In case you didn’t know by now, I live in downtown Orlando, Florida and I absolutely adore this city. I believe one of the secrets to loving where you live is to continuously learn about it and find different things to do. It can become really easy to do the same things all of the time or to simply do nothing ( and nothing wrong with that OF COURSE), but when we become tourists in our own cities, that’s when we find the fun stuff! Back when I worked from home, I really prioritized getting out of the house after my work day. Below, I have compiled a list of some fun things to do around downtown Orlando after work other than sit at home. I’ve also specifically made this a ‘solo’-friendly’ list but all of the below items can be done with family, friends, or your significant other. My boyfriend and I have relatively opposite schedules during the week, so I’ve intentionally spent time coming up with fun and fulfilling things that I can do alone after my work day. But each of these activities can, of course, be done with a friend 🙂
Get a book from the Orlando library and read at Lake Eola
I’m sure I’ve plugged the downtown Orlando Public Library before, but it is one of my favorite (daytime) places downtown! It’s free to sign up for a library card and it quite literally grants you access to unlimited books. You can check out as many as you want, and while I don’t encourage keeping the books late, there are no late fees for missing the return date. Going to the library in and of itself is a great solo activity, but as a bonus, check out a book and walk 2 minutes across the street to Lake Eola, find yourself a bench or spot on the grass, and read. Lake Eola is notoriously touristy, but for good reason! It is a perfect spot to people watch or enjoy a book.
Take a walk at Baldwin Park
Baldwin Park sits about 15 minutes outside of downtown Orlando. Lake Baldwin boasts a 2.5 mile path around that is biker, skater, walker, and runner friendly. I’ve recently enjoyed roller skating around Lake Baldwin, but another thing I love to do is put on a podcast and go for a walk around. It’s great because the scenery changes as you walk around and the walking path is nicely paved the entire way.
Volunteer at a Pet Rescue
So there are plenty of pet rescues in the Orlando area. I volunteer at an organization called Polka Dogz Pet Rescue and they are always looking for volunteers. The volunteer shifts are 3 hours long and spending the evening helping animals as they wait for a home is both fulfilling and refreshing after sitting in front of my computer all day! I’ve listed a few other organizations below:
Make Use of ClassPass
I will never shut up about ClassPass. I’ve heard conflicting opinions on the popular app., but I’ve had a great experience with it! For those of you who don’t know, ClassPass is an app you can use to purchase “credits,” and use those at fitness studios, spas, and more in your area. I think this is an amazing way to explore the different offerings in your city. I have come to love going to HILI Fitness – an X Former studio where I have been obsessed with taking pilates classes. HILI is fairly new and specific to the Orlando area and I’ve been going about once a week since February. ClassPass offers different plans at reasonable rates. You can also get 23 free credits if you do a free trial, which I recommend doing, to see if it’s for you!
Stroll around Disney’s BoardWalk
This wouldn’t be an Orlando post without a Disney shoutout. Disney’s BoardWalk is a 20 – 30 minute drive from downtown. You can park at the Boardwalk Resort most of the time if you let the security guard know you are meeting friends for drinks, going to Jellyrolls (popular piano bar), or something similar. Parking is free and you can walk through the resort to get onto the BoardWalk. It is a gorgeous area especially in the evening as the lights come on. I recommend grabbing a sweet treat from the Boardwalk Deli and taking some time to people watch here too. There are often “street performers,” meant to be reminiscent of what you might see on the Atlantic City boardwalk or Coney Island during the turn of the century.
Hit the YMCA
If you’re an evening gym person, this one is for you! Most apartments in Orlando have a gym, but not all! And some of us live in a house without the luxury of a built-in gym. The YMCA is located right in downtown with another close location College Park. I’ve found this gym to be reasonable, welcoming, and very well equipped. I am definitely an evening gym girl, though I’ve tried to be a morning gym girl (maybe one day). Most evenings I go to the Y around 7pm. I find if I go any earlier, it is a little too full for my liking. But if you like being a member of a gym, I do highly recommend the Y. It is the least costly gym membership I have found in the area and it is huge! There are different tiers of membership where you can sign up for classes, use a pool, and more! I have the lowest tier and have found it is perfect for me – there are more machines than I’ll ever be able to use.
In short, these are all fun and refreshing activities I love doing after work. After working in my house all day, it is important to me to get out of the house, especially on evenings when I’m alone. It’s also great for mental health to have things to look forward to after work! I can recognize that some days, work is too draining to fathom any of the above activities, but I can also bet that any of the above activities will rejuvenate me after a draining work day!
xo Jessica
