buzzing beachfront Boardwalk, with a sea view café. It’s also a great spot for adventurous families that want to surf. Ocean Beach is a chic and relaxed vibe, while dog lovers will adore – you guessed it – Dog Beach.

Coronado Beach is great for beach volleyball, but it’s also home to a unique experience – ice skating! You can skate at Hotel del Coronado, with stunning view of the beach.

Looking for some more California and west coast fun and sun? Check out these great reads:

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• Universal Studios Hollywood Tips to Save you Time, Money, and Hassle!
• Best Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles

Do you have any other ideas for the best attractions in San Diego as a family? Let us know!

Looking for some fun Destin activities?

If you love beautiful beaches and great water activities, it’s good to know that Destin is one of Florida’s not so hidden treasures.

Situated around the halfway point between Florida’s theme park mecca of Orlando and Louisiana’s very popular city of New Orleans, Destin is a Florida Gulf Coast playground with miles of white sand beaches and calm ocean currents.

The water activities in particular around Destin are what typically draw in the visitors and why Destin and it’s neighbor city of Fort Walton are known in the Florida Panhandle as places not to be missed.

Things to do in Destin Florida

So, whether you’re in Florida for a day or for a week, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Destin with or without kids, here’s a list of some of the best activities Destin and the surrounding areas have to offer.

Crab Island

One of the biggest draws to the region is the ever popular Crab Island which isn’t an actual island but a large submerged sandbar situated between Destin and Fort Walton in the entrance to Choctawatchee Bay.

With water depths ranging from 2 to 4 feet, gorgeous sand beneath and zero waves, Crab Island is a great place to hang out for the day. Check out our post on things to do in Crab Island if you want to find out more about it. Crab Island is one of the most fun things to do while in Destin Fl!

Take a Cruise in Destin Florida

No matter your tastes, Destin has some amazing day and night cruises. Whether you want to party like a local, capture the wind and go sailing, search for friendly dolphins or just cruise the beautiful blue green waters off the coast, there’s a Destin cruise perfect for you. Not sure which one to choose? Here’s some of the more popular Destin area cruises.

Destin Dolphin Tours on a Boat

With several well known dolphin pods surrounding the waters around Destin, going on a dolphin cruise in Destin practically guarantees some dolphin time. As well as dolphin spotting, several Destin dolphin excursions include fishing and a lunch. Kids will especially enjoy a Destin Dolphin tour.

Dolphin Tours on a Jet Ski

Don’t like crowds? Crave a little more speed or want to be closer to nature? Then take a guided Jet Ski tour and get up close to nature. There are a few options for guided dolphin jet ski tours out of Destin and Fort Walton that will have you smiling ear to ear as you zip across the water. If the call of nature includes zooming around at 30 miles an hour then this is the cruise style for you.

Destin Sailing Tour

Whether you’re jumping on a small single sail boat or hopping on a huge catamaran, the outcome will be the same. At Destin that means the wind at your back and no sounds save the waves slapping your bow. With miles of gorgeous coastline and calm seas all around, going sailing on the Emerald Coast is a guaranteed good day.

Sunset Cruises around Destin Florida

Love sunsets? Who doesn’t. Due to the angle of the coast in this area, Destin has some amazing sunsets that can only be truly enjoyed while on a boat. Whether you’re looking to be inspired by nature’s beauty or just want that perfect pic to send back to your loved ones, going on a sunset cruise in Destin is a surefire way to end the night on a high note. Coupled with some dolphin sightings and maybe a drink or two, going on a sunset cruise is a great couple or family activity for everyone.

Destin Tiki Cruises

Enjoy partying while the sun sets on one of Destin’s infamous Tiki Cruises.

Sure, you can jump on a pontoon boat (great for families) or get on one of the larger party barges (great for dancers), but Miami has nothing on a Destin Tiki party boat. This one definitely isn’t for the family and a few last the night so choose your party boat wisely. These floating Tiki Huts come complete with a bartender and how hard you party just depends on who you take with you. A tiki cruise is one of the most unique Destin Florida attractions you’ll find!

Go Jet Skiing

Hate dolphins, yeah, who doesn’t. (Just kidding.) Love speed, freedom and the open sea? Well, if you’ve never done it then it’s time to get on a Jet Ski. With some great options around Destin and Fort Walton, renting a Jet Ski is a great way to get away from it all and leave your troubles behind.

Rent a Stand Up Paddleboard

Prefer a quieter existence to the roar of the Jet Ski but still want some alone time? Then renting a paddleboard is where it’s at. We love ours and use them every chance we get. You can rent a stand up paddleboard in Destin by the hour, day or even the week. Not much beats a slow paddle with the chance to see dolphins or even giant rays beneath you while you check out Crab Island or the miles of coastline.

Rent a Kayak in Destin

Love everything about stand up paddleboards but hate standing? Then maybe renting a kayak in Destin is more your thing. We love them both but when we really want to put on the miles or don’t want to risk getting wet we take out our kayaks. Destin is a great place to rent a kayak and is an easy way to get yourself out on the water if you want to save a little bit of money.

Go Fishing in Destin Florida

Whether you love deep sea fishing or just catching a few small ones for an impromptu fish fry on the beach, Destin has you covered. With options ranging from renting a small fishing boat to chartering a large captained vessel, the options are huge. With one of largest fish chartering fleets on the east coast, You can see a few Destin fishing options here on Tripadvisor.

Rent a Pontoon Boat

Want to do all the above? Then maybe a pontoon boat rental is the thing for you. With captained and self guided rentals available, you can rent a pontoon for the day and get a chance to do it all. It’s one of the best things to do in Destin Florida with kids, for sure.

Start by some early morning dolphin spotting followed by a little fishing for that tasty beachside fish fry then follow it up with a few hours hanging with the locals at Crab Island before stopping at one of the several delicious restaurants that permeate the entire Destin area. Then get back on the boat for a little more dolphin sightings as you wait for sunset. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

Want the best of both worlds? You can rent both a pontoon boat and a jet ski.

Banana Boat

While many head to Florida to visit the popular theme parks surrounding Orlando and others head down to Miami for the nightlife, far away from the hubbub of Disney or the wizarding world of Harry Potter you can find an area ripe for entertainment. That’s right. I’m talking about Banana Boat rides. Nobody does them better than the crews around Destin. Haven’t tried it? I dare you to grab a few friends and tell your driver to hit it.

Parasailing in Destin

Far below the clouds but high above the crowds, you’ll find me. That’s right, due to the calm waters of the bay, parasailing is a popular activity in Destin. Whether you brave the skies alone or with a friend, there’s several outfitters in the area who can tow you up for a view of the area that only the birds know.

Destin Beaches

Love beaches? We sure do and we’ve walked on some of the best in the world.

Hitting the beach is definitely one of the best family things to do in Destin, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a free thing to do in Destin as well!

Destin has some great beaches and even more importantly, has some great sand. If you love to make sandcastles but want a little tutelage, then maybe think about taking some sand castle lessons while you’re in Destin. The best part is they come to you!

Destin Harbor Boardwalk

After a long day on the water, stretching your feet is a great activity. so make sure you check out the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. With dozens of restaurants, including some of the freshest seafood in the country as well as shops, hotels and attractions you’ll almost be sad you stayed on the water so long.

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Penguins, dolphins, alligators and more can be found at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park located on the nearby beach in Fort Walton which happens to be just a few minutes drive from the Destin Harbor. Dancing dolphins, inquisitive sea lions, sharks, rays and even pelicans can be found at one of the Panhandle’s first aquariums and wildlife education centers.

Big Kahuna’s Waterpark

Waterslides, tube runs, mini golf and more can be found at the Big Kahuna’s Waterpark during the summer months. If your kids (or your adrenaline seeking friends) need a little more excitement than a day at the beach can bring, then hitting the local Destin waterpark might raise their spirits.

Other things to do in Destin Florida

While there are plenty of things to do in Destin Florida, the most important thing to remember is to have fun and be safe.

