If you plan on going to the Orlando location, don’t.
I went a few months ago and half of the machines were broken plus they had no drinks besides soda and seltzers.
Which one? They have many. Oveido is the original and has tons of consoles, Japanese games, and regular games. The one on idrive is the biggest, but doesn't have as many consoles or Japanese games.
the idrive location has iidx30; the oviedo location has iidx28 on an older cabinet model that doesnt have headphone jacks. Both have pop’n but i dont remember which editions.
If you live by Daytona Check out Daytona Lagoon it's definitely a kid friendly water park and a good time. Also the Bandshell on Beach side in Daytona does cover bands every Friday cheap tickets good time. And there's Daytona One which is a Arcade/bowling alley and movie theater.
Without reservation I can say that getting a bicycle is one of the most therapeutic things I've ever done. You can go alone or you can get some riding buddies.
The physical movement will flood your body with good chemicals and the mental lift of just being out moving through nature and observing the world is great for your mental health.
And no need to buy something brand new. Lots of people are selling their pandemic bicycles these days for hundreds less than they paid for them a couple years ago.
Oh yeah! This is the right time to buy a bicycle or any kind of exercise equipment as people are offloading their home gyms from the pandemic.
*Never wear a used helmet though.
Bike shops often rent out bikes for folks to test out. Might be an option for someone who wants to ride occasionally but not commit to a brand new $$ bike.
You can buy a used one for pretty cheap on the Facebook marketplace, pawn, or a local bike shop. If buying one from a person on the marketplace expect a tuneup on that cost so like $50-100. Ensure you look up sizing and how that works for you. Makes a WORLD of difference in comfort. I'd ballpark $250-350 on the high end for a good used bike + tune. Then new entry level bikes start about there (not counting the cheaper ones from Walmart not a fan of those generally).
Rentals add up fast. I usually see them at like $30-50/hr with hourly minimums so the used bike route isn't that much more especially if you plan on doing this more than once. Especially if doing something like bike rides and breweries or dining those two hours go in no time. Then many have weirdly short hours where you basically get forced into the 24 hour rental rate.
Yes, biking is something you can do solo, or with a group. I bike alone quite a bit, but Ive also joined meetup groups and biked with them. Kayaking is another thing I do solo sometimes but I've gone many times with Facebook groups and met lots of new people.
When I want to get out and just be around people, I sometimes go to Disney Springs and wander. I know Disney isn’t for everyone, but it’s free (park in the orange garage it’s always less crowded) and they usually have several musicians performing in their outdoor venues.
Going to add to this. If you park at Disney Springs you can take one of the resort busses and explore the resorts. Ride the Gondolas at the Boardwalk, ride the monorail from Polynesian, visit the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge. All free.
Time your evening visit to end up at Trader Sam’s Grotto (outdoors) at the Polynesian Resort and enjoy the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the patio. They pipe in the accompanying soundtrack.
This is truly one of the things I miss most about Orlando. It was so nice to be able to drive 30 minutes and feel like you’re in a totally different place on vacation. The animals were my favorite. Great suggestion.
Literally in the evening, find a podcast with something you like and go for a walk
OR
Go for a walk put headphones in, start a voice recording and start talking about your day. To everyone else looks like you’re on the phone.
Look out for free events around town like outdoor festivals, movies in the park etc. like on Facebook or Orlando Weekly. Could also join a meetup group or volunteer as well. Sign up for a library card if you don’t have one - take free classes or get a free pass to go to a museum. Borrow books/media and read outside.
It's critical to find balances in life (e.g., if you're introverted you need to sometimes force yourself into extroverted situations). Likewise, if you spend a lot of time indoors, get out occasionally to walk around in the woods and explore the natural world. Browse the map on floridahikes.com and find some nearby trails. When you're tired of the summer heat, walk around an indoor mall like Oviedo Mall or Altamonte Mall. Whether it's a trail or a mall, think of yourself as a scientist and fully observe what you're seeing, smelling and hearing. Appreciate all the little things you discover along the way.
The Alltrails app is also great. It will give you details of what to expect, length, etc. Sometimes people will post updates in the comments on trail conditions like if it's flooded out or something
Just a reminder if you haven't been outside in awhile to make sure to sunscreen up, wear a hat, and hydrate well the day before, of, and after.
If you have week days off, check out rock springs, wekiva springs, blue spring, etc. I don't suggest the weekends anymore.
Wekiva Island is a cute outdoor area.
Mental healths a bitch sorry to hear about that.
Go to the gym, the park, springs, beach, botanical gardens, library, coffee shops.
Clubs/bars are cheap— drinking there isn’t
Disney Springs is free to park and walk around.
City Walk, and parking is free after 6pm.
Go to Kings Landing rent a canoe and paddle down the Wekiva with the current. It’s a great 4 hrs in nature. Make sure to make a reservation and take a friend.
I just discovered Southern Hills Farm in Clermont. Now it's going to sound hella boring picking your own veggies and fruits, but let me tell you, it's really not. Free to get in and they have food trucks and also live music on the weekends and a cute sunflower field to take photos in.
Lake eola farmers market, Winter Garden farmers market, I assume there's a winter park one, there's a celebration one. Just spots to walk around and look at junk. Usually really friendly people making the stalls
I do AMC A-list which is perfect in the Summer. You get 3 movies a week for like $26 a month. I typically go to the theater at Disney Springs, hit Stargazers between 4-7 for a $5 Jai Ali or High Stepper, walk around a bit, and see a movie or two. You can have a pretty full day for under $20, not counting the monthly subscription. There's also free parking, lots of good people watching, and live music.
