We survived another Orlando summer! So now that the relentless heat has finally given up, I am NOT spending these perfect-weather months inside a $40 ticketed “experience.”
And as your Orlando bestie, (Autumn) I’m sharing some money saving activities you should totally do! This month’s Broke In O-Town is all about the outdoorsy, free-or-almost-free things, perfect for the “good-weather” months. Most of these cost less than a latte. A bunch are totally free. Let’s go!!
The Free Gardens Glow-Up
1. Leu Gardens Free Days (Audubon Park)
Harry P. Leu Gardens normally runs $15 for adults, but on the first Monday of every month, admission is free. Fall and winter are the sweet spot here. It’s cool enough to wander all 50 acres without melting, and the camellias start showing off in winter.
Upcoming free days:
- Monday, Nov. 2
- Monday, Dec. 7
- Monday, Jan. 4
- Monday, Feb. 1
Local Tip: Go right at 9 AM. Free days get busy by lunch, and the morning light is so much better for photos.
Where: 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, FL 32803
2. Mead Botanical Garden (Winter Park)
Mead Botanical Garden is free every single day, and it’s one of the most underrated spots in town in my book. You get 47 acres of boardwalks, butterfly gardens and shady trails, and you’ll be in and out with zero dollars spent.
It’s open daily from 8 AM to dusk. Pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it.
Where: 1300 S Denning Dr, Winter Park, FL 32789
Real Florida, Real Cheap
This is where cool-weather season really pays off. Summer hiking in Florida is a mosquito-and-heatstroke situation. Winter hiking? Absolutely worth your time.
Orlando Wetlands (Christmas, FL)
The Orlando Wetlands is free, open Tuesday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset, and it’s one of the best birding spots in Central Florida. Winter is peak season for migrating birds, and you will see gators. Lots of gators.
The volunteer-led tram tours are free too. They run on Fridays and Saturdays, first come, first served, with room for 10 people or fewer.
Insider Tip: It’s about 40 minutes east of downtown. Bring water, bug spray and a hat, because there’s not much shade out there.
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive (Apopka)
This is my lazy-girl nature day. The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is an 11-mile, one-way drive where you creep along at 10 mph and spot birds, gators and the occasional otter from your car. It’s free.
The catch: it’s only open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays, and the gate is open 7 AM to 3 PM. Plan for one to three hours.
Tibet-Butler Preserve (Dr. Phillips/Windermere)
You’ve been to Sand Lake Road (read my recs!) for dinner a hundred times. But have you been to the free nature preserve 10 minutes away? Tibet-Butler Preserve has about 3.6 miles of boardwalk and trails and is open daily, 8 AM to 6 PM.
Local Tip: After a big storm, check the county’s park page first. These trails flood easily. (As I’m writing this post, we’ve had torrential rains…so it’s definitely flooded!)
Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake (MetroWest)
It costs $5 a car (or $2 if you’re driving solo), and that gets you a lakefront park with trails, a fishing pier and plenty of picnic space. Split $5 between a carload of friends and it’s basically free.
The Springs Are Calling
Real talk: springs are where Orlando turns into a tourist trap in summer. In winter, they get way calmer and SO much prettier.
Blue Spring State Park (Orange City)
This is THE winter move. From roughly November through March, hundreds of manatees pack into Blue Spring’s warm water to escape the cold river. On chilly mornings, counts have topped 700. It’s honestly one of the coolest free-ish things to do in Florida.
- Price: $6 per car (up to 8 people), $4 if you’re solo.
- The catch: Blue Spring now requires an advance day-use reservation. If you just show up without one, you won’t get in. Book online, and you pay the normal entry fee when you book.
- Heads up: Swimming closes once manatee season kicks in. This is a look-don’t-touch trip.
Pro Tip: Go on the coldest morning of the week. The colder it is, the more manatees show up!
Wekiwa Springs State Park (Apopka)
Wekiwa Springs is still $6 per car, and you can hike, paddle or just sit by the spring. Like Blue Spring, it requires a day-use reservation now, so book before you go.
Kelly Park/Rock Springs (Apopka)
Kelly Park is $5 per car, but tickets are online only and capped at 280 a day. In summer they sell out fast. In winter you actually have a shot.
If you enjoy getting out in nature check out my Boggy Creek airboat post. Lots of birds, gators, and even Mini Highland Cows!
