WhirlyDome
6464 International Drive | 407-212-3030
Enter the WhirlyDome and leave a champion ‘cause let’s be real, it’s awesome to own your kids in games. Whirly Ball is a combination of bumper cars, basketball and jai alai, so your kids will probably have no clue what’s going on, but they’ll definitely have fun. The restaurant here stocks a surprisingly crafty beer selection with hometown favorites like Cigar City and Lagunitas.

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Black Hammock
2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road | 407-365-2201
You can’t spell family without nature… just follow along. The Black Hammock experience is one that is criminally overlooked by Orlandoans. Hop in an airboat then treat yourself to 2-4-1 margaritas at the Lazy Gator Bar on the premises.

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Central Florida Zoo
3755 US-17 | 407-323-4450
Children going to the zoo is what it’s like when world’s collide—who’s really the animal here? Rather than dwell on that question, just cruise around the zoo exhibits with your favorite little person while sipping on a tall boy.

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Banana Jacks
2700 Sand Mine Road, Davenport | 855-705-1157
Banana Jacks is a goldmine for parents and kids. This “pirate themed fun zone” has an indoor interactive playground that also includes an arcade, which is basically all kids need to survive. Banana Jacks also has a bar fully-equipped with beer, wine and cocktails, which is basically all parents need to survive.

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Colonial Lanes
400 Primrose Drive | 407-894-0361
Bowling has been a family favorite since the Dawn of Man, and Colonial Lanes makes it pretty easy to keep that tradition going. Most games cost less than $4 and shoe rentals ring in a measly $3. The most killer thing at Colonial Lanes, though, are the unbelievable daily drink specials like the $8 PBR bucket on Tuesdays.

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Enzian Theater
1300 S. Orlando Ave. | 407-629-0054
Nothing keeps kids completely consumed quite like a two hour movie. Enzian hoists a massive screen out on their lawn every second Thursday of the month to show classics like Jurassic Park and Toy Story. It’s all free and they advise that you bring your own snacks, or you can indulge in an ice cold Corona from the Eden Bar just up the hill.

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Fashion Square Mall
3201 E. Colonial Drive | 407-896-1132
With an well-endowed arcade that includes a bowling alley, you could say Fashion Square Mall is the perfect place to let kids run wild. Just hand ‘em a few tokens and mosey on over to Strikeouts, which has some of the largest and cheapest cocktails in Orlando. Fear not, the bar has clear view of the entire arcade area for supervision.

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Friday Night Live!
Summerlin Avenue and Washington Street | 407-701-9382
The first Friday of every month Thornton Park throws a block party that’s aa great time without any hassle. Groove to live music and play a few games for prizes while you enjoy a beer and the kids snack on some local grub.

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Fun Spot America
5700 Fun Spot Way | 407-363-3867
Fun Spot has all the thrills of the theme parks, but this attraction destination doesn’t come with a Disney price tag. If your kids aren’t entertained by wooden roller coasters and go karts, you might need to go see a doctor.

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Gatorland
14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail | 407-855-5496
These wild men and women have the gator market locked down. Your mini-me can wrestle a gator for just $10 or zipline 65 feet in the air over a bunch of green monsters. Gatorland has made a reputation for its Gator Nuggets, but the ‘rents might find the Budweiser on tap a little more enjoyable.

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Ginnie Springs
7300 Ginnie Springs Road | 386-454-7188
The kids won’t even know where to begin after you tell them about the hidden grottos at Ginnie Springs. Watch ‘em turn into pirates the minute you reach the spring, but don’t be shy about becoming a pirate yourself. A bit of rum is certainly allowed at this Florida spring.

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I-Drive 360
8445 International Drive | 407-601-7907
Never has there been a child that didn’t love an arcade. The I-Drive 360 area has one of those and a skeleton museum, a wax museum, the Orlando Eye and an aquarium. With tons of restaurants nearby like Buffalo Wild Wings and Shake Shake, well, your weekend just got a whole lot easier.

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JB’s Fish Camp
859 Pompano Ave, New Smyrna Beach | 386-427-5747
Bring the kids to the JB’s dock for a day of kayaking, canoeing, fishing, whatever water activity you guys are into—it’s all here. While you’re sipping on an ice cold Rolling Rock (or two), don’t be surprised if you see a manatee or dolphin splashing around in the water.

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Joe’s Crab Shack 8400 International Drive | 407-352-2928
If you find yourself completely out of ideas, you can always count on Joe’s Crab Shack to keep the kids at bay. They’ll spend almost all of the dinner bouncing around the playground, which is totally fine. You’re busy with their Category 5 Hurricane cocktail, a drink so wild you can only order 2.

Photo via officialjoescrabshack/Instagram

Old Town
5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy | 407-396-4888
Old Town was recreated to be the epitome of an antiquated Florida town with a Happy Days vibe, and with its “Happy Days Family Fun Center,” you could say they achieved that. This isn’t exactly the environment to get toasted, but you’ll definitely want a bubbly beverage to cope with all the kids throwing skee balls around you.

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Orlando Farmer’s Market
Central Boulevard and Eola Drive
The Orlando Farmer’s Market on Lake Eola incorporates the whole family by allowing pets and having kid-friendly activities like face painting on the regular. With delicious locally-produced cocktails on tap, there’s something for the whole squad here.

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Sanford After Dark
401 S. Sanford Ave. | 407-221-1499
This Sanford tradition brings together the best local vendors for a night of casual celebration. The theme changes each month, but live music and good grub is a constant that you and the fam can bank on. Sanford has a ton of buzzing restaurant and bars to explore like Hollerbach and Imperial.

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Tasty Tuesdays
2424 E. Robinson St.
Each Tuesday in the Milk District numerous local food trucks assemble for an evening of eating and partying. It’s a low key affair that’s no stranger to hosting families, dogs and friends alike. The food truck roster constantly evolves, so you never really know what you and the fam are going to get when you show up hungry.

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Wekiva Island
1014 Miami Springs Drive | 407-862-1500
Wekiva Island makes your day on the springs effortless. Just roll up with the kids, hand over a little scratch cash and see where the tide takes you. After a bout of canoeing or kayaking, grab a refreshing craft brewing from the Tooting Otter, Wekiva’s very own restaurant.

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WonderWorks
9067 International Drive | 407-351-8800
Your kids will be ooh-ing and ahh-ing before they even step foot into this indoor amusement park thanks to WonderWorks upside-down architecture. Their “edutainment” philosophy has made them a mainstay in the Orlando area, but it’s not just for kids. Surely, you’ll find the make-your-own roller coaster quite enjoyable.

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