With the countdown to NAFSA 2026 ticking by, we're excited about hosting NAFSAns in this year's conference city, Orlando, Florida. To get some intel on the city and the spots no NAFSAn should miss, we asked members of the 2026 Local Arrangements Team—all Orlando residents—to share their favorite neighborhoods and outings in the city they call home, as well as what's worth leaving Orlando to do!
NAFSA thanks LAT members Giselda Beaudin, Mona Belakbir, Thora Cecil, Elise DeWolf-Ott, Rachel Hendrix, Lauren McLellan, and Sophia Zaldivar for contributing to this post.
Favorite Neighborhoods
Orlando's neighborhoods each have a distinct personality worth exploring. The most-recommended among our local team:
- Mills 50 is the city's creative and cultural hub—home to Orlando's Little Vietnam, vibrant street murals, some of the best international food in the city, and Michelin-recognized restaurants. It rewards wandering.
- Winter Park is elegant and highly walkable, known for its brick-lined Park Avenue district with boutique shops, outdoor cafés, and the Morse Museum. A favorite of locals and visitors alike.
- Thornton Park / Downtown / Lake Eola is a charming historic neighborhood with brick streets, lakefront views, and a laid-back neighborhood feel just steps from Lake Eola.
- Ivanhoe Village, along the shores of Lake Ivanhoe, is popular for antique shops, vintage boutiques, and lakefront dining.
- Celebration is walkable and picturesque, with lakeside paths, cafés, and a small-town feel just outside the theme park corridor—perfect for a relaxed afternoon.
Experiences by Type
For the Shopaholic
- If you're feeling crafty, consider making a customized souvenir at Bowes Signature Candles (Disney Springs, with the option to customize your own scent) or at Autumn & Ro, a boutique where you can design your own jewelry.
- Art lovers will enjoy exploring the Park Avenue Contemporary Art Gallery and the Mills Gallery. For something luggage-friendly, check out Jelly Press (Florida-inspired illustrations) and Good Crowd.
- For a good read for the flight home, Writer's Block Bookstore is an independent, community-oriented shop with a wide range. (For international education matters, we of course recommend the NAFSA bookstore!)
For the History Buff
- The Orange County Regional History Center, housed in a historic downtown courthouse, is a Smithsonian-affiliated museum celebrating central Florida's cultural and oral legacy.
For the Thrill-Seeker
- Closer to the city: Check out iFly for indoor skydiving or K1 Speed for indoor karting. For an only-in-Orlando experience, airboat tours get you out into Florida nature—alligator sightings not guaranteed, but always possible. Gatorland is another true Florida adventure.
- The newly opened Universal Epic Universe is a good option for those who want a theme park experience with the latest in attraction technology.
For the Artsy Type
- The Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts hosts Broadway productions, live-to-film concert performances, classical music recitals, and more.
- The Orlando Museum of Art (Loch Haven Cultural Park) has a distinguished collection of American Art, African Art, and Art of the Ancient Americas.
For the Nature Lover
Start nearby by going to Constitution Green, home to one of Orlando's oldest trees. Further out, nature preserves and springs abound:
- Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve: 29 min by car
- Oakland Nature Preserve: 28 min by car
- Wekiwa Springs State Park: 1 hour by car (see day trips section below)
- Rock Springs Run State Reserve: 40 min by car
Tips for Enjoying the City Like a Local
- Get out of the convention center area. Most locals rarely spend time on I-Drive—the real Orlando is in its neighborhoods.
- Eat in Mills 50. Skip the chains and head here for authentic Vietnamese food, mural-heavy streets, and a lively local scene.
- Do the Winter Park "slow down." Take the Scenic Boat Tour in the morning to see the hidden chain of lakes, then grab coffee and walk Park Avenue.
- Hit the Lake Eola Farmers Market if your visit includes a Sunday—a weekly local ritual with food trucks, plants, and people-watching right by the water.
- Catch free live music at Disney Springs, available every day. A generous local maintains an updated entertainment schedule at wdwent.com/ds.htm.
- Look for the hidden bars. Hanson's Shoe Repair is a speakeasy requiring a daily password found on X/Twitter.
- Take the SunRail to avoid I-4 traffic and hop between downtown, Winter Park, and AdventHealth areas on weekdays.
- Pack a portable fan in your day bag—Orlando in May is warm, and conference days are long.
- Bonus: Attend a game! There's an Orlando Pride game (NWSL) on Friday night after the conference wraps—a great option for soccer fans looking to extend the trip!
Beyond Orlando: Day Trips
If you're arriving early or staying late, these are worth the drive:
- Natural Springs: Wekiwa Springs, Blue Springs, and Rainbow Springs all offer tubing, swimming, hiking, and kayaking. Wekiwa is about an hour from the convention center; Blue Springs is also worth a stop. (Check the Save the Manatee Club for seasonal manatee reports).
- Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour: Technically not a day trip, but if you only do one thing outside the conference, this is it. Operating since 1938, this narrated hour-long cruise winds through narrow jungle-like canals and three beautiful lakes, past historic estates and the Rollins College campus. Afterward, walk one block to Park Avenue for the Morse Museum and boutique shopping.
- Kennedy Space Center: (1 hour east) The Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Saturn V rocket, and daily astronaut encounters make this a must for space enthusiasts.
- Historic St. Augustine: (2 hours northeast) America's oldest city, with the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos fort, cobblestone St. George Street, and the Spanish colonial architecture of Flagler College.
- Crystal River Manatee Snorkeling: (~90 min west) The only place in the U.S. where you can legally swim with manatees in their natural habitat. Tours often include a stop at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.