Let us know in the comments below if we missed any of your favorite things to do in Destin Florida!

Want to have some more Florida fun? Check out our posts on the  best beaches in the Florida Key, and family fun at LEGOLAND Florida 

Looking for the most fun things to do at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida?

ICON Park is a big place, complete with an aquarium, wax museum, a truly cool observation wheel, and plenty of shops and restaurants.

In a hurry? See ICON Park’s prices and more now.

What is there to do at ICON Park?

We always adore our family vacations in Orlando. It’s such a great place to kick back and have fun, with affordable accommodation, plenty of fun family things to do, gorgeous weather, and great food.

When we’re not visiting the huge attractions like Universal Orlando (see our Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips here, along with our guide of the best Wizarding World of Harry Potter souvenirs), or LEGOLAND Florida, we carve out time for some of the other fun attractions in Florida.

ICON Park (formerly ICON Orlando 360) is a vast 20 acres open-air park. There are dozens of fun attractions and activities at ICON Park, but we’ve picked 10 favorites to share.

Ride The Wheel at ICON Park

Have you ever heard of the London Eye? It’s a famous London landmark Ferris wheel with a great view of the city of London, and a must do on every list of the best things to do with kids in London.

Wheel at ICON Park is Orlando’s version of the London Eye. It was built in 2015, it’s an iconic observation wheel that takes visitors to see a stunning view of Orlando. The Wheel is one of the most iconic things to do at ICON Park.

How long does it take to ride The Wheel?

The ride on The Wheel takes about 20 minutes.

Is The Wheel worth it?

The Wheel takes visitors 400 feet in the air, with a gorgeous view at the top. From the top of the observation wheel, you can see Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and nearby lakes and nature reserves. This alone is well worth the price of admission in our opinion! The land around the theme parks in Orlando is incredibly flat, and great views are pretty hard to come by!

If you’re concerned about social distancing, you can even take the ride all by yourself, or reserve a private ride with friends and family. 

The Wheel is an absolute must see, but there are plenty of other things to see and do in ICON Park.

Madame Tussauds Orlando

I’ve always been a fan of a great wax museum. The artistry of the wax figures is definitely impressive, and even a little bit creepy (in a good way, if that makes any sense).

The days of wax museums playing a stuffy, dust-covered homage to your parent’s favorite movie stars and politicians are long gone. These days, Madame Tussauds has Justice League heroes, Aquaman, plus all the familiar favorites. A lot of the attractions here are interactive, bringing the fun factor way up.

SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

SEA LIFE Orlando has over 5,000 species, including sharks, octopi, and penguins.

Orlando StarFlyer

If there’s an adventure lover in your group, make sure you stop by the Orlando StarFlyer. At 450 feet tall, this is the world’s tallest swing ride.

Pearl Express Train

Every theme park needs a theme park train, and ICON Park has a great one. The Pearl Express Train is perfect for all ages, and departs in front of The Wheelhouse. It’s also a fantastic way to rest your feet for a few minutes while you enjoy the sights.

7D Dark Ride Adventure

This is an absolute blast. The 7D Dark Ride Adventure is a shooting game in a whopping seven dimensions, including wind, movement and sound.

Have Family Fun at Arcade City

Our family loves arcades, so Arcade City is a must see for us. It’s always fun to compete for prizes (our youngest has the best luck!), and arcades are a ton of fun! When you buy an ICON Park Play Pass, you get a $5 Play Card to Arcade City in addition to admission to 7 other ICON Park attractions.

Shopping till you drop

There’s a pretty good variety of shopping, with casual mementos at the Wheelhouse Gift Shop and 360 gifts.

If sweet treats are more your thing, be sure to check out the Sugar Factory. Flip Flop Shops and Calenoi Sunglasses can take care of your warm weather summer gear needs.

Take in the entertainment

There’s plenty of entertainment to keep you busy, with everything from free light shows at night, to country music, to nightly flamenco shows at Tapa Toro.

Grab a great meal, or a tasty snack

There’s definitely an international flair to the restaurants at ICON Park.  One of the best (we think) is iCafe de Paris, which serves up delicious French crepes.

If Mexican is your thing, check out Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant, or Tapa Toro for Spanish cuisine.

Lovers of Japanese food can get their sushi or ramen at Mikado Japanese Restaurant.

If you’re looking for something more casual, check out the options at the The Wheelhouse Market Food Hall below The Wheel at ICON Park.

Is ICON Park free?

Admission to ICON Park is always free, but some attractions, like The Wheel, charge admission prices.

Parking at ICON Park is also free!

If you want to visit ICON Park on a budget, it’s a fantastic place to enjoy the nightly light shows, dancing fountains, and people watch on the central green without spending money.

ICON Park Orlando tickets

The best place to buy ICON Park tickets is directly on the ICON Park website here.

ICON Park discounts

The easiest way to save is to book online on the ICON Park website here.

You can save $2 off The Wheel admission price when you book online, and there are also discounts for Florida residents. There are also attraction combo packs to help save money.

There are also several days every year where admission to The Wheel is free for active and retired military.

Hotels near ICON Park Orlando

ICON Park has a fantastic location near Disneyworld and Universal Orlando. Because of this, it’s easy to find hotels or an Airbnb.

Looking for a great deal on your next Airbnb? Click here to get a $35 USD credit!

Looking for some fun in other parts of Florida? Check out our guide to Destin Florida, and the best things to do in Crab Island Florida near Destin.

Have you visited ICON Park ? What are your favorite things to do in ICON Orlando?

Wondering what there is to do on Crab Island?

Here’s everything you’ll need to know, including great dining, attraction, tours, and events.

We always have so much fun when we visit Florida! It’s a beautiful spot for sun and sand, as well as visits to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter World at Universal Orlando, LEGOLAND, and the stunning beaches of the Florida Keys.

Crab Island is the perfect place to catch some of that famous Florida sunshine and fun!

What to do on Crab Island in Destin Florida

Crab Island is an underwater sandbar near Destin, Florida, near the Marler Bridge, at the entrance of Choctawhatchee Bay.

Crab Island is a popular place for both tourists and locals enjoying the sun.

Is Crab Island busy?

Originally a quiet escape used to anchor boats, Crab Island has become more and more popular with each year. Today, Crab Island is usually full of people catching rays, wading through the clear water, and enjoying the social scene.

At its busiest, you can see hundreds or even thousands of boats on Crab Island on a warm summer day.

When is Crab Island open, and when should I visit?

Because Florida’s Crab Island isn’t an official state park, it doesn’t have posted opening and closing hours. That said, most people visit during the day to enjoy a day in the sun.

Most of the floating restaurants and vendors are only open from March or April to October.

The water at high tide is exceptionally clear and enjoyable, though you can visit at low tide as well.

How do I get to Crab Island?

Crab Island is just two minutes from the harbor at Destin, Florida.

There’s no land access to Crab Island, so you’ll have to get there over water.

Important! Because the currents can be strong, and there’s a lot of boat traffic, please don’t attempt to swim to Crab Island for safety reasons.

The best way to get to Crab Island is probably by pontoon boat or jet ski rental.

Most visitors rent a boat, or take their own. If you’re an inexperienced boater, it’s best to anchor on the outside of the sandbar, as currents and wind can make you bump into other boats if you’re too close.

Pontoon (party boats) are a great choice if you’re a large group, or if you’d like to stay for the day. In fact, pontoon boats are hugely popular here, earning Destin the nickname of “Pontoon Capital of the World”.

The easiest way to visit is to check out boat rentals to visit Crab Island in Destin, Florida.

It’s easiest to rent a boat or other watercraft either out of Destin Harbor, or Calhoun Avenue.

You can even hire a boat with a boat captain to take you out to the island.

You can also take a shuttle boat out to Crab Island from Destin Harbor. It’s a 32′ glass bottom boat that stays on the island for 2.5 or 3 hours. Adult tickets start at $40, and all trips are round trip.