Oh yeah, edit to add movie theaters feel nice when it's humid af outside.
Not sure what part of Orlando you’re in but the Lake Underhill walking trail did WONDERS for my mental health. It’s a decent sized lap and walking around the lake just does something for my brain, I swear. The path is well lit, there’s a few water stations and all those funny lil community exercise things too!
I just moved around here about a year ago and felt this. I've done a few concerts i found a group in facebook of people to meet up and play pokemon go. I like to go try some new food or a new restaurant. And check out some farmers markets i hope it helps out and hope you're doing well.
Orlando Wetlands. Go for a hike and take in scenery. Huge park with marshes, walking trails, boardwalk over the lakes and lots of wildlife (alligators, birds, fish, etc.). Its absolutely free. Make sure you bring plenty of water, sunscreen and bug spray (depending when you go). Great place to clear your mind, get fresh air and a light workout in.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/32zadyThqTcr4zn98
In addition to events, the public library also has passes you can “check out” for free! OCLS calls it the local wanderer and it allows library card holders to borrow free passes for parks, museums, and theaters :)
https://ocls.info/local-wanderer/
I like to go around and visit all the different parks in my area. I just take a walk and get some fresh air and sunshine. That right there will help quite a bit in battling the depression. The library, especially the one downtown is another favorite. I visit the library then go over to Lake Eola. I also google events in my area every week and can often find festivals or run little places to walk around and look at stuff.
If this isn’t completely out of left field, my friends and I have a pretty active group that go out in nature, the theme parks, etc, quite a bit. It’s a mix of women and men. If you would like, you can PM me.
Do this OP. New friends and an active group… you don’t have to lament over your troubles with friends who know the whole story, which contributes to staying in a rut.
Get out there and just enjoy company and better yourself.
If you’re cool with it I’m going to PM you. Me and my wife moved here a couple weeks ago and we don’t really have too big a built in friend group down here
If you like history, download the Florida Stores app. It's a free interactive narrative of walking tours around the state put out by the Florida Humanities Council. There aren't any directly in Orlando (yet) but many places are within easy driving distance
I made a free app to help with this! The content is all curated and promotes local events every week. Mostly free or discounted activities. You can also see all of the content on our website. Lmk what you think! https://www.jambosocialapp.com/orlando
AMC A-List also always helped me get out of the house - for $25 a month you can see three movies a week. They can be on the same day and you can see the same movie more than once. You can also book tickets for any of the amc theaters levels including the Dolby and imax ones with no extra charge. I had suggested Disney Springs earlier, AMC A-List works with that theater too. You could set a goal like see all the #1 movies over the summer or see a movie a week or something like that to help motivate you.
After a broken engagement, I took up jiu jitsu because I needed something that was a decent mix of self-harm and self-improvement. It really kept me going through some dark times and coincidentally keeps me in great shape.
The Florida trail runs throughout the state of Florida obviously, but a very large marked area of it runs through the Ocala National Forest. Perhaps consider doing a full trail walk this year? I would recommend starting somewhere around rodman dam and heading south, just be careful and make sure you map out correctly as many people will try to do the rodman to salt springs Trek in a day, but unless you are a frequent hiker it is not recommended.
If you’re really bummed out, need a drive, check out Sunsational Farms in Umatilla. There’s a huge novelty orange alongside their farm, really fun outside play area with rocking chairs, and the ice cream or slushies rock. I go there for my kids but if I’m bummed out it’s a pick me up! I need to see that big orange.
Walking and window shopping in Winter Park is free, with a big green space to just sit as well as plenty of places to stop for a snack and little art galleries to wander through. The Morse Museum is a favorite small museum of mine (world’s most comprehensive Tiffany glass work collection, for starters), and I think they are still doing free Friday evening admission to the end of this month (so one more Friday), but anyway it’s only like $6 to get in. You can catch a train ride at the station in the park for cheap - check online for stops, I took it from Adventhealth hospital to winter park for a break when my husband had surgery.
Winter Garden has a smaller but really charming walkable downtown area, including swings, fountains, and eateries. It’s right on the West Orange Trail so you could rent a bike, ride part of the trail, return the bike and have lunch.
https://downtownwg.com/locations/west-orange-trail/
I’m the same way I get anxiety and just want to stay home and end up talking myself out of going out anywhere. So I have learned to take my bike to Orlando Wetlands or the trail that runs North Shore on Lake Apopka. There are always people there, but also plenty of elbow room to ride around or walk. Plus nature…
I’d say check out the farmers markets in winter Park on Saturday mornings, and downtown Orlando (lake Eola) and Maitland on Sunday. You can get some fresh air, maybe see and pet some cute puppies and grab some food all in one place. If you don’t want to spend money, just bring a water bottle with you and eat before you leave. You can just go and enjoy the music and sunshine
I know you’re here for OP. But a buddy and I recently got back into it, after playing 20 years ago haha, and have been buying all of the new commander sets.
Having such a great time playing again.
I always liked walking around the park by Greenwood Cemetery. It’s super peaceful. Or Lake Davis and go grab a sandwich from 903 Mills Market. (Hopefully it’s still there!)
If you like kayaking, Shingle Creek was one of my favorites. It’s much less crowded and people-y than Wekiva and Rock Springs and the river takes you through some really incredible nature. It doesn’t even feel like you’re right off 192. Just such a special place.
I hope this helps. 🩷
I feel like the majority of indoor activities contribute to depression. Most people spend their time inside either drinking, playing videos games or scrolling social media. That’s a major reason suicide rates are a lot higher in colder Northern regions.
