Top Ten Hidden Gems

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This theater/restaurant gives Central Florida perhaps its only opportunity to dine and watch a film at the same time. While watching a movie, usually a small art film or foreign film, you can feast on such Continental fare as chicken-topped pasta or whole snapper. You'll also find a variety of snack foods on the menu, with chicken wings a favorite. The café only serves food during show times, which vary, and it also hosts an annual film festival.

Our Local Expert Says:

Fabulous Sunday brunch with killer omelets

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Dexter's of Thornton Park is a hip and laid-back diner-esque eatery in the heart of downtown.

Best known for it's Sunday brunch, Dexter's is usually packed with the young and the hip who have just  crawled out of bed to nurse their hangovers with Bloody Mary's and several different varieties of Mimosas, including orange, mango, and passion fruit.

Leave your diet at home when you come to Dexter's and let yourself indulge in one of the many tasty options on their brunch menu. The omelets are great, as well as the blueberry and cream cheese stuffed French toast. Portions are generous and the food is hearty and unpretentious.If brunch isn't your fancy, there are many sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes to try instead.

Dexter's is, quite simply, a really cool place to hang out. The service and the food are good, but I believe it's the groovy ambiance that has made this restaurant so successful. The servers are sassy, there's a good beat in the background, and the walls are covered with an eclectic mixture of original art (available for purchase).

Even though Dexter's attracts a group of local regulars, it's definitely not a snobby environment. Most of the patrons are too busy thinking about how they look to care about how you look. Don't just take my word for it. Look up Dexter's of Thornton Park on the Web and you'll find that it ranks in the top ten of every Best Sunday Brunch list out there, and usually gets at least a nod by the Orlando Sentinel in their
Annual Foodie Awards. Don't forget, Lake Eola and the Sunday Eola Market are just a short stroll away… perfect for walking off a great meal.

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Cool cats can flock to the newest and coolest (literally) club on I-Drive, ICEBAR, which just opened October '08. Designers took 50 tons of solid ice and transformed it into a sparkling bar that's sure to become Orlando's newest hot spot… errrr, cold spot. Furniture is draped with fur throws and designer thermal capes are provided to keep you cozy in these 27 degree temperatures. Of course, frosty libations are the recommended cocktail.

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This 50-acre botanical garden is Orlando's equivalent to The Secret Garden: a maze bursting with color and unusual greenery. At Leu Gardens take a guided tour of the southern-styled grounds, chill at a concert or just run amok through the giant bamboo stalks, hyper-manicured lawns and Camellias (they have the world's largest collection). Better yet, its location on the shores of Lake Rowena affords a fitting view of the sunset.

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Florida's fresh water comes from underground springs that rush through the state's underlying limestone base, known as an aquifer. Often, those springs bubble to the surface. You can see how that works at this 7,000-acre park where the waters are crystal - clear and stay at a comfortable 72 degrees all year. At this scenic spot, the headwaters of the Wekiwa (pronounced Wahk-EYE-vah) River, you can hike, camp, fish, go canoeing and, if you're lucky, spot some wildlife.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best downtown outdoor space!

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A couple of hours can easily and peacefully drift away while strolling around Lake Eola Park, taking in the floating fountain and watching the white and black swans peacefully paddling across the lake. Established in 1888, the park's 43 acres of land are continuously enhanced with vibrant flowers, perfectly manicured grounds, and charming gazebos. The walking path circling the lake is 0.9 miles in length, perfect for enjoying a healthy stroll or vigorous jog. Shop at the Sunday Eola Market featuring fresh produce, artisan items, and a beer garden with live music. Swan rides are available for rent most days, and there is a restaurant tucked right inside the park called Eric's on Eola. There are about a dozen more restaurants within a short walking distance.

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Closet singers and aspiring stars get their chance at stardom at Universal's Rising Star, a karaoke club where you become the lead singer in a live band. Open nightly from 8pm to 2am, Rising Star is located at CityWalk, a mecca for evening excitement and sundown shenanigans. Expect a bevy of signature cocktails and gourmet snacks.

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One visit to the Tap Room at Dubsdread is all anyone needs to see why this establishment has been a critic's favorite for more than a decade. The local foodie 'two thumbs up' response is likely owing to the steadfast menu but the historically charming milieu definitely amps up the experience. Burgers, flatbreads, steaks, and fresh seafood are munched on the stunning covered verandah surrounded by towering 100 year old oaks where it's likely a weekend wedding will be taking place nearby. Located on the grounds of Orlando's oldest public golf course, the Tap Room is filled with all sorts of rustic nuances that make the locale simply unforgettable.

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If you've been wondering what the future might hold, it might be time to consult the experts at the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp. Known as the "Psychic Center of the World," Cassadaga's old-world streets, lined with century homes, are where you'll find more than forty mediums, psychics, and healers. Start your visit off at the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Bookstore to schedule visits with on-call mediums or check out their website ahead of time and pre-book. Legend has it that spirits can reveal themselves to us as glowing balls of light called 'orbs'. Experience this phenomenon during Cassadaga's ninety-minute Orb Photography Tour, each Saturday night beginning at 8pm. Cassadaga Hotel offers quaint lodging and nearby DeLand has a good selection of restaurants.

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Located in Thornton Park, this inn near scenic Lake Eola is another option if you want to stay near downtown. Its four buildings date back to the early 1900s. All units (studios to suites) include private bathrooms and entrances; some have garden tubs, balconies, kitchenettes, and four-poster beds. A few of the nicer options include the Washington Suite, which sports a four-poster bed and a Jacuzzi, and the romantic Carriage Suite, which has a four-poster bed and antique claw-foot tub. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom Keylime Cottage ($169) sleeps four and has a full kitchen.