As of 2020, taxi boats were no longer allowed to take people to Crab Island and drop them off.

Crab Island is also accessible by jet ski, kayak or paddle board.

Where did Crab Island get its name?

Today, Crab Island is an elongated sandbar. It wasn’t always that shape.

The island was created in the 1960s by the Army Corps of Engineers by dredging the Destin Pass. The extra material was dumped where Crab Island stands today.

Over the years drifting sands and hurricanes buried most of the island in sea water, covering up the original shape of the land: which was shaped like a crab.

Today, the island may no longer be shaped like a crab, but it definitely has thousands of the tiny little sea creatures on the sandbar floor.

What should I take to Crab Island?

You’ll be spending most of your time on Crab Island outdoors, so it’s a great idea to bring outdoor gear.

Sunscreen is a must, and definitely bring a swimsuit and towel if you plan to get into that crystal clear water.

There are plenty of food options, but if you don’t want to eat out, bring a cooler filled with drinks and something to eat.

How deep is the water at Crab Island?

Crab Island is actually an underwater sandbar. The water depth ranges from two to ten feet deep. In most parts it’s one to four feet deep.

Are there restaurants on Crab Island?

Because Crab Island is underwater, there aren’t fixed restaurants. Instead, you’ll find food vendors lined up on the island.

Vendors offer typical American casual food, with burgers, fries, ice cream, hot boiled peanuts, soft drinks, and sandwiches being hugely popular.

If you’re looking for snacks or supplies, there are mini stores that sell beach equipment like towels and sunscreen, as well as chips and pop.

You can’t buy alcohol at Crab Island, but you can bring your own.

Some vendors accept credit cards, but many are cash only, so be sure to bring some cash!

Activities on Crab Island

Because Crab Island is water based, most activities are built around fun and sun.

You can rent large water trampolines or even an inflatable slide if you’re there with a group.

Because large inflatables are becoming more and more restricted on Crab Island as of 2020, you may see fewer (or none) of them available for rent.

Kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent as well, and are a fantastic way to enjoy the clear water of the sandbar.

If you’re feeling a bit more like a motorized thrill, you can even rent a jet ski.

Snorkeling is also popular on the island. You can bring your own snorkel, rent a snorkel kit at the Destin harbor, or rent a snorkel, fins and mask from one of the rental places on the sandbar. You’ll need to be aware of boats if you’re snorkeling here, as the island can be crowded on summer weekends.

You’ll see a lot of parasailers out on Crab Island. Most rides don’t take more than half an hour, and it’s a unique way to get a different perspective on the local scene.

Sports on Crab Island, Florida

Water volleyball nets are set up all over Crab Island. It’s easy to paddle up and ask to join in a game, or you can even rent your own water volleyball net yourself.

If volleyball isn’t your thing, there’s also water basketball and smash ball.

Dolphin watching is a lot of fun in these waters. Dolphins and other marine life are commonly seen at Crab Island, though you may have better luck on a day when the island isn’t overly busy.

Looking for more fun stuff to do? Check out Destiny Water Adventures website for boat and jet ski rentals, plus great ideas for tours and activities.

In years past, there was a Crab Island Waterpark set up at the island. These days, there’s a tour that takes you to Crab Island, stopping at inflatables along the way.

Note: Because large inflatables won’t be allowed to anchor overnight on Crab Island as of 2020, you may see fewer of the large waterparks going forward.

There are plenty of other tours out to Crab Island, ranging from an adventure tour with plenty of water activities included, to the simple shuttle run, which just includes a visit to the island.

Every year, there’s an annual kickoff party in May. There’s a DJ, with plenty of partying and dancing.

Throughout the year, musical acts perform most Saturdays at noon.

Have you been to Crab Island in Destin, Florida? Tell us what you thought in the comments below!

We visit Universal Hollywood whenever we get a chance, and make notes and tips for how make our next visit easier and more fun!

A visit to Universal Studios Hollywood can solid be a hit to the budget, so you’ll want to make the most of every minute, and come home with great memories of your vacation!

Universal Studios Hollywood Tips

Even though Universal Hollywood is a lot smaller than Universal in Florida, you could still spend a couple of days here and not watch every show, enjoy every ride, and snack at all the restaurants. We’ve got tips that can help save you money, and just as importantly, help save you time and hassle, whether you’re road tripping like us, or live nearby.

See our article on Universal Studios Orlando tips and tricks here!

Buy your tickets online, in advance

You can generally get a better deal if you buy your tickets in advance and online. In fact, right now Universal Hollywood has a buy one day, get one day free deal if you buy online. Deals change all the time, but we’ve definitely found the best prices online, rather than at the gate.

As an added bonus, tickets that we bought online got us early entry, half an hour before the park opens for ticket sales. This is huge!

See prices for Universal Studios Hollywood tickets online here at Undercover Tourist.

Go early and stay late

Buying your tickets online will get you 30 minute early admission, which is a huge bonus. You’ll be able to get in line for one of your favorite rides, a little early, when the park’s less buys.

We find that crowds drop off around 6 pm, so if you’re there on a night the park is open later, you’ll likely have shorter lineups.

Check opening and closing times

During our last visit, we were really surprised to notice that opening and closing times at Universal Studios Hollywood varied a lot day by day.

Depending on the day, the park can be open 9 am to 9 pm, 10 am to 6 pm or another variation. If you go on a day it’s open 9 to 9, you’ll get a solid 12 hours in the park, by a 10 to 6 day only gives you 8 hours, which is a huge difference. If you can, go on a day with longer opening hours.

Visiting for two days is better than one

On our last visit to Universal Hollywood, we only had time for a one day visit. We managed to do all of the rides, shows and attractions on our must-do list, but it would have been nice to have time to explore some of our second choices for rides, like the Mummy.

See prices for Universal Studios Hollywood tickets online here at Undercover Tourist.

That said, one day is enough to see Universal Hollywood, but we’d suggest two days if you want to have a more relaxed time, enjoy your favorite rides more than once, try out some of the smaller rides and attractions, or take the time to leisurely stroll through Diagon Alley at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Make sure you check for the latest deals on Universal tickets. We’ve often seen buy one day, get one day free deals (though we weren’t quite so lucky over spring break, one of their busiest times). These deals are one of our favorite Universal Studios Hollywood hacks.

Stay nearby

Los Angeles is notorious for traffic jams for a reason. During our last visit, every time we hit the expressway or any highway, we were snarled in traffic. If you’re lucky, it’ll be congested and keep moving, but if you’re not, you could be stuck in traffic for hours.

The best way to avoid getting stuck in traffic, and saving a lot of time, on your way to Universal Hollywood is to stay as close as possible to the park as your budget allows.

It’s not well advertised on the Universal site, but there is a section where you can book your Universal tickets and hotel together. We found that prices may be a hair cheaper than booking separately, but your mileage may vary.

We generally to go the route of booking our hotel and Universal Hollywood tickets separately, since we haven’t found any big perks for of booking them together, and the price for our visits is comparable either way.

Universal’s partner hotels are the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, Sheraton Universal Hotel, The Garland, Coast Anabelle Hotel, Best Western Plus Carriage Inn, Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport, Safari Inn, Loews Hollywood Hotel, Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel (and about 10 more).

If you have the budget, the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City and Sheraton Universal Hotel are the best of the bunch. Both are within a mile of Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, and within walking distance to Universal Studios and Citywalk. Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City and the Sheraton Universal Hotel both have a complimentary Universal Studios shuttle to the main entrance of Universal Studios and Citywalk.

Unfortunately, on our last visit, we booked at the last minute, and there weren’t any good rates at any of the Universal partner hotels. We ended up staying in North Hollywood, at the two star Colony Inn North Hollywood. It was serviceable, but I think I’d only recommend it as a budget option if your choices are really limited.