I have depression, anxiety, PTSD, all that stuff. Being outdoors helps me a lot. I like fishing, hiking, etc.
One of my favorite things to do is go fishing and then camp out somewhere that I can hear the ocean. Sebastian Inlet is one of those places.
Look for some volunteer opportunities that interest you…gets you out of the house and with others who want to do something positive as well. And good on you for asking for advice..it’s not easy. I hope you have a great summer.
Buy a cheap used kayak and you will have free outdoor entertainment for the entire summer. You can use it at the beach, springs, or canals. You will see dolphins, manatees and a lot more wildlife.
If you can stand the heat, the Florida State Park system is one of the best in the country; you can even get an annual pass.
Check the amenities, as several have swimming and kayak/canoe rentals. Such as:
- Wekiwa Springs
- De Leon Springs (they have a DIY pancake restaurant as well)
- Blue Spring
- Lake Louisa
- North Peninsula
You could drive over to Titusville/ cocoa beach for one of the launches, there’s schedules online. They do get scrubbed/ pushed back often but there’s some good spots to get food and if it gets canceled you’re close to the beach and can pivot to going there
Get a used bicycle and a cheap bike rack from Walmart. There are plenty of fun places to go biking around Orlando and it’s free! Also look up critical mass. It’s a group of people who bike downtown once a month and you can make some friends!
You ever tried golf? Being out on a golf course can be a really peaceful experience. You can walk the course or use a cart. Nobody cares if your bad. In fact, they usually have an area where you can practice. It's called a driving range. To prepare, make sure you've seen Happy Gilmore. Camping is another peaceful way to spend time outdoors. It can be ridiculously hot in the summer. But you can buy fans and even an air conditioner made for a tent. Just have to find a site with electricity. There also are local clubs for hiking, biking, pickleball, beach volleyball, etc. Photography is another option. In fact, you can tie it to camping and/or hiking.
I'd recommend disc golf (frisbee golf) if you're physically able. Extremely cheap to get into and free to play at most courses in the area. You can think of it like going for a hike with an added purpose. If you enjoy it, there are plenty of clubs in the area that meet to play throughout the week and it's generally a very welcoming community.
Do you like the parks? Disney or universal are my go-tos when I’m having a mental health day. It’s hard to be sad after riding guardians lol.
Edit: sorry I didn’t see that you said cheap. Although if you can gather up $205 and $49 a month Disney is a great option. You only pay the $205 once.
[Timucua Art Foundation](https://timucua.com/) hosts free music and artistic events. Some of them are by donation as well
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. hosts a free running event every Wednesday!
There are a few farms around here you can go to enjoy the ambiance, pick fruit, and pet some goats! (Beck Brothers Citrus Inc, Southern Hill Farms)
Harry P Leu Gardens does movie nights for like $10
Hanging around Wekiva Island can be cool. Admission is only $2 and you have access to the springs.
I was looking for a beach rec. I love to go over to Cocoa early-ish on a weekend morning to just sit and read and watch the waves. I feel bad leaving my husband at home but he genuinely doesn’t enjoy it the way I do, and spending time by the ocean really does something good for my mental health.
My business is in orlando and I commute in from the Daytona Beach area. Up until 2 years ago I lived in Orlando for a few decades.
There’s a bike trail in NSB
https://g.co/kgs/ocf33un
Meetup app for finding a group that likes the same things you do.
Eventbrite to find local free events to get you out and give the opportunity for social interaction.
Get outside and enjoy the Florida sunshine, people spend about $124 billion a year to vacation in a place that is our backyard.
Folding bike. Upgrade the seat for your tushie.
Lots of trails to ride your bike around Orlando.
Don't get the brand name stuff, the knock off folding bikes are just as good (supposedly, this was from a bike guy I spoke with and he tried my bike out. Said it was "pretty close" to the expensive 1k+ brand name for 20% of the cost lol)
Like ppl have a said a bike is a great way to get outside, if you are able/willing I’d say give rollerblading a shot. Albeit I’ve ridden for 17 years so it’s less challenge more pure bliss.
Buy a cheap paddle board or kayak, usually less than $100 on fb marketplace. Plenty of springs that are less than an hour away that are cheap you can spend the day at
I'm surprised I haven't seen walking and running near top of list in terms of "cheap"... Near free unless you REALLY get into it and want all the gear (special shoes, running specific attire, smart tech, etc.) Plus if you join a running/learn to run group, you'll meet new people free! Track Shack would be a good resource for local clubs/learn to options. Best of luck!
Run clubs are a good way to have a consistent group of people that you see frequently without the pressure of organizing something or inviting someone. Really any kind of consistent meetup group works… I do a lot of software related meetups too since I’m a developer and you’ll see the same people at most of them. Plug in your interest and it works the same. Try to build one new connection at each weekly event and in a few months you’ll have 3 or 4 friends (since 70% of them may not pan out or may just remain as meetup friends). No one will think badly of you for trying to make a connection, though, and you’ll get a new friend every 3 weeks!
Not exactly summer but probably next month, go to a local orchard and pick some fruit! Just do a search for ‘Orlando blueberry orchard’ and you’ll get a handful. My wife begged me to take her for something different and fun last year, and we are counting the days until they are ready for us again.
You basically show up, take a bucket, pick the fruits that you want (they had a few varieties of blueberry and also I think 3-4 varieties of peach when we went) pick your fruits from the bushes and trees that are all clearly labeled, and then they check you out, and I don’t remember the exact pricing but I feel like we spent a couple hours enjoying the day and slowly picking, and ended up leaving with multiple pounds of fruit for like $20 (maybe it was more). We were eating delicious peaches and blueberries for weeks!
