10 Things to Do in Orlando in June

Orlando is known for being a theme park mecca. However, during your stay you will find plenty of other activities to enjoy. There's plenty to see and do: outdoor activities away from the hustle and bustle of the city, annual celebrations and much more.

During your trip in June you'll find some of the best things to do in Orlando. For example, you can attend the Flower and Garden Festival to see the pruning displays, or attend the annual Pride Parade to support the LGBTQ+ community. You can also ride the Orlando Ferris wheel and watch the summer sunset, spend a day surfing or swimming at Cocoa Beach, and more.

Epcot 's Flower & Garden Festival is a 30 year old event in Orlando that you can enjoy during your stay in June. You will see a series of floral displays and pruning that will leave you amazed.

You will be able to walk through the different garden areas of the park at your own pace. Such is the case of the English tea garden, the butterfly refuge, the graze garden, among others. In each of them you will find a lively and picturesque atmosphere. You will feel like you are in a real fairy tale.

You will see dozens of ornamental prunings with different flower species in the gardens. All of them are life-size and allusive to Disney characters: Mickey Mouse, Beauty and the Beast, Donald Duck, Toy Story, Cinderella, Elsa, among many others. You will also enjoy special activities such as treasure hunts, gastronomic tours and more.

At the end of this magical experience, you will be able to continue discovering other attractions that the city has for you. For example, you can join one of the best tours in Orlando, or buy tickets to Madame Tussauds in Orlando, among others.

If your trip to Orlando is during the last week of June, then you'll have the opportunity to join in the Gay Pride celebration. The city hosts a colourful parade and a range of entertainment activities. All with the purpose of supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, etc. (LGBTQ+) community.

You can go to the famous Orange Avenue, which is usually the starting point of the parade. You will be amazed by the celebratory atmosphere: colourful costumes, parades, music and more. The route continues along Summerlin Avenue and through Lake Eola Park to the city centre.

Afterwards, you have the option to discover the city's nightlife on your own or through a guided tour of Orlando, its LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs. For example, Savoy Orlando, Honeypot Lounge, Barcodes Orlado, among others. You can sip some cocktails and dance to the beats of live DJs.

If you're in town during the third week of June and you're a true skateboarding enthusiast, then you won't want to miss out on celebrating International Skate Day at the Orlando Skate Park. You can get in for free and do your best tricks on the park's ramps.

It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an advanced skateboarder. In this skate park you will find different tracks, according to the level of each athlete. Such is the case of the bowl, a pool-shaped structure; the quarter pipe, an inclined ramp; the halfpipe, a U-shaped structure; the spine, a structure with two symmetrical sides; and the wallride, a vertical structure that complements the ramp, among others.

You will have the opportunity to skate freely, according to your style for a whole day (9:00 to 21:00 hours). You will also be able to take part in some special activities: contests and competitions. You will spend a different kind of day in a friendly and celebratory atmosphere.

The park is located approximately nine minutes by car from the city centre and close to some interesting attractions. So, after enjoying this experience, you can continue the adventure by visiting the Orlando Science Center about a 10-minute drive away or purchase tickets to Icon Park in Orlando, taking advantage of the fact that it is located less than 20 minutes away.

June days in Orlando are ideal for kayaking, as it is the summer month with the most pleasant temperature (about 32ºC maximum daily) and few rainy days. You can kayak the Econlockhatchee River and get to know the ecosystem of this forested area of Orlando.

This adventure will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the streets and Orlando's best theme parks and into a truly amazing natural setting. You'll paddle along the calm waters of the Econlockhatchee River, which stretches for 50 miles and through the Little Big Econ State Forest.

On this kayaking tour on the Econlockhatchee River in Orlando, you'll have the opportunity to kayak in a safe environment surrounded by dense vegetation. And if you keep your eyes peeled along the way, you'll get to meet the wildlife native to these mysterious wetlands: turtles, alligators, ospreys, cranes and more.

Orlando in June usually reaches around 32ºC, which could be quite hot for you. So it's important to incorporate a visit to one of the city's water parks into your 1-7 day Orlando itinerary or longer. You will cool off, have a fun and different day.

In Orlando you will find several options when it comes to water parks. For example, some of them are:

Volcano Bay

This water park is located approximately 15 minutes drive from the city centre, specifically at Universal Orlando Resort. There, you will find a series of extreme slides witha drop of between 60 and 38 metres high.

Aquatica

This is another popular water park located about 20 minutes' drive from the city centre. When you arrive, you'll enjoy steep slides, wave pools, and vertigo-inducing tubes with drops of up to 12 metres. Also, with tickets for the Aquatica park in Orlando you will have the opportunity to learn about the marine world, as there are some attractions with dolphins and other animals.