The only real advantage I found is that it was easy driving distance to Porto’s Bakery and Cafe, which is probably my favorite find in Los Angeles in the last few years. There are crazy long lines at Porto’s for a reason, and one of the best and biggest selections of pastries I’ve ever seen.

Go on the studio tour

We’re huge Harry Potter fans, so the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was definitely our favorite part of the park. The famous studio tour came in a close second, and is unique to Universal Studios Hollywood.

For the tour, you hop on a tram, and you drive through the Universal Studios lot, with a very entertaining conductor narrating your tour. There are hints of old time Hollywood glamor, nostalgia driving past the clock tower from Back to the Future, and even some thrills courtesy of King Kong, Jaws, and Jurassic World.

When we went a couple of months ago, we had a personal guide for our tram, who was fantastic, but I see that the Universal site says the ride is now narrated on HD monitors by Jimmy Fallon (the star of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”.

Go to the busiest big ticket rides first thing in the morning

Universal only gets busier as the day goes on, so get in line for your must-ride big ticket rides as early as possible.

On our last visit, we had early admission, so we made our way right away to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey first thing. We’re glad we did! When we walked by later in the day, the lines were at least twice as long.

See our Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips for Universal Orlando!

Plan the date of your visit!

There are huge differences in the business of Universal Hollywood, depending on time of year, day of the week, and whether there are any major holidays.

We visited during spring break (which is generally fairly busy), but we elected to go mid-week when crowds were less than on the weekend. Fewer crowds means less waiting in lines, and being able to sit a little closer to the shows.

This handy crowd calendar can help you pick a quieter day to visit.

Get the Universal Express Pass

If you’re visiting during an especially busy time, or if you want to maximize the rides you enjoy, a Universal Express Pass can be well worth the money.

The Universal Express Pass lets you bypass regular lines. It includes park admission, but also get you ONE-TIME express access to each ride, attraction and seated show. So, you can only use it one time on each ride, attraction or show.

The downside is that it’s quite a bit more expensive (sometimes almost twice the price of regular admission), but it may be well worth it if you’re short on time, or visiting when it’s especially busy.

Arrive early enough to allow for for security and lineups

We got our tickets online, which gave us early access to the park by 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, we hadn’t allowed quite enough time for the security line (which took about 15 minutes) or waiting in the main lineup at the gate (another 15 minutes). We still got in about 20 minutes early, but I wish we’d gotten there a touch earlier.

Eat during quieter times

If you stop by a popular restaurant like Three Broomsticks during standard lunch (noon to 1 pm) or dinner times (6 pm to 7 pm), you’ll likely end up waiting in line for a while.

If you plan your meals earlier or later, lineups will be shorter, and you can save yourself some time.

Have a plan!

While Universal Studios Hollywood is much smaller than Universal Studios in Florida, it’s still a big enough park that you can waste a lot of time wandering around if you don’t plan your visit.

Since Universal Hollywood is set on a hillside, there are two main areas (lots) that are separated by a series of escalators. It can take about 10 to 15 minutes to go up or down the escalators (depending on how busy it was), so you can kill a lot of time just going between lots.

Take a look at the park map here

Get the Universal Hollywood app

The Universal Hollywood app is fantastic. It has a park map, plus it shows live wait times for rides, attractions and shows. Plus there’s even information on restaurants and restaurant menus, which was great for planning meals for the vegetarians in the family.

You can get the app on Google Play here, or on the App Store for iOS here.

Yes, there’s free WiFi in the park

We found Universal’s free WiFi to be plenty fast, and managed to get a signal absolutely everywhere in the park.

Our Wizarding World of Harry Potter California tips

We’re huge Potterheads, and loved nothing more than visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood. It’s definitely a lot smaller than the Orlando version, with fewer rides, and much less to see, but it’s still a ton of fun, and well worth a visit.

Get a wand

One of our kids favorite things to do in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was to use the interactive wands to cast spells in shop displays. The wands really make you feel that you’re a true witch or wizard, rather than a muggle.

We bought our interactive wands in Universal Orlando, and were thrilled to find they worked perfectly in Universal Hollywood as well.

Each wand costs around $50, but you can use it on multiple visits. Since the wand chooses the wizard, you can stop by a wand cart or shop Ollivanders to get one.

Butter beer

I’m a little hesitant to say how much we spent on butterbeer for the four of us during our last one day visit, but let’s just say it was closer to $100 than $50.

You can get three kinds of butterbeer here, standard butterbeer, frozen butterbeer, and hot butterbeer.

Standard butterbeer tastes a little like a cross between cream soda and root beer, and is topped with a butterscotch caramel creamy topping. It’s our favorite.

Frozen butterbeer is essentially a butterbeer slushy and great for hot days. Some people love it, but we’re so-so on it.

Hot butter beer is like a caramel/butterscotch white chocolate topped with a creamy topping. It’s delicious, and great for cooler days.

See prices for Universal Studios Hollywood tickets online here at Undercover Tourist.

Do you have any favorite Universal Studios Hollywood tips and tricks? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear about them!

We’re pretty picky souvenir buyers. We’ll only buy souvenirs that we truly love, that we think are worth the money (meaning that we think they’re good quality and we enjoy them).

Universal Orlando is a fantastic place to shop for Harry Potter merchandise, because the park carries items you just can’t find anywhere else, there’s a fantastic selection, and the quality there tends to be better than online stores.

In this post, we mention stores at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando instead of Universal Hollywood, because, Universal Orlando is larger, and there’s more selection. Even so, we saw most (if not all) of these items at the smaller Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood, California, too.

Every time we visit Universal Orlando, we come home with something new and interesting. My personal favorites are usually snacks from Honeydukes, but the kids really love the wands from Universal.

Looking for a great deal on tickets to Universal Orlando? Click here to save $53 on Universal 2-Day Park-to-Park Tickets with ONE Extra Day FREE with Undercover Tourist.

If you’re looking for some more help, check out our helpful article on Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips and hacks that can save you time, hassle and money!

Harry Potter souvenirs

Ready to get some great Harry Potter gear? What’s stopping you? Put on your driving gloves, book a rental car in Orlando, and make your way to what we think is the world’s best place to buy Harry Potter Souvenirs: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando.

Here are our picks for the best Harry Potter souvenirs at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando.

Where to buy Harry Potter souvenirs at Universal Orlando

There are plenty of stores in where you can pick up Harry Potter World merchandise at Universal Orlando. Some are incredibly specialized (like Gringotts, where Muggles can exchange their Muggle currency for Gringotts Bank Notes) others carry a wide range of goodies (like Honeydukes or Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes).

Here’s a quick list of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter stores.

• Gringotts Money Exchange
• Honeydukes
• Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes
• Sugarplum’s Sweet Shops
• Scribbulus
• Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods
• Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions
• Borgin and Burkes
• Ollivanders (Hogsmeade)
• Shutterbutton’s
• Globus Mundi
• Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment
• Wands by Gregorovitch (Diagon Alley)
• Owl Post
• Quality Quidditch Supplies
• Magical Menagerie
• Dervish and Banges
• Wand carts
• Butterbeer carts

It’s one thing to know where you can buy stuff, but what are the really good Harry Potter Souvenirs? Here are our top picks.

Wands

Whether you’re a fan of Dumbledore’s ornate Elder wand, Hermione’s delicately carved wand, or Harry’s simpler wand, there’s a wand for you here.

Buying an interactive wand at Universal Orlando is almost a must to get a full, immersive experience at Harry Potter World. The interactive wands help wizards and witches cast spells at special shop windows throughout both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. 

Interactive wands cost around $50 USD. For us, they were were worth every penny, as they made our kids feel they weren’t mere muggles, and helped them feel like a true wizard and witch in training!

What’s really great is that you only need to buy an interactive wand once, and you can use it the next time you visit. We’ve used the same wands at both Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood.