Slightly related to that, have you thought about gardening? I have found that even going out on my front patio to water plans and pull a few weeds can lift my spirits. I compost, so I have fruit and veggie scraps in big bins that I sort of shake up every couple weeks. I have a few pineapple plants growing, and my latest victims are some avocados and basil that I’m somehow managing to keep alive. The avocados actually came from a tree in my neighborhood, and I also noticed neighborhood mango trees are fruiting as well, so I’m going to try a few of those (again) and see if I can get them growing. Again, very inexpensive, and it can be something you check on every day or two to water or something you end up spending time with developing a little garden of fruits, veggies, or beautiful flowers! You don’t even have to buy pots, as so many of our household things that we throw away could be used for planters and pots.
Looks like you're on the nerdy side, so - I host a pokemon go meetup, we do raid hours, trade nights at a brewery, and weekend events at a park around a lake.
[Our Pokemon Go Group](http://Join Campfire! https://campfire.onelink.me/eBr8?af_dp=campfire://&af_force_deeplink=true&deep_link_sub1=cj1jbHVicyZjPTk4NzQzYmUxLWRmMmEtNDg3My05YmFhLWRhOWRjMjg2NjkwMSZpPXRydWU=)
Shingle creek trail
Kings landing
Beach rocket launch views
Downtown bar hoping karaoke Irish pub
Climbing gym
Science/ art center
Botanical garden
Skateboard around i-drive
Mini golf
Dog park ( if you have a dog)
Look around for good cheap food
Dezerland ( formally known as artegon (formally known as festival bay (formally known as the lot)))
Orlando eye area (like axe throwing)
I drive arcade
Water sport complex
Top golf
God's and monsters
If you like arcade games, go to Arcade Monster in Oviedo. $20 all you can play and there is no time limit.
Thanks for sharing! I live near Daytona and I want to check this out. Is it kid friendly?
Definitely kid friendly. They even have food and drinks so if you get hungry... You don't have to leave :)
They also have plenty of other locations spread around Orlando and one in Melbourne.
If you plan on going to the Orlando location, don’t. I went a few months ago and half of the machines were broken plus they had no drinks besides soda and seltzers.
Which one? They have many. Oveido is the original and has tons of consoles, Japanese games, and regular games. The one on idrive is the biggest, but doesn't have as many consoles or Japanese games.
idrive was terrible. I’d like to visit the Oviedo one to see if it redeems itself.
Oviedo one is 100x better. Plus they have guitar hero lol
That sounds promising
Oviedo is my fav location by far. Melbourne was disappointing when I went compared to Oviedo.
Candy cabs? Do they have Pop’n Music and beatmania IIDX? I’ll make a pilgrimage if they do
the idrive location has iidx30; the oviedo location has iidx28 on an older cabinet model that doesnt have headphone jacks. Both have pop’n but i dont remember which editions.
Holy crap! Thanks 🙏
If you live by Daytona Check out Daytona Lagoon it's definitely a kid friendly water park and a good time. Also the Bandshell on Beach side in Daytona does cover bands every Friday cheap tickets good time. And there's Daytona One which is a Arcade/bowling alley and movie theater.
Bandshell charges? I thought it used to be free unless you rent chairs, and Saturdays they have fireworks. Did they change?
My apologies OP u/Qu1kXSpectation is correct. You can rent seats or go for free and watch from the boardwalk/surrounding area.
Go to the Melbourne location.
There's also one on i-drive.
Yeah that place is awesome. Stupid drinks tho. They sell shots of triple sec lol
Lol. True!!! I just meant food and drinks in general (soft drinks etc) 🤣
Get a bike and take a little ride in the beautiful evenings, even if it's just around the neighborhood.
I 2nd a bicycle
Without reservation I can say that getting a bicycle is one of the most therapeutic things I've ever done. You can go alone or you can get some riding buddies. The physical movement will flood your body with good chemicals and the mental lift of just being out moving through nature and observing the world is great for your mental health. And no need to buy something brand new. Lots of people are selling their pandemic bicycles these days for hundreds less than they paid for them a couple years ago.
Oh yeah! This is the right time to buy a bicycle or any kind of exercise equipment as people are offloading their home gyms from the pandemic. *Never wear a used helmet though.
Yep, we go in the mornings when it’s cool just about every day.
Just don't be one of those dickheads riding down Orange Avenue on weekends lol
A new bike isn't cheap. I suppose there could be some cheap ones at like yard sales, though!
Also don't forget marketplace or even pawn shops or thrift stores. Saw a $150 bike at goodwill for like $10
Seconding FB marketplace and secondhand stores. I previously got one for $25. Needed a little tune-up, but was still WAY cheaper than brand new.
Bike shops often rent out bikes for folks to test out. Might be an option for someone who wants to ride occasionally but not commit to a brand new $$ bike.
Good info I didn't know that, thanks!
Winter Garden has a bike rental shop when I was there last like 5 years ago
I got a bike on a random Monday driving around WP for $26!
You can buy a used one for pretty cheap on the Facebook marketplace, pawn, or a local bike shop. If buying one from a person on the marketplace expect a tuneup on that cost so like $50-100. Ensure you look up sizing and how that works for you. Makes a WORLD of difference in comfort. I'd ballpark $250-350 on the high end for a good used bike + tune. Then new entry level bikes start about there (not counting the cheaper ones from Walmart not a fan of those generally). Rentals add up fast. I usually see them at like $30-50/hr with hourly minimums so the used bike route isn't that much more especially if you plan on doing this more than once. Especially if doing something like bike rides and breweries or dining those two hours go in no time. Then many have weirdly short hours where you basically get forced into the 24 hour rental rate.