Market Days
Farmers markets are just better when you’re not sweating through your tote bag. All three of these are free to walk around, and it’s on you whether you spend $5 or $50.
- Orlando Farmers Market (Lake Eola): Every Sunday, 10 AM to 3 PM. Grab a coffee and do the lake loop.
- Winter Park Farmers’ Market: Every Saturday, 8 AM to 1 PM in Central Park’s West Meadow. It’s my go-to for plants.
- Winter Garden Farmers Market: Every Saturday, 8 AM to 1 PM at the Downtown Pavilion. Leashed pets are welcome, so bring the dog.
Insider Tip: When big festivals take over Central Park (like the Autumn Art Festival in November), the Winter Park market moves to Seven Oaks Park. Check before you go.
Orlando Classics
The $3-a-Person Date: Lake Eola Swan Boats
Swan boats at Lake Eola are $15 for 30 minutes, and each boat holds up to five people. With a full boat, that’s $3 each. That’s the cheapest cute photo op in downtown Orlando.
- Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 7 PM. They’re closed on Mondays.
- Payment: Card only, first come, first served.
Pair it with a Sunday farmers market visit and you’ve got a full afternoon for under $20.
My Sneaky Library Card Hack
This is my favorite money-saving secret, and hardly anyone uses it. With an Orange County Library card, the OCLS Local Wanderer program gets you free passes to local museums and attractions. Most passes cover you plus up to three guests.
That includes the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, which normally costs $10 a person. It’s a great outdoor cool-weather visit.
Insider Tip: Attraction passes drop at 10 AM on the first business day of each month, and the good ones go fast. Set an alarm. Also note that reservations usually pause for the first part of January, so grab your January passes early.
Bonus museum freebie: the Orlando Museum of Art is free on the third Thursday of each month from 10 AM to 8 PM, except in November. That makes the next dates Dec. 17, Jan. 21 and Feb. 18.
Free Festivals Worth Clearing Your Calendar For
These are the dated ones, so grab your calendar.
| Event | Where | Date | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Fiesta in the Park | Lake Eola | Nov. 7–8, 10 AM–5 PM | Free |
| Winter Park Autumn Art Festival | Central Park, Winter Park | Nov. 14–15, 9 AM–5 PM | Free |
| ZORA! Festival | Eatonville | Jan. 29–31 | Free (kids & students) Jan. 30 Family Day |
My personal picks:
- Autumn Art Festival: It only features Florida artists, it has live music and a beer garden, and admission is free. You pay only for what you eat and drink.
Cheap Thrills, Indoors Edition
For the rare 50-degree day when Floridians (like me) act like it’s the Arctic:
- Orlando Magic “Monthly Steals”: The Magic now offer $20 tickets for every home game. You have to sign up for their text alerts, and the deals drop on the first of each month. That’s NBA basketball for less than a movie and popcorn. Score!
Quick-Reference: This Season’s Cheapest Outings
| Spot | Deal | When |
|---|---|---|
| Leu Gardens | Free admission | First Monday of each month |
| Mead Botanical Garden | Free | Daily, 8 AM–dusk |
| Orlando Wetlands | Free + free tram tours | Tue–Sun, sunrise–sunset |
| Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive | Free | Fri–Sun, 7 AM–3 PM gate |
| Tibet-Butler Preserve | Free | Daily, 8 AM–6 PM |
| Blue Spring State Park | $6/car (reservation required) | Manatee season, Nov.–March |
| Lake Eola Swan Boats | $15/boat (up to 5 people) | Tue–Sun, 10 AM–7 PM |
| OCLS Local Wanderer | Free attraction passes | Released the first business day of each month |
| Orlando Museum of Art | Free | Third Thursday (but not in Nov.) |
| Orlando Magic | $20 tickets | Via text alerts, monthly |
Planning Your Own Broke In O-Town Weekend
Here’s my favorite combo for a full weekend that costs less than one theme park parking pass:
- Saturday: Winter Park Farmers’ Market in the morning and then a stroll through Mead Botanical Garden after.
- Sunday: Lake Eola farmers market, a $3-a-person swan boat ride, then happy hour at Tori Tori!
Want a bigger adventure? Go see the manatees at Blue Spring on a cold weekday morning (don’t forget your reservation), then grab a cheap lunch on the way home.
Got a free or cheap cool-weather spot I missed? Send it my way. I’m always adding to the list.
Which one are you trying first: manatees, gators or swan boats? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