You can buy a wand at Ollivanders, Wands by Gregorovitch, or at a wand cart. Wands by Gregorovitch is in Diagon Alley only, but you can visit an Ollivanders’ branch in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Wand carts are scattered throughout the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

If you want the full experience of having the wand choose you, stop by
Ollivanders wand show. There’s often a line, but the wand show only lasts five minutes, and Ollivander personally selects one person from the crowd to demonstrate a wand selection ceremony. The show’s free, but you’ll have to pay for your wand.

Want to save time buying a wand? It’s usually quieter at Ollivanders in Diagon Alley than Ollivanders in Hogsmeade.

When our kids got their wands, it was an especially busy time, so we stopped by one of the wand carts. The carts have a good selection, but don’t carry every wand. Since the wand chooses the wizard, Dumbledore’s wand chose our daughter, and Sirius Black’s wand chose our son, and they were both ecstatic with their wands.

Amazon also has a good selection of wands. 

See prices and more for Noble Collection Harry Potter wands. 

Robes

Whether you’re Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff, any Potterhead worth their weight in Floo Powder would love to get their hands on a house robe.

Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions in Diagon Alley has the best selection of robes.

There’s a nice weight to the robes, and they’re made of good quality fabric here, too. They feel like real robes, rather than a costume.

Madam Malkin’s isn’t just about robes: you can also pick up Hermione’s Yule ball gown, and full uniforms for Hogwarts students, with ties, scarves, and sweaters and more.

Robes definitely aren’t cheap here: plan on spending over $100 USD.

You can also pick up some good quality Harry Potter robes on Amazon if you’re not quite willing to pay the price at Universal, or you can’t find your favorite size or style.

See Harry Potter Wizard Robes by Cinereplicas prices and more.

Harry Potter candy and confections!

One of my favorite things in the world is to walk into Honeydukes and browse through the isles of candy and sweet confections. It’s definitely my personal favorite Harry Potter candy store.

We always pick up a few goodies at Honeydukes. One of our top picks are Fizzing Whizbees, which are tasty milk chocolate treats with fruit flavored popping candy inside. I didn’t count exactly, but there must be 20 candies in each box, making it perfect for sharing.

The chocolate frogs are also great, and in a cute box, but they’re harder to share as there’s only one frog in a box.

Sugarplum’s Sweetshop is a great favorite of ours as well. Our kids loved the inventive Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans. Watch out, though, they come with vomit and booger flavors. You can also pick up goodies like Cauldron Cakes and Exploding BonBons.

Weasleys Wizard Wheeze jokes and novelty items

Our favorite shop in Diagon Alley was Weasleys Wizard Wheezes novelty joke shop run by the Weasley twins Fred and George.

You’ll find fantastic jokes and magical stuff like Pigmy Puffs, U-No-Poo pills and Puking Pastilles.

Butterbeer

Unfortunately, you can’t bring home butterbeer from Universal Orlando. Actually, that’s probably a good thing. I love the cold butterbeer so much that I’d probably have it a few times a week at home, which is definitely not good for the waistline.

While you can’t bring butterbeer home, you can do the next best thing: buy a refillable Harry Potter mug to take home. You won’t get a discount on your butterbeer refill, but they will refill it for the same price as a regular butterbeer.

If you purchase a souvenir butterbeer mug, we were told it CAN’T be used for discounted soda refills at all the same locations as refillable cups.

It’ll cost you around $15.99 + tax for a souvenir butterbeer mug, which includes one butterbeer of your choice.

If you can’t get a butterbeer mug you like at Universal, there are a few on Amazon as well.

See Wizarding World of Harry Potter Butterbeer Mugs on Amazon.

Harry Potter Stationary

Owl’s post is the place for all Harry Potter stationary. You can buy stationary, quills and ink, and then send a postcard from the Hogsmeade Post Office that’s stamped with a Owl Post postmark.

Gringotts Money Exchange

When you’re at Universal, stop by Gringotts Money Exchange to trade U.S. currency for Gringotts bank notes ($10 or $20 denominations). You can use your Gringotts currency for purchases at Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, as well as a few other locations.

At the end of the day, you can keep unused Gringotts currency as a souvenir (or exchange it back for U.S. currency, if you prefer).

You can also pick up some nice looking Harry Potter Gringotts coins online as well.

See details and prices for this Harry Potter Gringotts Bank Coin Collection.

Magical items

Dervish and Banges is a great place to pick up magical items. There’s a lot in here, with fun magical items like Golden Snitches, and brooms like the Nimbus Two Thousand.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter t-shirts, caps and more

If you’re looking for standard souvenirs like t-shirts and postcards, a quick place to grab them is Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods in Hogsmeade. Filch’s Emporium is more like a regular gift shop with merchandise like clothing and more.

Dark arts merchandise

If you’re a wizard or witch with a dark side, you’ll find that there’s something for you at Universal Orlando. Just visit Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley where you can dabble in dark arts merchandise.

Photos at Shutterbuttons

If you’re looking for some Harry Potter themed photo keepsakes, then stopping by Shutterbuttons is a must. In the shop, you’re guided through 12 scenes where your photo is taken in costumes. You can purchase a DVD photo album in a collectible Shutterbuttons’ tin.

Looking for Harry Potter souvenirs online?

We really like this affordable Harry Potter themed jewelry on Amazon.

See prices and more for Harry Potter costume jewelry. 

See more for Harry Potter Deathly Hallows I Solemnly Swear 5 Pack Ankle Socks.

See prices now for this Harry Potter Gryffindor Quidditch  T-Shirt.

Quick tips for shopping at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando

Use the gift concierge service

Both Universal Orlando Parks (Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley) have a pickup service, so you don’t have to tote your purchases around all day.

Just buy your souvenirs and pick them up at the end of the day. If you’re staying at an on-site hotel, you can even arrange to have your purchases sent directly to your room.

Shop when everyone else is at the rides

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can be an incredibly busy place. If you want to browse the shops for keepsakes when it’s quieter, consider going first thing in the morning.

Most people head straight for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (my favorite) or the Escape from Gringotts rides first thing in the morning when the lines are shorter. If shopping is a priority for you, then consider heading to the shops first thing when the parks are quieter, and anyone who is there is heading to the rides.

Quick tips for Universal Orlando in general

Universal Orlando is a big, busy place, so your Harry Potter keepsakes shopping will go much more smoothly if you follow a couple of helpful tips.

Consider staying at an on-site hotel

Not only will you save money on parking, and time driving, but Universal Orlando hotels have great perks like shuttles and early access.

On our last trip, we chose to hire a car in Orlando, and parked in the Universal parking lot, but plan is to save some time and hassle and stay in a Universal hotel on our next visit.

Get a two day Park to Park Pass

if you want to access all of the shows, rides, restaurants, and attractions at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter you’ll need to visit both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split between the two Universal Florida parks (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios). Hogsmeade is in Universal Islands of Adventure, and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Ally have unique shops, rides and experiences, so you’ll want to go to both. You’ll also need a Park to Park pass to ride the Hogwarts Express!

You could visit both parks in one day, but you’d miss a lot, and you’d definitely be exhausted! On our last trip, we spent two days almost exclusively checking out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and we still didn’t see and do everything in both areas!

Looking for some more help? Check out our Universal Orlando tips.

If you’re booking a flight down to Orlando, be sure to do a quick comparison to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Compare flight prices on Skyscanner here.

Looking for some more fun things to do in Florida? Here’ some inspiration for the best Florida road trip.

What are your favorite Wizarding World of Harry Potter souvenirs? Let us know your tips in the comments below.

Don’t get us wrong, we love Los Angeles. There’s a lot going on in LA, from our family favorites at Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm to beaches like Manhattan Beach, to LA’s gritty downtown that’s packed full of things to do.

That said, LA can be a bit… much. There are a lot of people, the traffic is relentless, and sometimes you just need a break. So, like almost everyone in Los Angeles California, we’ve perfected the art of the weekend escape from the sprawl that is LA.

Here they are: our top picks for weekend getaways from Los Angeles, with ideas for couples, singles, and even family travel.

Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles

First up, if you don’t already have one, our preference is always to rent a car in Los Angeles for a weekend getaway. Sure, there are bus or Amtrak routes to most of these destinations, but they’re almost always less convenient, and you’ll still need to Uber or taxi to your hotel and the local hotspots.

To pass the time behind the wheel, grab our list of the best audiobooks for road trips, and definitely check out our summer road trip packing list to help get organized for our picks for the best road trips from Los Angeles.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs is an easy weekend trip from LA. With typical traffic (if such a thing exists in LA at all), it should take you a little under two hours from downtown LA to Palm Springs. Along the way, there’s a cool collection of mammoth wind turbine farms, and the cheeky Cabazon Dinosaur statues, and a lot of desert.

It’s also only about an hour from Joshua Tree National Park (one of our other picks), so you can knock off two destinations in one weekend if you feel the need to explore.

Palm Springs itself still holds onto a lot of the old 1920 Hollywood glamour that first put it on the tourist map. There are plenty of beautiful resorts, great shopping and enough Instagram friendly spots to keep your camera busy for days. Make sure you book some time by your hotel pool with a cool cocktail in hand for the full Palm Springs experience.

See some of Palm Spring’s cool and fun hotels on Travelocity now.

Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs is a smaller town that’s sandwiched in between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park. On our last day trip from LA, we decided to base ourselves in Desert Hot Springs, because it’s known for having some of the best hot springs resorts near LA.

I’m so glad we did! Our family of four spent a few days at the mid-range Miracle Hot Springs Resort, soaking in the eight natural hot mineral pools (all at different temperatures). Heaven!

We visited over Spring Break, so we paid a small fortune for our room, but you can get a room for about a quarter of the price during low season, especially mid-week.

See prices and availability for Miracle Hot Springs Resort on Travelocity now.

After a long day of soaking our first night, we grabbed supper at Las Palmas Mexican restaurant, which is an easy 10 minute walk from the hotel. You’ll never find our family much happier than when we’re full of tacos at a hot springs resort.

Love hot springs, too? Check out our trips to Harrison Hot Springs Resort in Harrison, British Columbia, Hotel Termas de Papallacta, just outside of Quito Ecuador, or the Natural Hot Spring Travertines of Pamukkale, Turkey.

Joshua Tree National Park

The scenery in Joshua Tree National Park may well be some of the most unique you ever experience. It’s about a two and a half hour drive from LA, making it an easy reach for a weekend getaway.

You’ll definitely want to do some hiking in Joshua Tree, and there are a lot of options. Be prepared for a hot, dry desert climate that can cool off significantly at night.

Joshua Tree is also one of the best areas near Los Angeles to take in the night stars, since there’s so little light pollution.

Joshua Tree is also a fantastic place to take in local wildlife, with over 250 species of birds, 57 mammal species, and amphibians and reptiles and insects galore.

If you’re up for something fun, check out the tours and things to do around Joshua Tree on Travelocity. There’s a hummer adventure tour of Jushua Tree, beginner rock climbing, a San Andreas Fault Jeep tour and more.

Las Vegas

I’m not sure why Vegas rarely makes lists of weekend trips from Los Angeles. Sure, it’s four hours away from downtown LA, but it’s so easy to rent a vehicle in Los Angeles, cruise down Interstate 15, and end up on the strip just a few hours later.

Just make sure you’re loaded up on sleep before any weekend trip to Vegas. Every time we visit Las Vegas, it seems to be busier, there’s much more to do, and we typically leave more tired than we came.

Whether you’re a family, flying solo, or on a couple’s or friends trip, your weekend trip to Vegas will probably include walking down the strip, stops at all you can eat buffets, and checking out amazing entertainment like one of the Cirque du Soleil shows.

Vegas can be exhausting. If you want to press the easy button on travel planning, check out Travelocity’s Vegas vacation packages here.

Our last trip to Las Vegas was with the entire family, so we made sure to check out all the free family attractions, like the Bellagio Fountains, the volcano at The Mirage and the Circus Circus free shows. We did find that some things that we thought were free are now paid only, like the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay and Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck.

One of our fun family finds this time was the around the world sampling tray at the Coca-Cola Store on the strip. For around $8, the tray has 16 different flavors of Coca-Cola products from around the world! The flavors are pretty varied, and include Inca Kola from Peru and Beverly from Italy.

We also got the eight sample float tray. It was a lot for the four of us, but we persevered and drank most of it! Small tip, if you’re with a family or group, ask for a few extra empty cups so everyone can taste a little of each one.

Catalina Island

Just 25 miles off the southern part of California, Catalina Island is a world apart. The island is accessible by boat and ferry as well as by helicopter. Most people make the trip by passenger ferry from mainland ports in San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach or Dana Point. A round trip ticket on the Catalina Express from will cost about $37 USD.

Catalina Island is close to Los Angeles, but it has an entirely different vibe, and makes for a fantastic romantic weekend spent away from the bustle and hassle of the big city.

There’s a surprising amount to do on this little southern California island. If you love outdoor adventure, you’ll have a blast on the island’s zip lines. Animal lovers will will enjoy the opportunity to embark on a Falconry Experience, where you can have a hawk land on your gloved hand and if the indoors is more your thing, you can also try your luck in the island’s iconic casino.

Getting around is easy by renting a golf cart, grabbing a hotel shuttle, or using the Garibaldi public bus. There are plenty of places to stay as well, from intimate bed and breakfasts to tenting to 4-star country inns.

See some of the fun things to do on Catalina Island on Travelocity.

Ventura

Just under two hour’s drive north from downtown LA, Ventura’s coastline shows the true beauty of the ocean. It’s mostly known for it’s stunning beaches, but the downtown is a hub for the arts, food, music and culture as well.

The beaches in the area aren’t crowded, even in peak periods, and you can even visit the uninhabited islands just off the coast by boat.

Need some help packing for the beach? Check out our family beach vacation packing list here.

Solvang

If you’re interested in Norse culture and ready for a two and a half-hour drive, Solvang California is for you.

Solvang is a small city to the north of Santa Barbara that’s known for it’s Danish-style architecture, and many wineries and museums. If you are looking for a cultural experience, you will love the Elverhoj Museum of Danish History, while the Hans Christian Andersen Museum will take you to a fairy land.

Temecula Valley

Temecula Valley is one of the areas closest to LA on this list at only an hour and a half’s drive from downtown LA in good traffic (though in LA, that’s usually rare). Temecula Valley offers plenty to do and to see, and it’s a lovely spot that’s hidden among lush, green hills.

The best way to explore the beauty of the area is by rising above it in a hot-air balloon – you can find many different types of flights leaving from Temecula. The valley has over three dozen wineries and restaurants that serve extraordinary food as well, so after marveling the scenery from above, you can spoil your taste buds with the local culinary specialties.

Laguna Beach

The one-hour drive from LA takes you to a city on a rugged, rocky coastline surrounded by rich vegetation.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet beach where you can sunbathe undisturbed, or you just want to take a walk downtown to do some shopping and enjoy a gelato, or you want to go hiking on some spectacular mountain trails, Laguna Beach is the place for you.

With plenty of things to see and do within a few hours of Los Angeles, there’s nothing holding you back from getting out of the city for a few days to enjoy what southern California and Nevada has to offer.

So, what’s your favorite pick for a weekend trip from LA?

We visit the Universal Orlando theme parks every chance we get and each time compile notes and tips on the best way to maximize our time there for the next outing.

Want a great deal? See prices for a 3 day Park-To-Park pass, with TWO extra days FREE here on Undercover Tourist.

Deals change often, so see all the latest Universal Orlando deals here!

Like a lot of families visiting Orlando, some of our favorite family memories occurred during our time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I’m honestly not sure who enjoyed it more – us or our kids! Universal has done a stunning job of making the entire experience special and memorable!