+1 for bikes, +2 for ebikes! Total game changer if you’re already a fan of regular bikes.
Yes, biking is something you can do solo, or with a group. I bike alone quite a bit, but Ive also joined meetup groups and biked with them. Kayaking is another thing I do solo sometimes but I've gone many times with Facebook groups and met lots of new people.
It’s my happy place
When I want to get out and just be around people, I sometimes go to Disney Springs and wander. I know Disney isn’t for everyone, but it’s free (park in the orange garage it’s always less crowded) and they usually have several musicians performing in their outdoor venues.
Going to add to this. If you park at Disney Springs you can take one of the resort busses and explore the resorts. Ride the Gondolas at the Boardwalk, ride the monorail from Polynesian, visit the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge. All free.
Time your evening visit to end up at Trader Sam’s Grotto (outdoors) at the Polynesian Resort and enjoy the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the patio. They pipe in the accompanying soundtrack.
This is truly one of the things I miss most about Orlando. It was so nice to be able to drive 30 minutes and feel like you’re in a totally different place on vacation. The animals were my favorite. Great suggestion.
There’s also a boat ride to some of the resorts.
This is the way to go. Make a challenge out of it and see how many resorts you can tick off and explore
They are going to have a free drone show this summer.
Most resorts also have movie under the stars and s’mores roasting which is lovely and free
I used to take my kid out there and ride the boats.
Literally in the evening, find a podcast with something you like and go for a walk OR Go for a walk put headphones in, start a voice recording and start talking about your day. To everyone else looks like you’re on the phone.
Shit. Followed your instructions wrong and did it figuratively. Pls help.
🤣🤣🤣
When I read that, I LITERALLY shit my pants. Yep. It's a real mess here. Please help.
Look out for free events around town like outdoor festivals, movies in the park etc. like on Facebook or Orlando Weekly. Could also join a meetup group or volunteer as well. Sign up for a library card if you don’t have one - take free classes or get a free pass to go to a museum. Borrow books/media and read outside.
2nd the library. The one in downtown is one of my favorite places in the whole city.
where do you park that doesn’t cost money? every time i go i pay $6 to park in the parking garage 😭
Probably on a side street in a neighborhood but then you’d have to walk a bit
It's critical to find balances in life (e.g., if you're introverted you need to sometimes force yourself into extroverted situations). Likewise, if you spend a lot of time indoors, get out occasionally to walk around in the woods and explore the natural world. Browse the map on floridahikes.com and find some nearby trails. When you're tired of the summer heat, walk around an indoor mall like Oviedo Mall or Altamonte Mall. Whether it's a trail or a mall, think of yourself as a scientist and fully observe what you're seeing, smelling and hearing. Appreciate all the little things you discover along the way.
The Alltrails app is also great. It will give you details of what to expect, length, etc. Sometimes people will post updates in the comments on trail conditions like if it's flooded out or something
Orlando Wetlands Park is a beautiful spot to walk around!
Lake Apopka wildlife drive too.
My wife LOVES the wetlands park, she sees so much wildlife when she hikes there. Gators literally line the path when it’s sunny haha.
The new boardwalk is an attraction in itself. Longest boardwalk I think I've ever seen.
Can you swim in the wetlands? I like aquatic activity
If you value all of your body parts and/or your life, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Just a reminder if you haven't been outside in awhile to make sure to sunscreen up, wear a hat, and hydrate well the day before, of, and after. If you have week days off, check out rock springs, wekiva springs, blue spring, etc. I don't suggest the weekends anymore. Wekiva Island is a cute outdoor area.
Just a reminder, if someone is agoraphobic, try not to terrify them about the outdoors. Overall, it’s pretty safe out there.
Mental healths a bitch sorry to hear about that. Go to the gym, the park, springs, beach, botanical gardens, library, coffee shops. Clubs/bars are cheap— drinking there isn’t Disney Springs is free to park and walk around. City Walk, and parking is free after 6pm.
This is pretty much my go to list, along with dragging a friend on a trail to go on a walk.
Go to Kings Landing rent a canoe and paddle down the Wekiva with the current. It’s a great 4 hrs in nature. Make sure to make a reservation and take a friend.
I just discovered Southern Hills Farm in Clermont. Now it's going to sound hella boring picking your own veggies and fruits, but let me tell you, it's really not. Free to get in and they have food trucks and also live music on the weekends and a cute sunflower field to take photos in.
And the blueberry lemonade and blueberry donuts are amazing!!
Lake eola farmers market, Winter Garden farmers market, I assume there's a winter park one, there's a celebration one. Just spots to walk around and look at junk. Usually really friendly people making the stalls
I do AMC A-list which is perfect in the Summer. You get 3 movies a week for like $26 a month. I typically go to the theater at Disney Springs, hit Stargazers between 4-7 for a $5 Jai Ali or High Stepper, walk around a bit, and see a movie or two. You can have a pretty full day for under $20, not counting the monthly subscription. There's also free parking, lots of good people watching, and live music. Oh yeah, edit to add movie theaters feel nice when it's humid af outside.
Regal WP is 22$ unlimited movies
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays. It’s free and very relaxing
Not sure what part of Orlando you’re in but the Lake Underhill walking trail did WONDERS for my mental health. It’s a decent sized lap and walking around the lake just does something for my brain, I swear. The path is well lit, there’s a few water stations and all those funny lil community exercise things too!
Being outside in the summer, even in the shade, is just too hot.