June in Orlando is an ideal time to visit the Central Everglades. This month is just the beginning of summer, so the heat won't be as stifling as in the following months. You'll enjoy pleasant weather in this beautiful natural lung of Orlando's forested coastline, while discovering its flora and fauna.

For this experience, you won't have to worry about how to get to the Everglades from Orlando on your own, as there are several guided tours and excursions you can connect with. You'll drive from the city centre to these popular wetlands for a four-hour drive.

When you arrive at Everglades National Park, you'll experience one of the best airboat tours in Orlando, as it's the best way to explore the place. You will glide through the waterways of this vast swampy region surrounded by moss-covered cypress trees.

During this airboat ride in Orlando you will be amazed by the wide variety of species that inhabit this area. You'll see alligators, badgers, foxes, reptiles, deer, migratory birds and more.

Visiting Cocoa Beach is another of the things to see and do in Orlando in June. You can cool off in its blue waters, which during this summer month reach about 26ºC, a pleasant enough temperature to soak for hours.

This is one of the best beaches in Orlando, located about 60 minutes' drive from downtown. There, you can get away from the hustle and bustle and relax on the white sand, swim freely, eat and drink in the surrounding restaurants.

Also, if you are a surf enthusiast, at Cocoa Beach you will have the opportunity to rent a board and even hire an instructor to take advantage of the season's swell. Finally, very close to the beach, about 12 minutes by car, is the Surf Museum, where you can learn about the history of this exciting water sport.

Every year, during the first week of June, Orlando hosts WineQuest in support of the city's children and adults with disabilities. You can be part of this 20-year old event, put on by Quest, Inc. for a wine and food experience.

WineQuest takes place over a couple of nights, where you'll enjoy auctions, games, fine wines and great food. Typically, the celebration is held at the Grand Bohemian Hotel and the Ritz Carlton Orlando. However, these venues may vary with each edition.

This is one of the most anticipated shows in Orlando, where you can taste a variety of award-winning wines, participate in guided tastings and learn about wine culture. The event also offers restaurant areas where you can sample local and international cuisine.

June in Orlando is characteristically hot because it coincides with the summer season. Therefore, a good option during your stay is to visit Wekiwa Springs State Park and take refuge from the heat. You'll be in touch with nature and have plenty of fun activities.

This natural lung is located about 25 minutes drive from downtown Orlando and is a popular tourist attraction for locals and tourists alike. You can picnic under a shady tree and gaze out over the Wekiwa Spring River with its calm turquoise blue waters.

There are many things to do in this nature reserve: bird and wildlife watching, hiking, fishing, kayaking, boating. There are also a number of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. And, if you want to spend the night in the park, you have the option of camping. All of these activities are ideal if you are in a group or travelling to Orlando with children.

Useful information

• Price: The minimum entrance fee to the park is around €2 for pedestrians. There are also other prices that you can check on the official website.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

If you're a film enthusiast and don't know what to do in Orlando at night, you should know that there are monthly outdoor movie screenings at different locations around the city. Join this entertaining activity during your stay in June and take advantage of the warm summer nights.

To enjoy these screenings you will have several options. For example:

• The second Thursday in June. If your 3-day trip to Orlando or longer coincides with this date, you should head to Central Park at Lake Mary City Hall.
• On the third Friday in June, the date is Centennial Park in Sanford, Uptown Altamonte and Candyland Park in Longwood.

Whichever option you select, remember to bring a blanket to lay on the grass and sit comfortably. Also, some snacks to share with your group of family or friends while you watch the movie.

Useful information

• Price: this activity is usually free.
• Schedule: screenings start between 19:00 and 20:00.

Temperatures in June tend to range from a high of around 32ºC to a low of around 22ºC, making it the least hot month of the summer season. You'll rarely see the thermometer reach 34ºC or register a reading below 20ºC.

In addition, the average seawater temperature is 26ºC, so it's ideal if you plan to do any water activities. Perhaps surfing at the local beaches, joining a boat tour with manatee swimming and snorkelling in Orlando, among other options.

The month of June in Orlando is quite warm, so you should pack light clothing in your suitcase : shorts and short dresses, breathable T-shirts, swimming costumes, among others. In addition, a hat and sunglasses are usually essential accessories, as is UV protection with a +50 filter.

You'll also need to pack a hoodie and an umbrella, as June is the rainy season. Also, make sure you pack comfortable open or closed-toed shoes. This way, you'll be able to withstand the hikes on days when you're visiting the theme parks or any of the other best activities in Orlando.