While we’re huge fans, it’s no doubt a visit to Universal Orlando is expensive, so you’ll want to make the absolute most of your visit to the three Universal Parks, and come home with wonderful memories for yourselves!

Top Universal Orlando Tips

It’s no secret that you could spend weeks at Universal and still not see every show, enjoy every ride, and snack at every restaurant. We’ve got tips that can help save you money, and just as importantly, help save you time and hassle.

Now that Universal’s added the spectacular Volcano Bay water park, there are now three full sized parks here: Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.

Visit for at least three days, but four is better

Each of the three Universal Orlando parks is huge, and you’ll only get to sample a portion of the rides, food, and activities in a park in one day.

Three days will let you dedicate a day to each park, while four days will give you a chance to go back to your favorite rides and attractions, and catch anything you missed the first time around.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll need two days to check out Hogsmeade (in Universal Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (in Universal Florida). You can visit both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley in a single day, but it would be a rushed affair, and you would miss a lot of the details that make each experience unique.

Where to stay

We actually stayed off property during our last visit, since we had plenty of time to visit.

Check prices for all hotels near Universal Studios Florida.

Many of the Universal Orlando hotels include Unlimited Express Passes and early park access to help you beat the morning rush. Since the hotels are on site, you’ll be able to use the free shuttle, saving money on parking and time driving to the parks.

All on site hotels offer Early Park admission (one hour before regular opening hours) and free transportation to the Parks and CityWalk. Other perks include complimentary delivery of merchandise from the Resort to your hotel, appearances by Universal Orlando characters, and priority restaurant seating (for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort).

There are a few hotels onsite, including Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Leows Royal Pacific Resort, Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, and Leows Portofino Bay Hotel. The hotels include a Free Universal Express Unlimited, which is worth up to $89 per person, per day (not offered at at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort or Cabana Bay Beach Resort).

Check prices for hotels near Universal Studios Florida.

Save money by buying tickets online in advance

The last thing you want to do on your trip to Universal is spend a lot of time waiting in line buying tickets. You can save a lot of time, and even a fair bit of money, by buying tickets online in advance.

One of the best deals Universal currently offers is the save on a 3 day Park-To-Park pass, with TWO extra days FREE.

We’ve heard great things about buying passes in advance on Undercover Tourist. Unlike a lot of other sites, taxes are included up front (so no surprise fees at the end), AND shipping is free. Plus, you’ll save $42 over paying at the gate.

See all of Undercover Tourist’s Orlando ticket deals here.

See the 3 day, get TWO days free deal here!

If you’re only going for three days, you can still save with Universal’s special, where you get one extra day FREE if you buy a two day Park to Park pass. See prices for the 3 day Park-to-Park pass with two days FREE here.

Our Top Harry Potter Tip: Get a Park to Park Pass

Get a two day Park to Park Pass if you want to access all of the shows, rides, restaurants, and attractions at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split between the two Universal Florida parks (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios). Hogsmeade is in Universal Islands of Adventure, and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Ally have unique shops, rides and experiences, so you’ll want to go to both. You’ll also need a Park to Park pass to ride the Hogwarts Express!

You could do both parks in one day, but you’d miss a lot, and you’d definitely be exhausted! On our last trip, we spent two days almost exclusively checking out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and we still didn’t see and do everything in both areas!

Check prices for the two day park hopper, get ONE day free deal here!

You can check out more of our specific tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter here.

Save time with the Official Universal Orlando® Resort App

The free Official Orlando Resort app is a must. We used it to help plan our itinerary for the parks, and to let the kids mark the attractions they didn’t want to miss. In the park, the app was indispensable! We used it to figure out where we were and to help decide where to go to next.

Even better, the app is instantly updated with wait and show times. It’s also great for finding rides, and sorting out which restaurants to visit. Since the restaurant menus are included in the app, it also makes it really easy to pick a spot everyone in the group will enjoy.

Another bonus for the app is that you can save your parking spot so you can remember where your car is located. (Which might not sound like a big deal but trust us it is. The parking lots are huge!)

Here’s an extra helpful, time saving app tip! You can set up alerts for when ride wait times drop, saving you a lot of time waiting in line.

FYI. If you don’t have a data plan, don’t worry, there’s free WiFi available throughout the Orlando Universal parks!

Download the app on iTunes here. Get the app on Google Play here.

Universal Tip: Go Early

There’s so much to do at Universal Florida, and tickets are pricey enough, that you’ll definitely want to maximize your time. Go as early as your ticket allows, and stay right until closing, and you can maximize your time at the parks.

We’re not early birds, but we make an effort to go as early as possible, because we always find crowds to be much lighter in the morning before noon. Try to be at the park at least half an hour before opening, or get early access. Parking opens well before the gates to the actual park does so don’t be afraid to come a few minutes earlier.

Also factor in the fairly long walk (around 10 minutes) from parking to the entrance, plus the time you’ll need to pass through the entrance line. Depending on which lot you’re coming from, there are motorized walkways from many of the parking areas that will speed your arrival.

There are also a few ways to get early access to the parks, including staying at onsite parks, or getting Unlimited Express passes, which we talk about a little later in this post.

Stay late at Universal Florida

We find that crowds at Universal really dropped off around 6 pm, in the three hours before closing, and stayed quieter until the park shuts down. This, or early morning, is the perfect time to take in the busier rides and attractions at Harry Potters Wizarding World. Since most people have experienced and left this area of the park by 6 the lines are way shorter.

If you really want to enjoy that time, I suggest you grab an early supper (Three Broomsticks is our favorite Harry Potter restaurant) at around 4:30 pm and start checking out the rides around 6 pm.

Make sure you check closing times! Closing times for Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure were different when we visited.

Get an Express Pass at Universal

An Express pass lets you skip the normal lines and jump in the express line.

We love the Express Passes, as they save us plenty of time in lines during the busier afternoon lineups. They’re not cheap (around $50 a person) however, when you factor in all it’s cost you to get to that point, that $50 could be the difference between getting to go on all the rides you wanted to and not.

I’d say the Express Pass is almost essential during times when the Parks are crowded like Spring Break or Christmas. That said, if you’re going during a particularly quiet time, you may want to save some money and skip the Express Pass altogether.

Important! You can’t use Express Passes at Fievel’s Playland, Pteranodon Flyers, Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides or Ko’okiri Body Plunge, but we found they were a lifesaver for other rides in the Universal Parks.

To save time in lines, use the alerts in the Official Universal Orlando® Resort App to let you know when a wait time has dropped (get it on iTunes here | Google Play).

Go during a quieter month

If you have the flexibility, try to avoid traditionally busy times like weekends, Christmas, Spring Break and summer holidays. Mid week during the off season could be your best bet.

Orlando Informer has a helpful Universal Crowd Calendar.

Use child swap at Universal Orlando

If you have kids, child swap is one of the best time savers around. You’ll need two adults for this, but it’s a fantastic perk.

With a child swap, the entire family stands in line together. At the last moment, one adult waits with the children at the front of the line, while the other adult rides. When the first adult is done, the adults swap, and the adult who waited with the child first now goes to the front of the line.

Just tell the greeter at the front that you want to use child swap. They do this all the time, so it’s a quick and efficient process. Our son also joined both of us when our daughter decided she didn’t want to go and got to ride twice with no lining up!

For example, we used child swap on Escape from Gringotts, when our eight year old decided at the last moment that she didn’t want to go. That ride actually had a designated area for parents with small children off to the side complete with activities and monitors playing Harry Potter movie snippets.

Since a lot of the Harry Potter themed rides have unique and entertaining happenings (like walking through Gringotts bank and having the goblins give you the evil eye), the designers at Universal have filled the lineup areas with plenty to see and do as you wait for your ride. If you don’t get in line, you might miss out on more than just the ride itself.

Take the single rider line

If you want to get onto the rides even quicker, and don’t mind riding without the rest of your group, use the single rider line.