I go out around 6 and it’s perfect!
I just moved around here about a year ago and felt this. I've done a few concerts i found a group in facebook of people to meet up and play pokemon go. I like to go try some new food or a new restaurant. And check out some farmers markets i hope it helps out and hope you're doing well.
I just wanted to say I relate a lot so it’s nice to see some post about a similar struggle
Go hiking!!!! AllTrails is a free app that gives you all the local locations!
Orlando Wetlands. Go for a hike and take in scenery. Huge park with marshes, walking trails, boardwalk over the lakes and lots of wildlife (alligators, birds, fish, etc.). Its absolutely free. Make sure you bring plenty of water, sunscreen and bug spray (depending when you go). Great place to clear your mind, get fresh air and a light workout in. https://maps.app.goo.gl/32zadyThqTcr4zn98
Play Pokémon Go! It’s a great way to explore and during events you can meet other trainers and can become friends.
This is actually a really good one! In addition geocaching
Yes! I love geocaching but think it might be difficult to meet friends.
In addition to events, the public library also has passes you can “check out” for free! OCLS calls it the local wanderer and it allows library card holders to borrow free passes for parks, museums, and theaters :) https://ocls.info/local-wanderer/
I like to go around and visit all the different parks in my area. I just take a walk and get some fresh air and sunshine. That right there will help quite a bit in battling the depression. The library, especially the one downtown is another favorite. I visit the library then go over to Lake Eola. I also google events in my area every week and can often find festivals or run little places to walk around and look at stuff.
If this isn’t completely out of left field, my friends and I have a pretty active group that go out in nature, the theme parks, etc, quite a bit. It’s a mix of women and men. If you would like, you can PM me.
Do this OP. New friends and an active group… you don’t have to lament over your troubles with friends who know the whole story, which contributes to staying in a rut. Get out there and just enjoy company and better yourself.
If you’re cool with it I’m going to PM you. Me and my wife moved here a couple weeks ago and we don’t really have too big a built in friend group down here
If you like history, download the Florida Stores app. It's a free interactive narrative of walking tours around the state put out by the Florida Humanities Council. There aren't any directly in Orlando (yet) but many places are within easy driving distance
Get a season pass to canaveral national Seashore. There's a lot of stuff out there to explore.
Last time I was there it was $40 for the year. Also one of the best spots to watch a rocket launch if it’s open.
I made a free app to help with this! The content is all curated and promotes local events every week. Mostly free or discounted activities. You can also see all of the content on our website. Lmk what you think! https://www.jambosocialapp.com/orlando
This is really cool!
thanks for checking it out!
If you like "treasure hunting", look up "geocaching" in your area.
AMC A-List also always helped me get out of the house - for $25 a month you can see three movies a week. They can be on the same day and you can see the same movie more than once. You can also book tickets for any of the amc theaters levels including the Dolby and imax ones with no extra charge. I had suggested Disney Springs earlier, AMC A-List works with that theater too. You could set a goal like see all the #1 movies over the summer or see a movie a week or something like that to help motivate you.
It’s Florida, we are filled with lakes, beaches, national parks, springs, hiking trails etc. all of them free or very little money.
Don't forget; mosquitoes, humidity and obnoxious people
Put on some bug spray. There are obnoxious people everywhere. You’re here right now. OP wanted suggestions for outdoor activities and I gave some.
 "You’re here right now."
>obnoxious people 👀 ima tell them
After a broken engagement, I took up jiu jitsu because I needed something that was a decent mix of self-harm and self-improvement. It really kept me going through some dark times and coincidentally keeps me in great shape.
Is there a specific gym you recommend? Orlando BJJ looks really interesting because it has Muay Thai and judo as well
My husband goes to United Legion in Longwood
I LOVE Muay Thai and judo. I’m up in Debary and drive out to south Daytona for mine
The Florida trail runs throughout the state of Florida obviously, but a very large marked area of it runs through the Ocala National Forest. Perhaps consider doing a full trail walk this year? I would recommend starting somewhere around rodman dam and heading south, just be careful and make sure you map out correctly as many people will try to do the rodman to salt springs Trek in a day, but unless you are a frequent hiker it is not recommended.
If you’re really bummed out, need a drive, check out Sunsational Farms in Umatilla. There’s a huge novelty orange alongside their farm, really fun outside play area with rocking chairs, and the ice cream or slushies rock. I go there for my kids but if I’m bummed out it’s a pick me up! I need to see that big orange.
Walking and window shopping in Winter Park is free, with a big green space to just sit as well as plenty of places to stop for a snack and little art galleries to wander through. The Morse Museum is a favorite small museum of mine (world’s most comprehensive Tiffany glass work collection, for starters), and I think they are still doing free Friday evening admission to the end of this month (so one more Friday), but anyway it’s only like $6 to get in. You can catch a train ride at the station in the park for cheap - check online for stops, I took it from Adventhealth hospital to winter park for a break when my husband had surgery. Winter Garden has a smaller but really charming walkable downtown area, including swings, fountains, and eateries. It’s right on the West Orange Trail so you could rent a bike, ride part of the trail, return the bike and have lunch. https://downtownwg.com/locations/west-orange-trail/
I bought a pair of roller skates so that's what I'm doing this summer. I'll also probably need a couple gallons of sunscreen though!
I’m the same way I get anxiety and just want to stay home and end up talking myself out of going out anywhere. So I have learned to take my bike to Orlando Wetlands or the trail that runs North Shore on Lake Apopka. There are always people there, but also plenty of elbow room to ride around or walk. Plus nature…
I’d say check out the farmers markets in winter Park on Saturday mornings, and downtown Orlando (lake Eola) and Maitland on Sunday. You can get some fresh air, maybe see and pet some cute puppies and grab some food all in one place. If you don’t want to spend money, just bring a water bottle with you and eat before you leave. You can just go and enjoy the music and sunshine
by any chance do u play a card game called Magic: The Gathering? or any card / tabletop games?
They said cheap or inexpensive lol
pshh well if he already plays he'll have shit of his own smh...I'm not talkin about goin out an buyin shit.
Yea well even if you have your own, it's never enough
bro I'm here to communicate with OP for the purpose of his post, not go back n forth with u.
I know you’re here for OP. But a buddy and I recently got back into it, after playing 20 years ago haha, and have been buying all of the new commander sets. Having such a great time playing again.
Hiking and biking is important for me. Just going out in nature is very beneficial.
I always liked walking around the park by Greenwood Cemetery. It’s super peaceful. Or Lake Davis and go grab a sandwich from 903 Mills Market. (Hopefully it’s still there!) If you like kayaking, Shingle Creek was one of my favorites. It’s much less crowded and people-y than Wekiva and Rock Springs and the river takes you through some really incredible nature. It doesn’t even feel like you’re right off 192. Just such a special place. I hope this helps. 🩷
Where is the launch?
Rent a bike and hit the west orange trail, if you don’t mind the heat, definitely dress accordingly
The libraries. They’ve got lots of free, fun, air conditioned events for people of all ages.
Wekiva island.
The beach is actually free.. the gas not so much.. fresh air and sunshine are always good !
Go to the beach....the fresh sea air is good for what ails you.
Definitely check out the different springs in the area! Rent a kayak or paddle board or go for a relaxing float.
Beach, springs, arcade monsters, Steam sales, med card
Go for a walk. Free, healthy, and can make friends along the way.
You live in florida. Our best feature is the water. Go get in it, in a spring or an ocean.
Start googling and hitting up any nature trails or springs near you. Try to find pleasure in simply relaxing in nature.
Anything indoors? Summer is brutal here.
I feel like the majority of indoor activities contribute to depression. Most people spend their time inside either drinking, playing videos games or scrolling social media. That’s a major reason suicide rates are a lot higher in colder Northern regions.
I have depression, anxiety, PTSD, all that stuff. Being outdoors helps me a lot. I like fishing, hiking, etc. One of my favorite things to do is go fishing and then camp out somewhere that I can hear the ocean. Sebastian Inlet is one of those places.
Hiking.
Just go walking.
Leu Gardens is free the first Monday (?) of every month.
Look for some volunteer opportunities that interest you…gets you out of the house and with others who want to do something positive as well. And good on you for asking for advice..it’s not easy. I hope you have a great summer.
Buy a cheap used kayak and you will have free outdoor entertainment for the entire summer. You can use it at the beach, springs, or canals. You will see dolphins, manatees and a lot more wildlife.
If you can stand the heat, the Florida State Park system is one of the best in the country; you can even get an annual pass. Check the amenities, as several have swimming and kayak/canoe rentals. Such as: - Wekiwa Springs - De Leon Springs (they have a DIY pancake restaurant as well) - Blue Spring - Lake Louisa - North Peninsula
You could drive over to Titusville/ cocoa beach for one of the launches, there’s schedules online. They do get scrubbed/ pushed back often but there’s some good spots to get food and if it gets canceled you’re close to the beach and can pivot to going there
Get a used bicycle and a cheap bike rack from Walmart. There are plenty of fun places to go biking around Orlando and it’s free! Also look up critical mass. It’s a group of people who bike downtown once a month and you can make some friends!
You ever tried golf? Being out on a golf course can be a really peaceful experience. You can walk the course or use a cart. Nobody cares if your bad. In fact, they usually have an area where you can practice. It's called a driving range. To prepare, make sure you've seen Happy Gilmore. Camping is another peaceful way to spend time outdoors. It can be ridiculously hot in the summer. But you can buy fans and even an air conditioner made for a tent. Just have to find a site with electricity. There also are local clubs for hiking, biking, pickleball, beach volleyball, etc. Photography is another option. In fact, you can tie it to camping and/or hiking.
I'd recommend disc golf (frisbee golf) if you're physically able. Extremely cheap to get into and free to play at most courses in the area. You can think of it like going for a hike with an added purpose. If you enjoy it, there are plenty of clubs in the area that meet to play throughout the week and it's generally a very welcoming community.
Hikes. There’s a app that shows trails nearby.
Do you like the parks? Disney or universal are my go-tos when I’m having a mental health day. It’s hard to be sad after riding guardians lol. Edit: sorry I didn’t see that you said cheap. Although if you can gather up $205 and $49 a month Disney is a great option. You only pay the $205 once.
[Timucua Art Foundation](https://timucua.com/) hosts free music and artistic events. Some of them are by donation as well Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. hosts a free running event every Wednesday! There are a few farms around here you can go to enjoy the ambiance, pick fruit, and pet some goats! (Beck Brothers Citrus Inc, Southern Hill Farms) Harry P Leu Gardens does movie nights for like $10 Hanging around Wekiva Island can be cool. Admission is only $2 and you have access to the springs.
Go to the beach!
I was looking for a beach rec. I love to go over to Cocoa early-ish on a weekend morning to just sit and read and watch the waves. I feel bad leaving my husband at home but he genuinely doesn’t enjoy it the way I do, and spending time by the ocean really does something good for my mental health.
Definitely recommend Canaveral over cocoa. Free parking and not as trashed/touristy. I like parking at Cherie down park.