This saves a lot of time waiting in line, especially on the busier rides like Escape from Gringotts and The Hidden Journey. Though it’s usually a different line than the normal one, you can still walk in with someone and hang out with them in line and then only do the ride on your own at the end. This is a great way to go if you already went on the ride together the first time and just want a quick second or third ride for yourself.

It can also turn an hour and half Hulk roller coaster ride into a 15 minute ride! Just make sure to ask the attendants if there is a single rider lane since not all rides have it.

Note: Due to it often being a different line, both the single rider lane and Express Pass lane might bypass some of the interactive areas the designers included for the regular line bound guests. If you want to see and experience everything pre-ride, you might want to stay in the regular lines the first go around.

Pay for Preferred Parking at Universal

We get prime parking whenever we visit. It’s a great perk to have a short walk to our car at the end of a tiring day and it gets us out of the parking lot before most others.

Preferred Parking also makes the walk to the gates entrance a lot faster and gets us into the park quicker. Preferred parking is currently an additional $10 a day more than regular at $30 (it’s $20 for regular parking).

The only time I’d consider skipping Prime Parking would be if the parks are especially quiet (which is almost never!) or if we stayed in a very nearby hotel and took a taxi or Uber over. Of course, if you stay at one of the on resort parks you not only get in earlier but you also get free transportation.

Buy a wand for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We debated getting the wands for our visit, but I’m so glad that we decided to buy one for each kid.

Wands bring shop displays to life, and really bring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to life! Our kids used their wands at both parks. You can also bring your wand with you the next time you go to Universal Studios, so you only need to buy them once.

Wands cost about $50 USD per wand, so they’re not cheap, but our kids spent hours casting spells in shop windows at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

Don’t forget to look at the special map in your wand’s box! The special map that comes in your interactive wand’s box will guide you to wand spots in both worlds!

Most articles will tell you to buy your wands at Ollivanders in Hogsmeade or at Wands by Gregorovitch in Diagon Alley. They both have a good selection of wands and the choosing ceremony as well however both places can be ridiculously busy!

If there are big lines at Ollivanders or Wands by Gregorovitch (there always are), buy your wand at a cart instead, like we did. There are wand stands located throughout both Harry Potter Worlds with practically no one in line.

We picked our wands up at a cart in Hogsmeade at the Islands of Adventure, near Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Since the wand chooses the wizard, Dumbledore’s wand chose our daughter, and Sirius Black’s wand chose our son. The stand attendant was patient and helpful, and our kids got their wands much more quickly than if we’d stayed at Ollivanders.

Take the Hogwarts Express train between parks

Even if you’re not a huge Harry Potter fan, taking the Hogwarts Express between Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida will save you a lot of time, and let you rest your weary feet.

Try to take the train both ways, since it’s a different experience each time but be weary that the lineups can be slow! The train was down for most of the first day were there and opened only sporadically the second day. That made the lineups when it was running especially long. Also note that

Eat in the Parks or at Universal CityWalk

There are so many places to eat at the park, and it’s such a huge walk to parking, that you’ll definitely want to stay onsite for meals. There’s something for every taste at Universal.

You can save some money by getting one of several different dining plans that are offered by Universal. What you get really depends on your appetite, who’s in your party, and how long you’ll be at the parks. Check the different options.

Tip! You can get ice tap water free throughout the park! Just ask!

There are so many places to grab a bite here that we haven’t been able to try them all (or even a good percentage of them), but here are a few we loved.

As you’d expect, there are plenty of Harry Potter themed restaurants (and butterbeer!) at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We really loved the Three Broomsticks, but the Leaky Cauldron gets great reviews as well.

If you’re looking for a good burger, we liked Crusty Burger in Universal Studios. It’s a Simpson’s themed restaurant, with a big selection, and a lot of seating. We had the vegetarian black bean burger, and a regular burger, both of which come with tasty Cajun onion rings. Our littlest had a cheese pizza, and we washed it all down with incredibly thick chocolate milkshakes .

Our go to snack is always Auntie Annie’s Pretzels at Universal Studios for a warm bucket of cinnamon sugar pretzel nuggets to share. The only negative is that there’s almost always a line during busy times.

There’s a huge selection of restaurants at CityWalk, which you pass when you first walk into Universal Orlando on your way to the main entry gates.

CityWalk is a great choice for a bite at the end of the day, since it’s on your way to the parking lot. There are dozens of restaurants here, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Hard Rock Cafe, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Johnny Rockets and so much more.

While you’re grabbing a bite to eat at CityWalk, you can also check out mini-golf, clubs, shows, movies, karaoke and concerts. You don’t need a ticket to Universal to get into Universal CityWalk so you’re free to come on your off days as well.

Plan your meals ahead

If you have any special dietary requirements (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, and so on), choose your restaurant wisely. We had three vegetarians in our group, and there were veggie options at every restaurant we visited, but we were definitely limited in what we could eat.

For example, at the Leaky Cauldron in Universal Studios, they only had soup and salad as a vegetarian option, so we decided to eat elsewhere.

Use the Official Universal Orlando® Resort App (get it on iTunes here | Google Play) or check out the Universal Orlando website to check out menus in advance.

Take a day off from Universal

Yes, I know you’ve traveled all this way to go to Universal Studios in Orlando Florida however, most multi day passes are good for a week. That means that if you bought a 2 day pass, you can go on day 1 and day 7 instead of going back to back days.

Why, you might ask? Between the miles and miles of walking, the crowds, the sights, the rides and the food, a full day at Universal will be tiring. Doing two full days back to back can overload even the hardiest of theme park lovers.

Our suggestion, if you have the time, skip a day or two and take in quieter sites for those days or sleep in and enjoy the pool and food at your hotel. That way, once you’ve gotten your wind back, you can fully enjoy your second or third or fourth day at the park with renewed vigor!

If time is limited, consider the VIP Experience

If you only have a day at Universal Orlando, you’re going to need to maximize every second. One way to do this is to splurge out a little with the VIP Experience. See VIP Experience prices and more on the Universal website here.

With a VIP experience, you can skip ALL of the lines. You can also get a personal Universal Orlando tour guide. It also includes a continental breakfast, plus you can choose several other options. The VIP Experience is definitely pricey, but worth considering.

A VIP experience gets you priority front-of-the-line access to all rides and attractions, including all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions and experiences. Plus, you can get behind the scenes tours, complimentary valet parking and reserved seating at shows.

You can get a private VIP experience, with just you and your party (which includes two full service meals), or a regular VIP experience. I didn’t know about the VIP experience option when we visited, but it sounds amazing.

See information on the VIP experience here.

What to wear and bring to Universal Orlando

Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes.

You’re going to be walking all day long within and between parks, and when you’re done, you’ll be walking back to the front entrance and the parking lot. That’s a lot of concrete and if you don’t have good shoes you’ll be done by lunch.

I wish I’d worn my Fitbit when we were at the parks last time. I bet I easily put on 20,000 plus steps a day!

Since the weather in Orlando can vary depending on the season, bring along a jacket or even a rain poncho if you think you’ll need it. During our last visit, the mornings were cool enough for a jacket, but afternoons were warm enough for shorts and a sleeveless shirt.

Don’t forget sunscreen! We forgot ours during our last visit, and I got a mild sunburn just from being outside during 65 degree weather and light cloud cover!

Some of the major rides include free lockers right before or after the ride however most of the larger rides won’t even let you take along a phone and wallet with you. Having a backpack isn’t a bad idea but you will be forced to locker it often. We found having clothes with lots of zippered pockets to be helpful and being able to split the family up occasionally meant we didn’t have to rent a locker for the day either.

Check for deals before you buy tickets!

Before you buy your tickets, be sure to check out Universal’s deals and specials. They often have some fantastic deals, and offer special rates for Florida residents as well. 

Right now Universal has a fantastic special, where you save $53, plus get one extra day FREE if you buy a two day Park to Park pass.

See prices for the buy three days, get TWO DAYS FREE deal here!