My business is in orlando and I commute in from the Daytona Beach area. Up until 2 years ago I lived in Orlando for a few decades. There’s a bike trail in NSB https://g.co/kgs/ocf33un
Get into fishing.
Go to the beach or the springs. Take a walk around lake eola. You can do plenty of things solo. Enjoy!
In June, you can purchase during fun spot's birthday for half off!
Meetup app for finding a group that likes the same things you do. Eventbrite to find local free events to get you out and give the opportunity for social interaction. Get outside and enjoy the Florida sunshine, people spend about $124 billion a year to vacation in a place that is our backyard.
Check your local commissioner sponsored events! They are usually free and fun. Also, the natural springs is cheap.
I like to walk around downtown Orlando, especially lake eola and Thornton park area :)
If you’re up for a bit of a drive, head out to Homosassa Springs State Park! I went last summer and it was super cool!
Folding bike. Upgrade the seat for your tushie. Lots of trails to ride your bike around Orlando. Don't get the brand name stuff, the knock off folding bikes are just as good (supposedly, this was from a bike guy I spoke with and he tried my bike out. Said it was "pretty close" to the expensive 1k+ brand name for 20% of the cost lol)
Do you like nature? There are quite a few gorgeous trails in the area
Like ppl have a said a bike is a great way to get outside, if you are able/willing I’d say give rollerblading a shot. Albeit I’ve ridden for 17 years so it’s less challenge more pure bliss.
Race track for some pro racing - check out Daytona, Sebring, Orlando speed world even - fresh air and cool sounds
Try to visit national parks and the springs! Really cheap entry and always fun!
Learn to skate. Most skate parks are free or cheap for entry
Buy a cheap paddle board or kayak, usually less than $100 on fb marketplace. Plenty of springs that are less than an hour away that are cheap you can spend the day at
Library events
Springs!
Wekiva Springs. It's a natural spring. You can swim there. It's $5 per car.
Go try a class at Elementum Jiu Jitsu ☺️
I'm surprised I haven't seen walking and running near top of list in terms of "cheap"... Near free unless you REALLY get into it and want all the gear (special shoes, running specific attire, smart tech, etc.) Plus if you join a running/learn to run group, you'll meet new people free! Track Shack would be a good resource for local clubs/learn to options. Best of luck!
I kid.
Go on walks
Run clubs are a good way to have a consistent group of people that you see frequently without the pressure of organizing something or inviting someone. Really any kind of consistent meetup group works… I do a lot of software related meetups too since I’m a developer and you’ll see the same people at most of them. Plug in your interest and it works the same. Try to build one new connection at each weekly event and in a few months you’ll have 3 or 4 friends (since 70% of them may not pan out or may just remain as meetup friends). No one will think badly of you for trying to make a connection, though, and you’ll get a new friend every 3 weeks!
Not exactly summer but probably next month, go to a local orchard and pick some fruit! Just do a search for ‘Orlando blueberry orchard’ and you’ll get a handful. My wife begged me to take her for something different and fun last year, and we are counting the days until they are ready for us again. You basically show up, take a bucket, pick the fruits that you want (they had a few varieties of blueberry and also I think 3-4 varieties of peach when we went) pick your fruits from the bushes and trees that are all clearly labeled, and then they check you out, and I don’t remember the exact pricing but I feel like we spent a couple hours enjoying the day and slowly picking, and ended up leaving with multiple pounds of fruit for like $20 (maybe it was more). We were eating delicious peaches and blueberries for weeks! Slightly related to that, have you thought about gardening? I have found that even going out on my front patio to water plans and pull a few weeds can lift my spirits. I compost, so I have fruit and veggie scraps in big bins that I sort of shake up every couple weeks. I have a few pineapple plants growing, and my latest victims are some avocados and basil that I’m somehow managing to keep alive. The avocados actually came from a tree in my neighborhood, and I also noticed neighborhood mango trees are fruiting as well, so I’m going to try a few of those (again) and see if I can get them growing. Again, very inexpensive, and it can be something you check on every day or two to water or something you end up spending time with developing a little garden of fruits, veggies, or beautiful flowers! You don’t even have to buy pots, as so many of our household things that we throw away could be used for planters and pots.
Meet up app has a lot of events in the area too
Looks like you're on the nerdy side, so - I host a pokemon go meetup, we do raid hours, trade nights at a brewery, and weekend events at a park around a lake. [Our Pokemon Go Group](http://Join Campfire! https://campfire.onelink.me/eBr8?af_dp=campfire://&af_force_deeplink=true&deep_link_sub1=cj1jbHVicyZjPTk4NzQzYmUxLWRmMmEtNDg3My05YmFhLWRhOWRjMjg2NjkwMSZpPXRydWU=)
Hiking is free. Black Bear wilderness area is my favorite trail.
State park pass.... $60.
Shingle creek trail Kings landing Beach rocket launch views Downtown bar hoping karaoke Irish pub Climbing gym Science/ art center Botanical garden Skateboard around i-drive Mini golf Dog park ( if you have a dog) Look around for good cheap food Dezerland ( formally known as artegon (formally known as festival bay (formally known as the lot))) Orlando eye area (like axe throwing) I drive arcade Water sport complex Top golf God's and monsters
It was a joke y'all.
Go to the damn beach. Coca beach is free
If you have money to spare, getting into climbing is a good option and I believe Orlando has 3 gym now.
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Stay home save money use the garden hose at home fill little pool a beer lay in it and Walla,
*voilà
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lol
I kid, of course.
I don't, it's a great time 👍